Lenz DCC with Digitrax Signal system

[Anonymous]

Hi all.
I am a DCC newbie. I have been thinking about upgrading to the Lenz DCC System Set 100. I have the intention of using the Xpress Net adaptor. I am still undecided on which software i should use with the system. But that is a different Topic.
I would also like to use the Digitrax signaling system that is also Xpress Net friendly. Now, if i understood the documentation correctly, i will be able to use each system at the same time while allowing the Xpress net software handling the communication between the two. is that correct?
I have looked around on the net, but the answers were ambiguous.
I would just like some input before i invest into this and find out that it will not work in harmony.
Pros? Cons? Other recomendations?
Thanks in advance guys and gals.

[challenger3802]

You might wi***o try Tonys Train Exchange, those guys certainly know their stuff. Calling them direct is good as Tony will gladly put you right with your questions.

http://www.tonystrains.com/index.html

Regards
Ian

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vbaglivio
I would also like to use the Digitrax signaling system that is also Xpress Net friendly. Now, if i understood the documentation correctly, i will be able to use each system at the same time while allowing the Xpress net software handling the communication between the two. is that correct?

I am not an expert on this system, but I have just purchased all the parts to do almost exactly what you are planning. Lenz 100 controlling the trains with the Digitrax Signaling. However, I understood the SE8C used LocoNet for the communications, so I was going to let it talk LocoNet, indpendent of the Xpress Net. As I understand the specifications of Xpress Net, it can only handle 30 devices. This would be a serious limitation for signalling anyway.

[Texas Zepher]

error - another duplicate

[Stevert]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vbaglivio

Hi all.
I am a DCC newbie. I have been thinking about upgrading to the Lenz DCC System Set 100. I have the intention of using the Xpress Net adaptor. I am still undecided on which software i should use with the system. But that is a different Topic.

Use PanelPro from the JMRI project. Works great and it's free: http://jmri.sourceforge.net/index.html

QUOTE:
I would also like to use the Digitrax signaling system that is also Xpress Net friendly.

They're only "friendly" in that you can have them on the same layout at the same time, as long as they're kept electrically separate. But on their own they can't communicate with each other.

QUOTE:
Now, if i understood the documentation correctly, i will be able to use each system at the same time while allowing the Xpress net software handling the communication between the two. is that correct?

I'm not sure sure what Lenz software you're referring to, because I thought all they supplied was configuration and testing software for their products. But I highly doubt that any Lenz software will talk to a LocoNet, because I highly doubt that Digitrax would license it's LocoNet protocols to one of their competitors. However, the JMRI software can talk to both at the same time, and there may be other third-party software with that ability as well.

QUOTE:
I have looked around on the net, but the answers were ambiguous.
I would just like some input before i invest into this and find out that it will not work in harmony.
Pros? Cons? Other recomendations?
Thanks in advance guys and gals.

What you are suggesting would require dual DCC networks that operate independently of each other using different protocols, and a software interface that's capable of understanding both protocols and effectively translating and communicating between the two. While that's not impossible, and in fact it's done fairly often with C/MRI and DCC, it may be a bit much for a DCC noob to bite off.

My suggestion would be to simplify from the outset and go all LocoNet. In other words, use Digitrax for both DCC control and signalling. That would be much easier to set up, and quite possibly less expensive as well, since you would need only one network.

However, If you really want to proceed in the "dual network" direction, be prepared to go from a DCC noob to a DCC nerd first. Otherwise, you'll just get frustrated. Start off with the Lenz set (Did I just recommend Lenz!!? [V]), get your DCC knowledge up to speed (and I don't mean just slap a few decoders into socketed locos and consider yourself an expert), and then consider adding signalling to your layout.

HTH,
Steve

[Anonymous]

I appreciate all of the input you guys gave me.
Stevert, your 100% right about the software. I did mean 3rd party software.
Let me ask this..
If i did decide to get my feet wet with dcc, would you recommend digitrax? A guy at my lhs recommended lenz because it was more versitile.
I don't mind if it is harder to get the initial setup up and running, i just don't want to short change myself. And although i would prefer not to go with dual networks, i don't mind doing so if one system is more capable than the other with each specific task..... signal system and control system. Either way i do plan to connect it to a pc. would that have a huge impact on the capabilities? I know that they can both be connected to a pc, but i just get the feeling that the lenz system would give me more options through a pc interface than the dixitrax would.
By the way, challenger3802, there is alot of great info on the site. thanks for the link..

[Stevert]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vbaglivio

If i did decide to get my feet wet with dcc, would you recommend digitrax?

Yes, I would highly recommend Digitrax. But I'm biased, because that's what I have and I've been extremely satisfied with it. [:D]

QUOTE:
A guy at my lhs recommended lenz because it was more versitile.
I don't mind if it is harder to get the initial setup up and running, i just don't want to short change myself.

This is very subjective, like Ford vs. Chevy. You have to get what you're comfortable with. For example, some people like Lenz throttles, others like the NCE dogbones, and others something else yet. The best advice I can give you here is to try out the different offerings.

As far as being versatile, as long as you stay with the major players, they all have pretty much the same abilities. Just how you do something may differ, but again, it's a matter of which you prefer. I don't know how tight you are with your LHS, but I suspect he may be pushing one brand more for his benefit than for yours.

QUOTE:
And although i would prefer not to go with dual networks, i don't mind doing so if one system is more capable than the other with each specific task..... signal system and control system.

That I know of, Lenz doesn't have a signalling system on the market so that's a shortcoming if it's something you want on your layout. As far as DCC abilities, see my above response re: versatile. Personally, I've considered C/MRI for signalling to go along with my Digitrax DCC for control, but I've decided to go with Digitrax-based signalling instead. A big part of that was avoiding the complexity of a second network. Rember, that complexity also involves two interfaces to your PC and software capable of handling it (both of which bring their own sets of complexities).

QUOTE:
Either way i do plan to connect it to a pc. would that have a huge impact on the capabilities?

Absolutely!

QUOTE:
I know that they can both be connected to a pc, but i just get the feeling that the lenz system would give me more options through a pc interface than the dixitrax would.

I'm not sure what options you may be referring to, but if you mean automation, decoder programming, signalling.... Oops, Lenz doesn't have signalling.

HTH,
Steve

[Tom Bryant_MR]

vbaglivio, you might want to read this thread before making a choice on which DCC system.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=49375

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vbaglivio
If i did decide to get my feet wet with dcc, would you recommend digitrax? A guy at my lhs recommended lenz because it was more versitile.

I don't know about more versitle. I have both Lenz and Digitrax. I believe they can both do everything the others can (and that includes NCE and Easy DCC). I can recommend any of those four systems without hesitation. The difference is going to be your preferences on how you want to use it. I personally like the panel master control instead of playing remember the button sequence game with some of the hand helds.

Connecting them to the computer was easy. I've done things like controling trains with "software" throttles after only a few minutes of set up time.

As for the signalling, I think the only time you will notice that there are two busses is in the interfaces to the computer. And depending on your computer skills this could actually end up being a good thing.

A really really really big issue for people who operate a lot is, "what system do other people with whom you operate with have." It is nice just to have one set of throttles to go to all the other operating sessions with. I think right now my operating group is 4 Railcommand, 5 Lenz (counting myself here), 1 Digitrax.