Hello all. I'm contemplating setting up a small (maybe 5 or 6x10ft.) un-sceniced layout this winter, as I have no place to run my four HO locomotives and with winter coming on I'll be spending more time inside and will probably be wanting to run my trains on more than a circle of 18" rad. EZ-track.
While over at a friend's house yesterday (first time to his house) I got to see his collection of HO equipment. Among his many pieces was a trio of ALCo RS's, two SD50's, a B-mann 4-6-0, and a Big Boy - all nice, new stuff; but, he has no layout either.
Now to the question; What would be the easiest way to set up this future layout to where my friend and I could both run, oh, maybe two to three trains each? He has a DigiTrax DCC controller - don't know the model, but nothing terribly extravagant or large. I will likely buy the base EZ-Command setup and equip all my locomotives with Bachmann decoders, even without considering accomodating my friend operating with me every once in a while.
I could probaby have answered my questions myself a year ago, but since that time I have gotten more into railfanning and working with miniature, 5" scale equipment, and let my subscription to MR expire in favor of a sub. to Trains.
Would my EZ-command system and his DigiTrax system work together on the same layout? Could one be used as a throttle to the other? I'm even confusing myself a little bit, so if ya'll need more details to answer my question please say so. Thanks in advance!
Alex
Most DCC systems sold in the US are compatible with each other to a point.
Locomotives with decoders (any decoder using the NMRA standard) can run on any DCC equipped layout. I use NCE, Soundtraxx, and LokSound DCC decoders on my layout, and my DCC system is NCE. Our club has a Digitrax DCC system and I can run any of my locomotives on it also.
Controllers are not interchangeable between different brands of DCC systems. That is, you couldn't use your controller on anyone else's DCC system unless it was the same brand DCC system that you have. And no one else could use their controller on your DCC system unless it was the same brand that you have.
Hope this helps.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Alex V.Would my EZ-command system and his DigiTrax system work together on the same layout? Could one be used as a throttle to the other?
No. Not even the boosters can be used together because no one has any idea how to connect a Bachman booster to any other system.
Thanks for the replies.
I see on Bachmann's website that, in the description of their base EZ-Command system, it says "plug-and-play" compatibility with all DC and DDC systems. Does this mean that it can be used as a throttle on other layouts, or something else?
Would it be possible to have two operators running their respective trains on the same layout with the EZ-Command "base" system (controller and power pack) and the "Walk Around Companion"?
According to their manual, the EZ Command station can be plugged into another booster. That would make it the command station and the extra booster would be a slave to it. So there would be more amps available on the track, but the number of locos (10) wouldn't change. It goes on to say that the extra boosters must be optocoupled boosters. AFAIK, all Lenz boosters are optocoupled so they would work. Digitrax will build an optocoupled booster on special order. Zephyr is not optocoupled. Not sure about the others, would have to check documentation on each.
In any system, there can be only one command station. Every DCC system consists of a command station and a booster. Some are combined in one box, others are separate units. Some of the combined units can be separated electrically. Some, like the EZ Command can not be separated. That means to use its booster, the command station in it needs to be the one and only controlling the layout. Additionally, each system needs some type of user interface to run trains. e.g. Throttles
The connection between the throttles and the command station is the part not covered by NMRA standards. Sometimes it's inside the box as an all-in-one. Sometimes it's via a cable as an external walk around. Some offer both. That's left up to each manufacturer as is the correct connection of each wire in the cable. This is the reason most throttles are not interchangeable between systems. For exam[le, Digitrax and NCE have the same plugs and jacks on their throttles but don't dare plug an NCE throttle into a Digitrax system or vice versa.
My question is, Why?. Once you have the need for additional boosters and throttles, the Bachmann system becomes a poor choice of command station.
Martin Myers
I'll add my voice to everyone else's. The locomotive decoders are all interchangeable. You can run Bachmann decoders on his DCC system, and vice versa. But, you can't take a Bachmann throttle and plug it into a Digitrax system, and you can't plug a Digitrax throttle into a Bachmann system, either.
The EZ Command system is the ultimate beginner system. Unfortunately, it can NOT grow with your layout. The Digitrax Zephyr, on the other hand, is completely integrated into the rest of the Digitrax family, and you can use it as the starting point of a much larger system.
I would seriously suggest getting a Zephyr instead of the EZ Command. Take a look at the entry-level options from MRC and NCE, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I'll add one more thing. The EZ Command basically programs each loco to addresses 1-9. You could run these on another layout with another system, but the starter systems from the others, such as Digitrax, NCE, and MRC all allow you to pick ANY valid DCC address for a given loco. So if the road number on the loco is 2124 (anyone noticed this is my favorite example number? LOL) you can program it to address 2124. No remembering that the Reading T-1 is 7, it has the number 2124 right on it so you key in 2124 to select it. If you then took this loco to a layout with EZ Command, you'd have to allow the EZ Command to reprogram it or you couldn't run it.
I find it very hard to recommend that anyone get the EZ Command. And I'm finding it harder and harder to recommend looking at MRC. Their expensive computer itnerface and absolute disregard for the most common railroad program around is the final nail in the coffin for MRC as far as I'm concerned. Stick with Digitrax or NCE. Both have starter systems that will grow with you without leaving behind obsolete bits and pieces that won't work in a larger system, and both fully support the JMRI DecoderPro/PanelPro project.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I would also recommend looking elsewhere for the decoders, both Digitrax and NCE sell some lower cost ($12-$18) decoders that are in fact high quality and very reliable in comparison to the Bachman and MRC decoders and are fully compatible with any DCC system.
As others have mentioned, the EZ-DCC system is quite limited in it's capabilities compared to other starter sytems from NCE, Digitrax & MRC. This is not the place to skimp if you can avoid it. To me, one of the major limiting factors of the EZ-DCC is the 2 digit locomotive numbering (called addressing) and it can only store/run 10 numbers/locos at a time. All the other systems are 4 digit, so you can use the actual loco's number and you can store/run virtually an unlimited amount of numbers/locos without having to delete a loco to add another.
I think you need to do a little more research before making any purchase, a good place to start is Tony's Train Exchange and read his DCC primer (DCC For Begginers - In Plain English) and Product Comparisons. Digitrax and NCE also have a lot of info as well, just Google them.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Thank you for your input, everyone. With what you guys have told me, I'll probably go with a Digitrax Zephyr when I do buy a DCC system - looking at the picture on their website, I think that's what my friend has, also.
Thanks again, and happy railroading!
If your friend has this:
then he has the Zephyr.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
I didn't look at the controller very closely, really. I do know for sure that it's Digitrax, and if the Zephyr is the only one that looks like it does (which appears to be the case from their website) then it's a Zephyr.