Going to start a new railroad and have been considering DCC for power. Looking over the systems available but not sure which to commit to. Ease of use and wireless are main requirements with enough power to run maybe 4 trains. Looks like the NCE system is the way to go. Thoughts?
Tedd,
NCE makes a very good wireless DCC system. So does Digitrax. Either one would serve you well.
Is there an LHS (local hobby store) near you that sells either one, where you can try it out firsthand? If not, check out a local MRR club. It's one thing to read about a system; it's another to actually try it out and push the buttons yourself. Having a throttle in your hand and/or "taking it for a test drive" can really give you a sense whether it's intuitive to you or not.
FWIW, I use the NCE Power Cab with the Smart Booster (SB3a) and like it very much. I've tried Digitrax throttles but still prefer NCE. As I stated before, both manufacturers make a terrific product and both have there pluses and minuses
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
This question has been asked many times in the past.
If you search you will see many threads on this.
It is the Ford or Chevy question.
The best system is the one that fits your needs and works best for YOU.
I went with Digitrax Super Chief Wireless and am glad. I have now seen the others and though they seem great, they are not better than my Digitrax. I went with then originally because the LHS sold them and I had a consultant to help with questions. Also many of the other MRR had Digitrax. If you live in an NCEarea, that might be easier.
Either way, you should love the radio control. I tried Iinfrared and that did NOT WORK AT ALL.
I like the one that two out of three Golden Retrievers recommend. If possible try them out yourself before hand and see what one appeals to you. I did not have the time to go into the big city to try them out so I had the two family experts ( one of which designed the first cell phone network in Canada) in that technical field look at the schematics and I chose that way. I am very happy with it.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Well it looks like NCE has passed the Lab test!
There have been many posts on this subject and with out having to read all of them the results seem to be the NCE owners swear by NCE and the Digitrax guys swear by Digitrax. If you have a club you attend or operate on another layout on a regular basis it makes sense to buy the same system to use on either layout, other than that it would appear you can’t go wrong either way.
Invest in an NCE PH-Pro 5 amp system with a wireless throttle and you will have all of the power and flexibilty that you will ever need.
Rich
Alton Junction
Why do so many people want someone else to tell them what to buy?
Nobody in here knows what YOU would prefer in a DCC system, Each responder will tell you which one HE liked. That doesn't mean that YOU will like it.
I went to the different system's websites and downloaded the manuals. After reviewing them all, I chose the Digitrax Super Chief. I like it and wouldn't change. That doesn't mean that YOU would feel the same way.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Vet Why do so many people want someone else to tell them what to buy? Nobody in here knows what YOU would prefer in a DCC system, Each responder will tell you which one HE liked. That doesn't mean that YOU will like it. I went to the different system's websites and downloaded the manuals. After reviewing them all, I chose the Digitrax Super Chief. I like it and wouldn't change. That doesn't mean that YOU would feel the same way.
Interesting viewpoint !
Maybe the better way to ask the question is: which DCC system should I avoid? You may still get a series of responses that reflect personal preferences, at least the responses will hopefully indicate what people don't like about specific DCC systems or their limitations.
The truth be told, the vast majority of folks who ask these questions could go out and purchase any of the systems, NCE, Digitrax. MRC, Lenz or even Bachmann and be be up and running quickly, doing the basics, running their railroad and be real happy. All of the systems do the basic stuff well. All of the systems have decent "getting started" sections in their manuals. None of them are fundamentally bad and they all offer value at their various price points.
This is a good thing. There is a choice, and all the choices have value. It is one of the reasons that most people like what they purchased.
What might happen is that after some time an owner finds that they are hitting some limit. Perhaps a limit that they were unaware of, or did not even know might be important in the future.
Some examples.
The Bachmann EZ owner that learns about CV programming and finds they can't do it with their system.
The NCE PowerCab owner that has some friends that want to come and run trains and discovers that there are limits to how many throttles can be added.
The MRC owner that finds out about JMRI software and wants to start using it to program decoders with a PC.
The Digitrax Zephyr owner that realizes that they want to walk around with their loco and now have to spend more to accomplish that.
In some cases the limit can be overcome by simply throwing money at it, in others not so much. Perhaps it might even result in having to sell the original and move on? This happens a lot with the Bachmann EZ, but you can get most of your money back by selling on eBay, so it is not a huge loss.
The ideal way to make this purchase decision is to think long and hard about what you layout goals are. How big is it going to be? how many operators at once? how many locomotives running at once? and how you want to run your layout, sitting static or walking around? and what is the budget? Do you have other criteria, like "I want something made in the USA"?
Answer these and you may eliminate some systems from choice. Answer these and you may discover that you have to compromise and choose a lesser system that can be expanded later as the needs evolve.
Then, if you can lay hands on systems and try them out you may find a preference. There is no right or wrong here, it is just what feels comfortable in your hand and feels intuitive to operate. The best example of this is comparing the likes and dislikes of Digitrax and NCE owners when discussing the DT402 throttle to the NCE Procab. Trust me, by the end of such a conversation you will want both!
So bottom line........
If you are spontaneous, just go buy one, you will more than likely like it. Or make a more considered decision. Ask questions to help in the decision, but don't just ask "which is best?"
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
Simon, thank you. That helped me finally make my mind up.
I have been struggling with my decision with which way to go for a couple of months. Actually, the decision to switch to DCC was made pretty quickly, but which system to use has not been that easy. I've delved into the search database here and have read many, many threads on this debate with great interest. I've also looked into the on-line manuals for each system.
I now know which way I will go. I know I will learn to use it and be happy with it for years, because it suits me and what I want it to do with it. Honestly, I could have flipped a three sided coin and been happy eiter way it landed, based on what I've learned by doing my research. Time to quit thinking about it and just do it.
Which one am I choosing? Doesn't really matter because they're all good. I will say this though; I drive a Silverado. Your Rams, F-150's and Tundras are all garbage.
BATMAN I like the one that two out of three Golden Retrievers recommend. If possible try them out yourself before hand and see what one appeals to you. I did not have the time to go into the big city to try them out so I had the two family experts ( one of which designed the first cell phone network in Canada) in that technical field look at the schematics and I chose that way. I am very happy with it. Brent
Actually it looks like they're embarassed to be near the NCE
Springfield PA
Doug from Michigan I will say this though; I drive a Silverado. Your Rams, F-150's and Tundras are all garbage.
I will say this though; I drive a Silverado. Your Rams, F-150's and Tundras are all garbage.
YA BUT! My GOLD F-350 Turbo Diesel beats a Silverado any day.
Don't real MRR'S drive Diesels?
Hamltnblue BATMAN: I like the one that two out of three Golden Retrievers recommend. If possible try them out yourself before hand and see what one appeals to you. I did not have the time to go into the big city to try them out so I had the two family experts ( one of which designed the first cell phone network in Canada) in that technical field look at the schematics and I chose that way. I am very happy with it. Brent Actually it looks like they're embarassed to be near the NCE
BATMAN: I like the one that two out of three Golden Retrievers recommend. If possible try them out yourself before hand and see what one appeals to you. I did not have the time to go into the big city to try them out so I had the two family experts ( one of which designed the first cell phone network in Canada) in that technical field look at the schematics and I chose that way. I am very happy with it. Brent
Actually they are just chomping at the bit to get to the Trainroom and get'er up and running.
And as Charlie Brown use to say
"Happiness is a warm puppy on each foot while running trains".