dadret wrote:Any DCC controller will work - its a case of personal preference. There are several comparison charts available for the various systems - Try Tony's Trains or past articles from this magazine. Kalmbach has a couple of books on DCC too that are good. Obviously, price is a consideration too. I use MRC but there are just as many advocates of NCE and Digitrax.
Thanks, I guess the command 2000 is as good as any.
CSX Robert wrote:Actually, the command 2000 is not as good as any. It will only control one function in addition to the headlight, so you won't even be able to blow the whistle. There are many options for a DCC controller, and I really can not recommend one in particular without knowing what features you are looking for.
So what would be a good DCC controller for the Athearn big boy?
davidmbedard wrote: For the price, the Digitrax Zephyr cant be beat. It will do anything you want and is very, very expandable.David B
For the price, the Digitrax Zephyr cant be beat. It will do anything you want and is very, very expandable.
David B
Will work good with the Genesis big boy?
ami6 wrote:If you got a Genesis Bigboy with sound you will not be able to control the sound with a command 2000.
If you don't mind I would really like to know why the command 2000 won't control the sound on the Genesis big boy.
sinebar wrote: ami6 wrote:If you got a Genesis Bigboy with sound you will not be able to control the sound with a command 2000. If you don't mind I would really like to know why the command 2000 won't control the sound on the Genesis big boy.
If I'm not mistaken the Command 2000 is a pretty old system, which was produced before DCC sound was even though about. (Some of the older members, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.) And as mentioned before it will only control one function aside from the headlight, so you wont even be able to blow the whistle.
On another note, I second David's suggestion of the Digitrax Zephyr for all the reasons stated. It is a complete DCC that can read & right CV's, (Configuration Variables) supports a separate isolated programming track by means of a set of power leads separate from the main ones, and just like all Digitrax products is compatible with every other piece of equipment they offer.
CSX Robert wrote: sinebar wrote: ami6 wrote:If you got a Genesis Bigboy with sound you will not be able to control the sound with a command 2000.If you don't mind I would really like to know why the command 2000 won't control the sound on the Genesis big boy. If you look at the front of the Command 2000, there is a button labeled "Light." This button controls funtion F0, which is usually the headlight. Thee is also a button labeled "Accessory." This button controls function F1, which on most sound equipped engines is the bell. Those are the only two function control buttons on the Command 2000. It just was not designed for sound equipped engines. You would, at the very least, want to be able to control F2, which is the whistle.What do you want out of a DCC controller? Do you have a layout or do you plan to have a layout that you want to use it on? If so, how many trains do you want to be able to run at once? Do you want walkaround control? Do you feel that it is important to be able to control all of the sounds? How important is cost? I have a Digitrax Zephyr and I really enjoy it. It is the only system that met all of my needs without spending a lot more money, and I won't hesitate to recommend it to anyone whom I feel it is right for, but without knowing the answers to some of these questions, I don't know if it is right for you or not. If all you are wanting to do is to run this engine and hear it's sounds, then you might be better off with the Bachamnn EZ-Command or the MRC BlackBox with a DC controller. Neither of these solutions will let you modify any of the characteristics of the engine, but they are also quite a bit less expensive. If you want to be able to control all of the sounds, then you need a system that will control up to function F28 (MRC BlackBox, MRC Prodigy Advanced, or NCE PowerCab or PowrHouse Pro). I have an N-scale Athearn Challenger, and I don't mind not being able to control the higher functions with my Zephyr. They operate on their own randomly, and when running, you can't remmeber what all the different functons are anyway.
sinebar wrote: ami6 wrote:If you got a Genesis Bigboy with sound you will not be able to control the sound with a command 2000.If you don't mind I would really like to know why the command 2000 won't control the sound on the Genesis big boy.
Thanks for the very imformative reply. I plan on running at least two trains and of course I want everything the big boy has to offer and from what I have read I need a DCC system to access the DCC functions. I also want a system that is very expandable in case this hobby grows. I did exchange the command 2000 for the digitrax zephyr because it comes highly recommended.