any comments on Atlas Master DCC?

[chateauricher]

I've been looking through all the threads here; but I haven't found much commentary on Atlas's Master DCC system. [%-)]

[?] Is anyone using it ? [?] Is it any good ? [?] What are its good / bad points ?

I am thinking of using it for my first layout (N-scale); and I'd like to know if its a worthwhile investment as my budget is tight.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Timothy

[cacole]

Whether or not you would like the Atlas Master depends on several variables, such as the brand names of your locomotives and the types of decoders installed in them. Since you're modeling N scale, it's obvious that you don't have sound decoders, so that's not going to be a limitation. The Atlas system has extremely limited functionality as far as the decoder options that it can control.

Three people in our local club bought the Atlas system when it first came out to use on HO and N scale layouts. The HO modelers both quickly switched to EasyDCC or Digitrax, because the Atlas Commander wouldn't recognize the decoders in their locomotives, or couldn't program their decoders.

I think the N-scale modeler is still using the Atlas Commander, but she has only one locomotive with a decoder in it, a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0. I don't know the brand of decoder that is in it.

One person who had to switch brands has a rare form of color blindness and couldn't see the red on black display of the Atlas Master, but can read resistor and wire color codes just fine. He also had probems with the Atlas not recognizing the decoders in his locomotives.

The Atlas system is made by Lenz of Germany, as is the new Bachmann and a couple of other cheaper DCC brands. I've seen reports that these systems won't even read a Lenz decoder with consistency.

[chateauricher]

I have 3 locomotives -- none have DCC decoders installed -- Atlas's GP-40 (GO Transit); Kato's GE P-42 "Genesis" (VIA Rail); and Kato's EMD SD-40 (Algoma Central). The Atlas GP-40 is "decoder ready"; and, I'm told by my LHS, the Katos are easily converted.

I was thinking of the Atlas Master DCC system partly because of its price ($190 USD for the generator and commander). MRC's Prodigy Advance is about $330 USD. I've not priced Bachmann's EZ-DCC.

Living in Canada, I have to factor in the exchange rate and taxes, which together add about 40%. Making Prodigy nearly a $450 CAD investment. [:o] <GULP> Not an easy chunk of change to find. [:(]

[NZRMac]

I'm using a Lenz Compact (same as Atlas Master) and sure, it's got limitations but it's a great starting place, you can expand as your needs grow, with Lenz gear, I got the phone adaptor at Xmas and can use a cordless phone for wireless operation.

You can access 4 functions run 99 loco's with 2 digit addressing only and switch decoder turnouts too.
Programming is only on the program track, which seems to work fine, I've two loco's with soundtraxx dsd100-lc's in them.

F0 is light on-off. F1 is bell. F2 is horn/whistle. etc.

I've got Broadway loco's on the way and a powerpax programme booster from Tony's which should I hope let me programme them on the Lenz.

Ken.

[Anonymous]

Have had one for several years, 4 I think. Had a MRC 2000 before that, It didn't work for what we are doing, We have had 9 loco's running, on the OTB system. Easy to use, my 4yr old's can run it. Just a good system. GO for it!!