Which DCC system to pick?

[BNSFGP38]

Hello all, this is my first post here.[:)]

I am 100% complety new to DCC, although have been in the MR game for 16 years.....im 20 now.[8D]

I am looking at 2 systems. The Bachman EZ Command and the Atlas system.
I am leaning more towards the Atlas system as it has 2.5 amps and can store up to 99 locos.
The EZ command to me seems rather wimpy with 1 amp of power, but its low cost is defently a consideration since I am in college.

I have about 20 or so locos.

What is your opinion on these two systems?

Also, about 10 of those loco are " Blue Box" Athearns. Can anyone provide me any infomation on how to wire in decoders into these.

[Anonymous]

With the number of locos you have, the Atlas is the better choice of the two; the Bachmann will limit you to 10 locos, and won't let you do consisting. Depending on your budget, other good starter sets are the Digitrax Zephyr and the MRC Prodigy Advance. Tony's Train Exchange at http://www.tonystrains.com/ is a good source for info (and equipment) -- there's a great set of beginner pages there.

Easiest way to add decoders to the Athearn BB locos is with the Digitrax DH163AT -- it comes with a harness that replaces the spring wires in the loco, so no soldering is required. Drop it in, program it, and you're ready to go.

[BNSFGP38]

You can use other brands of decoders with others brands of controllers??????

[rrinker]

You can use any brand of controller with any brand of decoder. This is the point of the NMRA standard.
What you CAN'T do is use a Digitrax throttle with an Atlas DCC system. The standard only covers the signals sent to the track and the decoders in the locos (and accessory decoders for controlling turnouts). So on the 'back end' or user interface side, every DCC sysem is unique in some way. But on the track side, the signals are all the same.
So when it comes time to install decoders - if there is one, pick the one made for a particular loco, regardless of who makes it. It's a lot easier that way. Save the soldering and wire to wire connection stuff for the ones that have no DCC socket.
Of the two systems you mentioned, the Atlas one would be a better choice. Both it and the Bachmann system are made by Lenz, but the Atlas is more of a 'real' Lenz system, the Bachmann is HIGHLY stripped down (hence the 'stripped down' price). But also look at the Digitrax Zephyr and MRC Prodigy Advance.

--Randy

[NZRMac]

I'm using the Lenz DCC (same as Atlas) it runs everything fine.
I've got one DCC soundtraxx diesel and one DC 2-6-0 so far and I can run them both.

I've just gone wireless with the cordless digital phone adaptor (which fits the Atlas too) and made things alot more user friendly!!

Ken

[RMax1]

You can do consisting with the Bachmann. For the price the Digitrax has become real reasonable. It's about $60 more than the Bachmann with loco. For a simple system to play with the Bachmann works just fine and can be had by itself for under $60 if you look around. In the video that comes with it they show how to set it up for consisting.. I've seen it run 3 locos at once and 2 with sound and lights. It all depends on how serious you are but for the same money I would look at the Digitrax , Atlas and the Prodigy. Take a look at the Bachmann if you're not sure exactly what you want to do but want a taste of DCC.

RMax

[BNSFGP38]

I am 95% sure I will be going with the Atlas.
$$$ is a factor, since I am in college and women , my motorcycle.......as well as my fairmont speeder all ask for my hobby dollar. Some more loudly than others.[:0]
I noticed I have quite the large collection of text books I have bought for classes for 100 150 each and are now doing me no good. So to Ebay they go......and to my railroad, a DCC system will come and the bikes insurance will get paid for 05.[:p]

But I do got another question. Can you run a regular BB Athearn with the Atlas system, with no decoder installation?

BTW
Thanks for all the info.

[NZRMac]

You can run 1 dc loco at a time with the Atlas and address 99 dcc loco's, Switch turnouts with stationary decoders and access 4 functions, lights on-off, bell, horn/whistle, and a forth.

Ken.

[Anonymous]

I have been out of the hobby for 20+ years. My nickel silver track work has been setting idle for all those years, and the complex wiring was never completed. DCC seemed the way to go to avoid all the complex wiring. Also, my grandson got out some of my old locos to look at them. I was afraid at first to let him handle them. Then, on closer look and after attempts to run them on a short piece of track, I came to the conclusion that most of them are now ready for the junk yard.
I am assuming that all of my old loco's (if any are worth saving) would have to be hand wired to run DCC? I only have one (Bachman Doodlebug given to me a few years ago as a gift) which has a plug and play board inside. I was looking at the MRC DCC systems, since I am familiar with the name and the digital controller is reasonably priced at some of the discount house. Would this be the way to go?

[tstage]

gerrymack,

The "plug and play" is the easiest install as you won't have to solder anything. (Hence, the name.)

MRC makes a good system. If you go ahead an make the plunge, make sure that you get the newer Prodigy Advanced system. It's supposedly a considerable improvement over the older Prodigy system, which you might be seeing at the discounted prices you were mentioning.

Tom

[BRVRR]

BNSFGP38,
Of the two choices you listed, I would go with the Atlas system. It is made by Lenz and expandable with Lenz components. It is an excellent system. [:)]
Don't rule out the Digitrax Zephyr. A great system and expandable. I have one and have never regretted my purchase.[:D]
I would stay away from the Bachman system, a little too basic and not expandable. The same goes for the Prodigy systems. The original and Advanced. They are not even compatible with each other.[V]
Before you buy, try out as many different systems as you can. Attend a train show and talk to the vendors and the guys operating the layouts.[tup]
Hope this helps.

[sansouci]

Does Lenz or Uhlenbrock make the Marklin equipment?

[Anonymous]

Don't know if this will change anybody's mind, but according to Atlas they no longer offer the Commander, seems "somebody" dosn't want them in the DCC business anylonger, I tried to get my commander repaired yesterday and they told me they only have a few left to handle return problems with the system. Wouldn't give anymore info except they they no longer hand the commander.
Anybody else heard this from them? Would really like to know about what is going on, and will Lenz now be the repair station for them

[rrinker]

Hmm, first I've heard of this, but a quick look at the Atlas web site shows there is no longer a 'DCC' tab at the top like there used to be... interesting.....