Which DCC ????????

[rbakerphoto]

My controller for my layout just bit the dust. I now need a new one. None of my locos are DCC compatible. My controller was also non-DCC. So I am now in the situation of upgrades for my layout and locos.
I know I need to buy decoders and install on my locos when I do buy a DCC unit. The question is which DCC is better? Which DCC is easier to operate? And last but not least is there any recent articles out there that compare all the DCC's on the market?
Thanks to all who respond with their comments.

Clearing the dust and smoke after 20 years

[tstage]

rbaker,

Pickiing a DCC system is a personal thing and contingent on several things.  For instance:

• Size and scale of layout
• How many locomotives will you be wanting to run at a given time
• How many operators will be using the system at a given time
• Future expansion possibilities

...just to name a few. 

I don't have much time to write.  If you are interested in a virtual tour of the NCE Power Cab, click on the link at the bottom of my post and go to the Review page on my web site.  It will at least give you an idea of what the Power Cab is like and what to expect.

Hope that helps...

Tom

[rbakerphoto]

Sorry I didn't mention that my layout is N scale, 6 engines and in the future expansion two operators. Right now it is just me. Thanks

[sinebar]

My controller for my layout just bit the dust. I now need a new one. None of my locos are DCC compatible. My controller was also non-DCC. So I am now in the situation of upgrades for my layout and locos.
I know I need to buy decoders and install on my locos when I do buy a DCC unit. The question is which DCC is better? Which DCC is easier to operate? And last but not least is there any recent articles out there that compare all the DCC's on the market?
Thanks to all who respond with their comments.

Clearing the dust and smoke after 20 years

I have a new Digitrax Zephyr that just got back from the shop where they installed a new circuit board.  I bought it new but it never worked right so I had to send it in for warenty repair.  I now have a Prodigy advance so I don't need the Zephyr.  I'll [Edit: Price removed - See note below] if you don't mind slighty used.

---

sinebar,

I had to remove the price of the Zephyr from your post because our forum policy clear states that there is to be No advertising done on the forum.  This does not mean that anyone interested in buying it from you can't contact you either via PM or e-mail.

Thanks for posting and thank you for your consideration.

Tom/User mod

[cacole]

I wish I had a dime for every time this question has been asked on these forums -- I could buy a real train instead of just models.

Check Tony's Train Exchange at http://www.tonystrains.com and read his DCC for Beginners and systems comparison matrix.

Try to find a club or other people in your area who have DCC systems and try to get some hands-on experience with what they use.

Personally, I use EasyDCC and the North Coast Engineering PowerPro Radio systems, and think that the NCE system is easier to use.

[ericboone]

It's long, but I recommend reading this thread:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/626056/ShowPost.aspx 

[B&Le]

The Digitrax Zephyr and NCE Power Cab are both highly regarded beginner units with lots of features. Also the Digitrax has more amps than the NCE allowing you to run more trains at one time.

[KingConrail76]

I can only hope that this thread does not turn into what some of the past have.

Rbakerphoto,

Choosing a DCC system is a VERY personal decision. Please take away from this Thread of Posts as much of peoples opinions as you can without letting us decide for you what to buy.

There have been many good suggestions of places to find information so far, and I suggest you look at ALL of them when/as you have time.

I personally use Digitrax, the Super Empire Builder system (rated 5 amps). I like it. It works good for ME.

www.digitrax.com <~~opens in a new window.

I have a 4' x 12' HO layout and I run upto (7) locos at once, (2) of those with sound. I have (3) throttles, and a reversing section via a single output module.

Many other people speak highly of NCE, but I have no personal experiance with that brand.

Some things to consider with the investment in DCC (to find the system that will work best for your situation):

1. What/how many locos do you currently have, that you will continue to use(upgrade with decoders).
2. How many more locos will you be buying (this is more a question of number you will be running at a given time, not owning)
3. Will you EVER use the DCC to operate your switches.
4. Will you EVER use Block Detection and/or Signaling.
5. Is it more advantagous for YOU to buy a starter system, or a more advanced system (Do you seriously plan to build a larger/more complex layout in the future?).
6. If you start with a starter system, can it be upgraded to what you think you might want/need in, say, 3 years. (goes back to #5).

There are many more factors to consider of course.

Good luck with your reasearch and purchase/use. DCC is a very enjoyable way to run trains.

November 2006 Model Railroader has an article on "Tips for converting your layout to DCC"

[jktrains]

My controller for my layout just bit the dust. I now need a new one. None of my locos are DCC compatible. My controller was also non-DCC. So I am now in the situation of upgrades for my layout and locos.
I know I need to buy decoders and install on my locos when I do buy a DCC unit. The question is which DCC is better? Which DCC is easier to operate? And last but not least is there any recent articles out there that compare all the DCC's on the market?
Thanks to all who respond with their comments.

Clearing the dust and smoke after 20 years

I have a new Digitrax Zephyr that just got back from the shop where they installed a new circuit board.  I bought it new but it never worked right so I had to send it in for warenty repair.  I now have a Prodigy advance so I don't need the Zephyr.  I'll [Edit: Price removed - See note below] if you don't mind slighty used.

---

sinebar,

I had to remove the price of the Zephyr from your post because our forum policy clear states that there is to be No advertising done on the forum.  This does not mean that anyone interested in buying it from you can't contact you either via PM or e-mail.

Thanks for posting and thank you for your consideration.

Tom/User mod

Just an observation because of another thread that had a similar situation that has been locked.  This appears to be another, different user that had a brand new Zephyr with a problem that had to be repaired.  While having 4 different Zephyrs in a row with a problem is statistically remote, this person experience sheds more light onto the issue.

[baron9]

  I first purchased the Digitrax zepher unit and had it for about 2 years. I wanted to upgrade and went to my local hobby shop where I tried the NCE powerhouse pro. It was easy to hold and practically could reach most of the buttons with one finger and while holding it in one hand. No more two hand operating which I had to do with the Digitrax. Im sold on NCE .

[olequa]

I'll mention this for whatever good it is for you. I got a Zephyr soon after they came out and used it for several years. It worked fine, but I found it cumbersome to use. Recently I sold it and bought an NCE Powercab. I am very, VERY pleased with the Powercab compared to the Zephyr. The usability factor is what seals the deal for me.

George 

[jwils1]

Read as much as you can about the various systems.  And, if you possibly can, visit a hobby shop or club where you can touch, feel and use the various throttles.  The throttle, sometimes called a cab, is your main interface with the system.  So how you like it is a big factor in making your choice.

NCE Power Cab, MRC Prodigy Advance2 and Digitrax Zephyr will all run your N scale layout very well.  NCE and MRC are a bit more user friendly and very easy to use.

If you like the Power Cab throttle, it can be good to start with and has a 7' cable that allows some mobility for you as you run your trains.  When your ready for a second operator you can add a smaller less expensive "engineer's throttle" that can be plugged-in and unplugged anywhere around the layout for total mobility.  You can do the same with MRC except that they don't presently have an engineer's throttle so for a second cab you would just add another full size throttle.

With Zephyr, you must operate from fixed location but you can add additional throttles that can be plugged and unplugged anywhere.

For economy, some might suggest MRC Prodigy Express but it doesn't have all the features of Power Cab and Zephyr.  I'm not sure about it's upgrade options or upgrade costs.

Another thing is sound functions.  With N scale you may not be getting into sound but if you do and want to be able to operate all of the sound functions available on some decoders keep in mind that Power Cab and Prodigy Advance give you 28 functions, whereas Zephyr gives only 9 and Prodigy Express 16 (or 17??).  You can increase the Zephyr to 13 when using one of their add-on throttles.  But keep in mind that many experienced modelers rarely use more that a few functions so 9 may be plenty for you, unless you're really into lots of sound stuff.

Also, if you're going to do much consisting, I think Power Cab has the easiest and best consisting features.  However, this is just an opinion and depending on how you want to do your consisting, the others may serve you well enough.

These are just a few things to think about but there are many more considerations so do your research the best you can.  DCC is really terrific and no matter which way you go you're going to really enjoy it.  It's just that one particular system may just have the features that make it best for you.

[fwright]

One of the features I have been looking at is the availability of a computer interface so I can use Decoder Pro for CV programming.   So far my research on the more advanced starter systems (under $200 street) indicates:

MRC Prodigy Advance2 and Wireless:  computer interface promised but has yet to materialize

NCE Power Cab:  computer interface promised but has yet to materialize.  Is available on the higher priced NCE systems (serial port interface).

Zephyr:  optional computer interface (serial port) available, 3rd party USB interface available.

Is any of the above incorrect?  Did I miss anything?

waiting to be corrected

Fred W 

[CSX Robert]

You are correct on all three accounts. One thing I might add is that there is a do-it-yourself circuit you can build for the Zephyr for less than $5 in parts at the bootom of this page:http://www.teamdigital1.com/support_tools.html. I use this circuit with m yZephyr and it works fine for me.

[jwils1]

One of the features I have been looking at is the availability of a computer interface so I can use Decoder Pro for CV programming.   So far my research on the more advanced starter systems (under $200 street) indicates:

This is a very important consideration.  The free Decoder Pro and Panel Pro programs are really great in working with DCC, if you have a computer available near your layout.  This is certainly not a necessity for DCC but does make some operations much easier.  If you can't do it initially it's something you can add in the future.

Even if you have a computer somewhere else in the house, you can still use Decoder Pro to assist you indirectly.  There is another thread on this.

[jbinkley60]

One of the features I have been looking at is the availability of a computer interface so I can use Decoder Pro for CV programming.   So far my research on the more advanced starter systems (under $200 street) indicates:

This is a very important consideration.  The free Decoder Pro and Panel Pro programs are really great in working with DCC, if you have a computer available near your layout.  This is certainly not a necessity for DCC but does make some operations much easier.  If you can't do it initially it's something you can add in the future.

Even if you have a computer somewhere else in the house, you can still use Decoder Pro to assist you indirectly.  There is another thread on this.

Actually with Digitrax Loconet you can still run a Loconet connection via cable quite a ways (and not have to extend Decoder Pro over a LAN network), in the same room, and terminate into a computer with a USB connection.  I used Cat5 cable and ran a Loconet connection about 75'  (cable distance) to an existing set of servers I had.  I bought the LocoBuffer II interface and plugged into an existing USB port.  I can't speak to the other manufacturers but this type of flexibility from Digitrax (among many others) was why I chose a Super Chief Radio system.  I realize this isn't a "starter system" but I debated going the starter system route or biting the bullet and getting more features and still having flexibility for future expansion.  It was a larger up front investment but now even with a roster of over 60 locomotives, I don't have to worry about outgrowing it.  In the end the cost difference was about one good sound locomotive.  I was able to justify that easily.