Which DCC?

[Anonymous]

I'm in the market for a DCC system for a small starter layout. I don't have a lot of money to spend on DCC, but I've narrowed my options down to either MRC's Command 2000, or the prodigy system, both of which I can buy for considerably less that of their orignial price. I'd like to get the Digitrax Zephyr, but I'd rather test the waters with something cheaper. Which of the two would you reccomend?

[Anonymous]

I'm not very sure of the different features of the Command 2000, I've tried to look them up on google, but I haven't gotten any helpful results.

[randybc2003]

See if there is a local Model Railroad Club in your area. Go and talk to them if they have DCC. See what they have, and why.

Personaly, I chose DIGITRAX, for the reason that it had the most flexability. One thing Personal Computers taught me. Choose the absolutely biggest, strongest, most powerful system you can afford. It will be obsolete in 6 months!!

Check MRC/s website. I think Command 2000 is already OBS. Prodigity doesn't have the power and features of some others. Of 3 clubs in my area, 2 used DIGITRAX, and one wasn't yet converted to DCC. Local expertese therefor influenced my decision too. I had a problem of dual usage that the DIGTRAX system solved for me. The club I belong to often MU's it's trains, and D'X works best, in light of number assignment, etc. I honestly think choosing by reason of $$ only could be a disasterous reason in the long run.

No I am not a DIGITRAX salesman.

Randy

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't recommend buying the cheapest one available. The Digitrax Zepher is a great system at a low price but it is fully upgradeable - unlike the other options you have mentioned. This means when you want to change to a bigger system you can easily and (potentially) still be able ot use your older system. You would not have that luxury with the cheapy systems.

Have you considered if you really need DCC? Yeah, it's great but if you are only going to run a few locos you might be better off waiting a bit until you can afford a higher spec system and sticking with DC control for now. You can always use the DC controller to power building lights or point motors later.

[simon1966]

I am doing exactly what neilmunck has suggested. I am buliding a moderate size layout in my basement. Almost all the track it laid except a yard because the cost of the PECO turnouts I need to complete it is too painful right now! I have wired the layoud for DCC and have devided it up into power districts for different boosters in the future. In the mean time, I have connected a cheap Atlas, or MRC DC powerpack to each power district, goving me basic block control of the layout for now. My boys and I have been able to have great fun already. I fugure that this control can last me for many months as we build scenery and complete the track. Then when finance permits we will switch to DCC and it will be a simple matter of swaping out the systems.

[Anonymous]

Go here: http://www.ttx-dcc.com/

and check out the comparison charts (http://www.ttx-dcc.com/productcompare/dcccomparison.htm)on the DCC systems. I'd recommend staying with either NCE, Lenz or Digitrax.

NCE powerhouse Pro is a strong system, comes with 2 free decoders, a computer interface built in, just need to add a power supply and you'll be up and running in 30 minutes with it.

Lenz set-100 would be the next choice, great warrenty, again add a Powersupply and you'll be running in no time. need to buy decoders, and recommend getting a lh90 thriottle down the road.

And on the digitrax front, the Super Chief is the top choice, includes power supply, and again you'll be up in no time after you buy decoders.

Neither Lenz or Digitrax offer embedded computer interface, you'll have to buy a seperate module for that.

If your needs are light, you can get the Atlas Commander or the Digitrax Zephyr, both are good entry level systems, but will leave you wanting more later on, so you'll probably be better off buying on of the three mentioned above. The commander has problems with programming BLI Locomotives, the Zephyr is limited to 10 loco's at once, so if you do any operations with more than 10 running, this would not be the choice.

Stay away from the Super Empire Builder, it's price seems good, but has no read/write capability and overall isn't that much better than a Zephyr, best to jump to the superchief at that point.

If you're confused, visit the atlas DCC forum http://forum.atlasrr.com/ and ask questions there as well, it's probably the most informative forum on DCC. You'll find that most of the people there, reguardless of their system choice will be helpful in directing you to a system that fits your needs.

Jay

[Anonymous]

Maybe I should stick to DC, Al that I've got is a 12 by 4 layout with a two track mainline, and a small switching complex.

[ndbprr]

Hold on just a minute on that idea and answer two questions:

1. Is this layout your last and will never be enlarged?
2. Do you intend to purchase any more engines in the future?

If you answered yes to either than I would strongly suggest you go DCC now for a couple of reasons:
1. The time to get into it is now because you can add decoders to engines as you buy them spreading the cost over time. Have pity on some of us with a couple of hundred engines who have some serious considerations with the switching costs.
2. A small layout allows you to develop the skills and troubleshoot much easier than learning on a big layout.
3. Going to run more than one train at the same time? DCC all the way

The one reason I would give to not go DCC is if you see something on the horizon better than DCC that you want to wait for. For me that would be virtual reality with fiber optic views from the cab. Can you imaging sitting in you force feedback chair with your goggles and headphones on hearing and feeling the rocking, rolling and vibrations while looking out of your engines window on your layout, then reaching out and notching the virtual reality throttle back and applying the brakes. That would be awesome!!!! I should live long enough to see it though.

[bcammack]

Define "I don't have a lot of money"

If you go to www.froogle.com and search on "Atlas Commander Duo-Pack" then sort by price, you can get one for around $125.00. That's pretty darned decent for an expandable, Lenz-based DCC starter system.

[Anonymous]

I've found the Prodigy System for $120, the Atlasmaster for $114, and the Command 2000 for $75.

[bcammack]

If you can deal with the limitations of the system, the Command 2000 will probably get you started as long as you go in with the attitude that you will be replacing it someday when you expand your layout or your expectations. At least it's cheap enough that you don't have to try and make some sort of investment out of the purchase.

The Prodigy, to me, seems like a fairly limited system (as one would expect from "starter systems"), but doesn't offer you anywhere to go if you want to expand in the future.

When pricing the Atlas Commander, be sure to price the Duo-Pack version because the Commander alone cannot be used without an a power supply to drive it. The Duo-Pack is the Commander bundled with the Generator to power it. That's why my price reference was higher on the Atlas unit.

I like the Commander in this market space (< $150.00) because it is compatable with the Lenz accessory line, meaning you can add an XPA to it later for $50, combine it with a cheap cordless telephone and have yourself a wireless throttle for cheap. If you ever go big-time with a big Lenz system, the Commander will still make a nice yard throttle on the layout and any accessories you've aquired will still work with the new system.

Hope this helps.

[jfugate]

Once you get past the starter system stage, then a good question to ask is: "what are most of the other modelers in my area using?"

Whatever that is, it's a good bet that if you go with that system, you can get lots of help with questions.

In my case the choices came down to Digitrax or EasyDCC, both of which are popular locally. EasyDCC has the better wireless system (true radio wireless), and I find their system easier to use than Digitrax. Digitrax has always seemed to me like the user interface was designed by a tech guy (the other kind of engineer) and as a result can be hard to learn.

So I went with EasyDCC ...


Just my 2 cents.

[Anonymous]

One more vote for Digitrax

[JPowell]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NTDN

Go here: http://www.ttx-dcc.com/

and check out the comparison charts (http://www.ttx-dcc.com/productcompare/dcccomparison.htm)on the DCC systems. I'd recommend staying with either NCE, Lenz or Digitrax.

NCE powerhouse Pro is a strong system, comes with 2 free decoders, a computer interface built in, just need to add a power supply and you'll be up and running in 30 minutes with it.

Lenz set-100 would be the next choice, great warrenty, again add a Powersupply and you'll be running in no time. need to buy decoders, and recommend getting a lh90 thriottle down the road.

And on the digitrax front, the Super Chief is the top choice, includes power supply, and again you'll be up in no time after you buy decoders.

Neither Lenz or Digitrax offer embedded computer interface, you'll have to buy a seperate module for that.

If your needs are light, you can get the Atlas Commander or the Digitrax Zephyr, both are good entry level systems, but will leave you wanting more later on, so you'll probably be better off buying on of the three mentioned above. The commander has problems with programming BLI Locomotives, the Zephyr is limited to 10 loco's at once, so if you do any operations with more than 10 running, this would not be the choice.

Stay away from the Super Empire Builder, it's price seems good, but has no read/write capability and overall isn't that much better than a Zephyr, best to jump to the superchief at that point.

If you're confused, visit the atlas DCC forum http://forum.atlasrr.com/ and ask questions there as well, it's probably the most informative forum on DCC. You'll find that most of the people there, reguardless of their system choice will be helpful in directing you to a system that fits your needs.

Jay

Here's update...I tried to access the comparison chart, and found that Tony's was forced to discontinue using that site by TTX Co due to possible infringment rights. Here's the new link...
http://tonystrainexchange.com/productcompare/dcccomparison.htm

[JPowell]

Also, MR Mag did a review of a few of these DCC systems either in the Dec or Jan 04 issue with a comparison chart. May want to look at that as well.

[Anonymous]

I purchased an MRC pack several months ago just to get my layout running and to check on operation. Then a couple of weeks ago, I bought an Atlas DCC set-up. In the manual, it said you didn't have to use their "generator", that you could use any decent power pack and the commander alone...

I guess I could have saved a few bucks, had I known this little tidbit of info... Now I wonder if I can use this MRC pack and piggy back it with my existing generator, rather than buying another generator for expansion???

Also, I like the Atlas for the money... It has enough functions to fit the bill on my little pike.