Hi,
Can someone tell me which DCC system I should look at purchasing that's easy to use and understand? I've got a Lenz Compact system that I find hard to understand and have decided to sell it on and look at purchasing a system that's easy to use. Any advice would be welcome!
Thanks
Mark Griffiths
From the UK.
Mark, you raise an excellent question, but I'm afraid there are no easy answers. Almost all of us find it a grind, no matter which system strikes our fancy as we look around. Lenz and NCE guys say they had a PhD in physics write the manual for Digitrax, and it is unreadable. Digitrax luvers find something wrong with NCE or Easy DCC. No one talks about MRC..........'cuz. (I'm joking!)
Point is, you will find something to be counfounded by no matter which system you choose, but I will state that there is one system out there that you could test and research that would confound you the least. This may sound rather dismal, but each of us has the responsibility to find out which system feels right in our hands, and which is most intuitively easy for us to actaully operate. That almost always means trials. Find a local club and use what they use for a while. Talk to your retailer about getting a couple in on spec so that you can compare them for a week or two. A suggestion often appearing in these pages is to actually go to the manufacturers' sites and read the manuals. If the manual is gobbledygook, how much fun would you anticipate having the first few weeks?
I didn't know enough to do this. I felt that if I could read the manual for a video cassette recorder and program the machine to record programs (never failed yet), surely a toy support system would be not much more difficult. Well, I went with the dreaded Digitrax and boy am I ever happy. Wasn't happy much the first week or so, but now...no probs.
Not to go on at great lengths, but you need growing room in your system...you don't want a starter with no growth potential. Also, you need enough power for foreseeable needs...think realistically, soberly, about how many locos you will probably be running in three years. Double the number you operate now; that will be a good start, but only if you intend to have shared operating sessions with at least one other operator who will also run locomotives. If you operate alone, you'll only need about 2.5 amps, maybe 5 tops.
You also want a comfortable and ergonomic throttle or paddle. If it feels awkward, you might get used to it, but perhaps not. Also, consider a remote (walk-around) capability so that you aren't always going to have to be within 6' of the base station. Can you unplug the throttle and move to another contact point to plug in? How about radio control? Expensive, but the fellas that have 'em sure like 'em.
I'll stop at this point.
I've got a Lenz-100 system with an add-on Lenz 90 throttle. I found the Lenz 100 throttle much easier to use than the Lenz 90.
I'm not familiar with the Lenz Compact. Does it have a hand-held throttle unit? Can you add another throttle to it? If so, adding a Lenz 100 throttle might solve your problem.
Otherwise, I'd look around for a shop or maybe a train club that can give you a bit of instruction on DCC basics, including use of the throttle controls. I don't think the Lenz instructions are particularly difficult to understand, but there is a big difference between the different throttles in ease of use. Pretty much every other system will do about the same thing, so I don't think you'll solve the problem by getting a different system.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I debated this for months. I decided on Digitrax and am not sorry. I started with tethered throttles and wanted more. I tried infra red and it only half worked. I tried Digitrax radio and love it, best toy in the train room, especially their UT4r.
Point, visit some people and learn about DCC. It is better than you can imagine and you will like it more than you thought you would.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
Mark,
Really the best way to evaluate a system is to actually try it out yourself. As you found, the Lenz system didn't work (i.e. wasn't as intuitive) for you as well as you would have liked.
That's not to say that either the Lenz 90 or 100 is a bad system. It just wasn't the best for you. Each of us usually finds that at least one system works better for our needs and "preferences" than the others.
Mark, I don't know if this will help you or not. I use the NCE Power Cab. I posted a review of the Power Cab here on the forum back in late February '06, right after I got it. It's basically my initial thoughts and impressions of the it and includes pictures, questions and inquiries by others, discussions, issues, and some resolutions to those issues. I think it's a pretty fair assessment of Power Cab. There's also a review of the NCE CAB-04p throttle and their Smart Booster, as well.
Even though you aren't exactly holding the Power Cab in your hand, the review should give you a idea what that might be like. Crandell's suggestion of downloading the manuals off the web site is a good one.
Mark, I hope that helps in some way...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Mark, since you are in the UK you have access to some new systems that have not found their way over the pond to the US, so if I were you I would give them a look. Almost all the feedback you will get on this forum will relate to the more established US market leaders like Digitrax, NCE and Lenz.
http://www.hornby.com/digital/ is the Hornby offering which looks a bit like an advanced version of the Bachmann EZ sold here in the US.
http://www.dynamisdcc.com/ is the Bachmann Europe system, which looks rather like it might have come from ESU in Germany.
The best thing you can do is to go to a stockist and see if you can try out a system. Only then will you know if it meets your criteria for easy to use. My 2 boys (7 and 10) and I find the Digitrax Zephyr incredibly easy to use, but there are a host of folks who claim to find it very hard to use. Half the time I think it is just anti-Digitrax-speak based on no real experience, but you never know.
Anyway, I would be giving these new European systems a look as they may well meet your needs.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Hi Mark,
I use Digitrax Chief system. After trying Lenz, Fleischmann and The UK version of MRC Prodigy, I find the Digitrax simplest with all operations on the DT400 handset. Plus you have two throttles on the readout which remain during a short circuit.
ukrailroader.
Mark:
I too started with a Lenz Compact (actually an Atlas Commander, which is the same thing) and really didn't understand it very well. All I know is that I could run my one loco, change direction and turn on and off lights. Beyond that I was totally lost. But I sure had fun running that, and then my 2nd loco on the same track.
I also knew that the Compact (Commander) was becoming somewhat obsolete so I also did my homework to find a better system that would last me a long time. I talked to various hobby shop experts, people at train shows and studied this forum threads. I felt that to be safe I should get a 5 amp system. Since then, some have insisted that a 2.5 amp system (such as the Compact) would provide all the power that I need. I'm not sure about that but I do know that with the locos that I've accumulated, including many with sound, I feel very comfortable with having the 5 amps.
A LHS expert convinced me that Lenz was an excellent system (in his opinion, the best tecnnically), and, a forum member pointed out that I could use my Compact (Commander) as an extra throttle with a new Lenz system. So, not wanting to waste my Commander, or sell it at a loss, I went with a Lenz Set 100. It has, and is serving me very well.
I have no idea as to what system would be best for you because we really don't know enough about your situation. But, the main point I want to make is that as time goes on, everything about DCC (no matter what set you have) will get easier and easier. The more you read and talk to others the more things become plain. That old Commander manual that totally confused me is now so very clear.
You're getting some good advice here so keep asking and researching and hopefully you will zero in on exactly what's best for you.
Jerry
Rio Grande vs. Santa Fe.....the battle is over but the glory remains!
Just another thought on your situation. Depending on your layout, e.g., scale, size, number of locos, sound or no sound, etc., you may want to reconsider about using your Compact.
For a small to medium, non-sound layout the Compact, with its 2.5 amps and five functions (F0-F4) is really a very good system for basic operation. Loco selection is fairly quick and speed control, direction and function selection are all very straight forward.
Programming, consisting and turnout control are also available but not as straight forward and as easy to access as on newer systems. But, they are there and with more experience you should be able to use them. However, if you are going to be using these three operations a lot, then eventually you will want an updated or newer system
I just wanted to be sure that you are not getting rid of what is a pretty good little system, with lots of power, and that might serve you very well depending on your needs. With more study, use and asking questions you may be able to use the Compact for quite awhile.
One other consideration is mobility. With the Compact, you must operate your locos from one fixed postion as opposed to following your locos around the layout for the purposes of throwing turnouts, coupling/uncoupling, etc. If mobility is important to you then yes you should consider a more feature rich system with tethered or wireless throttles.
To all the members that took time to pass on some advice on DCC Thank you!
Never thought about looking at DCC manufactures sites to have a look at the instructions so thanks for that tip. This site is a god send to modellers living in the UK!
Just hope one day I'll be able to get over to the US to see the real thing.
Thanks again,
Mark