All you're giving up are some extra silly functions. My only two sound locos are older ones that don't have all the extra functions but what they usually are are thing like city sounds, barnyard sounds, automatic grade crossing whistles (you can do that yourself with the regular whistle on F2), and some REALLY silly stuff like train wreck sounds. Oh and let's not forget the radio chatter - perfectly appropriate for that 40's steam loco (the recorded voices use modern terms - so you can't even say, well if it's a PRR unit it could be the Trainphone!). Basically, I find no need for all the extras, and should they actually put something useful above F12 you can usually remap the functions so all the useful stuff in in F0-F12 and you'l never miss the extras.
Upgrading the DT400 is cheap enough if you really need 28 functions. Digitrax is very fair on upgrades, the upgrade cost is the same as the difference in price of the new units - say a radio throttle is $40 more than the non-radio, if you buy a non-radio today and upgrade it later, they charge you $40.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Exactly, if you want the capability of the Xtra, just send the DT400 to Digitrax to get it upgraded to the 402 spec. You can also have them upgrade it to either the new Duplex or the older Simplex radio at the same time if you want. Details of the throttle upgrades are on the web site at http://www.digitrax.com/dt402upgradeintro.php if you only want the 402 features and not the radio it is just $25 for the upgrade which includes the return postage. My DT400 became a DT402D via this method.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
I have a Digitrax Super Chief Radio which I purchased over 12 years ago. It came with a DT100R throttle which is still in use on my layout and a DCS100 command station. Last year I sent my DCS100 to Digitrax with $50 to upgrade/expand the command station for 12 functions. (I don't use 12 functions but was sending a throttle in for upgrade.) I have upgraded my Digitrax System to Duplex Radio; however my two DT100R and two DT300R throttles are still in use. The newer DCS100 in the Super Chief Set should work fine without the need to upgrade.
The nice thing about Digitrax is your system can be upgraded by adding parts. If you get a great price on the Super Chief and want to go to duplex radio, you will need to purchase a UR92 Duplex Radio receiver (you only need one); you can send your DT400 throttle to Digitrax with $65 to be upgraded to a DT402D. I have two DT402D throttles which I purchased dirt cheep on Ebay and sent them in to Digitrax at 1/2 the cost of buying a new DT402D throttle.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
I have a chance to get a new "Super Chief" for a good price. What am I giving up over the "Xtra"? The only difference I can see from the documentation is the throttle is DT400 instead of 402. Is that a big deal? What else might I lose? Are the newer DCS100's the same as the old ones?