NCE vs LENZ

[CraigN]

I have an n scale layout using up a 11x24 1/2 feet of room in my basement.
It will be mainly me running trains, but my boys will run trains with me too. I will have more than 1 train running at a time. I want to go wireless to follow the trains around and I will have plug in cabs too.
A "starter system" is out of the question for me. I plan on buying only one system for my large N scale layout. It will be either Lenz or NCE.
I like the idea of being able to use a cordless phone as a wireless cab for the LENZ because they are a cheaper way to go wireless. But I was told by someone that I should save my money and buy an NCE system because it has all the bells and whistles.


My questions are:

1. What bells and whistles does NCE have that LENZ does not?

2. Is all the extra that I would have to pay for the NCE to get all the bells and whistles really worth it?

[cacole]

Go to Tony's Train Exchange's Web site and you can then log onto both the NCE and Lenz Web site and download their respective manuals and read up on the "bells and whistles" offered by each.

Using a cheap cordless phone as a controller is an enticement, but I'm sure you can use only one. With NCE you can have multiple wireless throttles, so that's something worth considering for future expansion. http://www.tonystrains.com

You might also want to check EasyDCC from CVP Products in Richardson, Texas. They have wireless throttrles for their system, too, if that's important. http://www.cvpusa.com

[NZRMac]

If you want more than one wireless cab with Lenz you need two ( or more ) phones and adaptors to plug into Xpressnet. I think the limit is 30 cabs.

I use a uniden digital phone so no one can interfer with the signal!!

Lenz has all the bells and whistles like any other system.

It's still best to see the different systems working if you can, you might not like the feel of one or another.

Ken.

[tpatrick]

I have the NCE wireless system and I highly recommend it. A major difference favoring the NCE is that the throttle was designed to be a throttle, not a phone. Thus, it has a very good digital display that allows you to read all the menus and see every keystroke you program into your system. It eliminates a lot of guesswork. Lenz may have a display somewhere off the phone, I don't know. Maybe someone here can tell us.

NCE has outstanding customer support. Larry and Matt take phone calls and will happily work with you to help you get the most out of your system. Their manual is very well done and complete, too. I cannot comment about Lenz' customer support or their manual.

To sum it up, if I needed to buy a new system, I wouldn't hesitate to spend the bucks on NCE.

[Anonymous]

I have used both. I use the NCE at the model railroad club, and I own a Lenz 100 set. The NCE and Lenz kits are both very nice. Personally, I find the Lenz set to be more user friendly. The only drawback I would say with the Lenz 100 system is you may want to purchase an additional throttle controller and I would recommend the 90 series. The 90 series has a big knob to control the speed and a 3 way toggle switch for forward, neutral, and reverse. IF you are someone who enjoys a switching operation, you will find this a great choice. I would recommend BOTH throttles with the Lenz system. With NCE there is a thumbwheel on the controller which kind of gives you everything in one. I find that I prefer the Lenz over the NCE, and I am glad I have been able to use both to make my choice. I find the Lenz a more straightforward system with fewer buttons, but all the same features. I also like the larger display on the Lenz systems. Also, I have found the Lenz systems on ebay at a better price. I purchased my Lenz 100 system new with warranty for $215. At that price it was easy to justify the additional 90 series controller and the walk around plug ins.

[dehusman]

NCE also sells a basic throttle (no display) with big knob.

Dave H.

[pkeppers]

I have a NCE radio system and have used both a Digitrax and Lenz radio systems at least once.

I think the biggest single item in deciding on a DCC system is the throttle. Handle all of them and see which you like the best. I like the NCE pro-cab. It is designed for one hand operation, has a large display and has a neat thumb wheel designed for one hand operation.

NCE also has a relatively inexpensive large single knob throttle, although I haven’t used one.

The basics of DCC are about the same for all the major systems, except for some of the low end starter systems so there wont be a huge difference between the brands except in some areas like advanced consisting, programming on the main, etc.

Radio is where it gets tricky. NCE has the only full two way functional radio set up that I know of. You never need to plug in. Theoretically you don’t even need a cab bus. HOWEVER because of this two way radio the signal strength of the NCE radio is significantly weaker than the one way systems (its a technical thing I don’t 100% understand) so the radio performance is, in my opinion, not as good with NCE. I have a 24 X 30 basement with a sheet rock (no metal except for the screws) wall running down the middle. I get what I would call minimally acceptable radio performance for actual running. It is certainly less than what I had though and less than the Lenz and Digitrax systems I've used. I have found programming over the radio, a big NCE feature, to be almost unacceptable in performance. It is possible but so frustrating you might as well plug in. NCE has just come out with repeater radio stations that should help the performance but they do cost about 150 a piece and the other systems I've used had acceptable performance from a single receiver in a larger, more obstructed basement than mine.

My advice would be that if radio performance is a BIG thing to you then lean away from NCE right now, at least until the repeater stations become available. NCE also is supposed to be coming out with a simple one way radio throttle which should work as well as the other brands but then you loose the NCE advantage of 2 way radio.

I do like my NCE system but I'm disappointed in the radio part of it.

Also, the simple single knob throttles are not recommended for NCE radio control because without the display screen of the pro cab you don’t know whether the commands are being accepted or not. I haven’t used one but I understand them to be very frustrating on radio although they are nice throttles when hard wired.

One more item. NCE is coming out with a starter set that is fully functional. A regular size pro cab will contain a 1 amp booster. The entire system except for the small "wall wart" type power supply is contained in the pro cab. Cost is supposed to be only about $20 more than a regular wired procab which on the street would mean about $170 or so. It is wired and can not be used as a wireless system. The pro cab does however become a 100% normal NCE procab when plugged into the cab buss of a full NCE system. If you only need a single throttle (which can run several trains) and don’t care about radio it sounds like a very good way to go and it is usable if you ever get a full NCE system.

Phil Keppers
Duluth MN

[CraigN]

I'll have to find somewhere to test them out before I can decide.

I have never used DCC before so this is all new to me.

I do plan someday way down the road to have signals installed and be able to control switch machines, It sounds like alot of fun!


Thanks to all of you that have replied,
Craig