I'm hoping to get a DCC starter set for Christmas for a descent price and narrowed it down to the NCE Power Cab and the Zephyr starter kits. When reading about the Zephyr, it mentions that it can handle or has options for dealing with "helper units." Just wondering if NCE's Power Cab has any options.....I didn't see any in the manual. Any help would be appreciated. Steve
Helper it is refering to is consisting or MU'ed (multiple units) and quick look at the manual online shows of the NCE shows it consists. So yes, it would
That's what I kind of thought.....didn't know a clear definition of a "consist" though. Much appreciated!
If you are leaning towards the Zephyer, I would look at the Super Empire Builder. more power and the dual train thottle comes with it ( the price of that alone makes up for the additional price of the SEB). But if you go Zephyer, a lot of folks here use it and are happy with it.
One issue you should be aware of if you intend to us any Tsunami equipped locomotives is the fact that the throttle built into the Zephyr cannot write to CV128.
I just found out about this due to problems adjusting the EQ settings on my Blackstone K-27s. See this thread for details.
This will only be a problem if you need to adjust this CV. For the Tsunami decoders, this is the master sound volume CV. For some Digitrax motor decoders, it is used to put the motor control in neutral. I have no idea how (or if) CV128 is used in other decoders. The fact is, the DCS50 alone cannot write CV128.
If you add a DT402 throttle, this is a non issue as the DT402 throttles do not have this problem. From what I found out in researching my problem, the new Zephyr also has this problem.
Another option for getting around this problem is to use DecoderPro to adjust this and other CVs.
I am NOT intending this a knock against Digitrax. I just though the OP should be aware of the issue. If I had known of this before I purchased the Zephyr, I may have gone with another option.
Vernon in Central Indiana
Decoders is a whole other subject that I'll have to examine. Currenlty I just want to be able to run a few locos on my layout. Since my layout size is rather small, (7' by 12') I just want something to get started and expand out a bit later. I do have an MRC auto reverse module that I'm planning on installing, hope these systems would work with that.
I would personally recommend the NCE power cab. It's probably the easiest to learn and you get some mobility with it.
As to the earlier quetion a bout consist. A consist is simply more than one loco running together. The programming is done through the controller to make the loco's work together. A helper would just have one of the consisted loco's running in the back.
Springfield PA
Both NCE and Digitrax do advanced consists and double headers. Consists is a makeup of 2 or more locos. A double header is just 2 locos. With my power cab I have consisted several locos together and then double head the 2 consists. I am not positive but I think the Digitrax can do that also.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Yes, Digitrax can next consists.
Disadvantage of the Zephyr (compared to PowerCab): Base system is a stationary, not walk around throttle
Advantage of Zephyr over PowerCab: Out of the box the Zephyr can support more stuff - Zephyr Xtra does 20 throttles, 20 locos, whereas the PowerCab can only support 1 additional throttle. ANd if you get the computer interface to use JMRI with it - that counts as the extra throttle.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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