CSX17, Once you have gone to wireless radio throttles you will never go back to any other way. It is way too much fun being able to walk around with the engine you are running at the time.
And if I could not run DCC this time around I would not have even bothered to get back into model railroading. I know there are those who will shake their heads in wonderment, but having to flip switches every 5 to 20 seconds gets and did get tiring very quickly. I admit his is my opinion and may not be what others think.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
Or, use it as a booster for a power district.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
CSX17 z extra is it capable of being hooked up to a comptuer to program and run train's with thanks' zman.
z extra is it capable of being hooked up to a comptuer to program and run train's with thanks' zman.
Yes with the addition of a computer interface such as the Digitrax PR3 or the Locobuffer 2.
If you are going to upgrade to the Z xtra, at least get your old Z fixed and sell it. Once repaired I would bet you could get $100 out of it on eBay.
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
cool cool this is all good advice though i think im going to get a new z extra and when cash flow allow's get a duplex super radio throttle and a radio loconet plate. one more question on the z extra is it capable of being hooked up to a comptuer to program and run train's with thanks' zman.
BerkshireSteam The problem with the Zypher Xtra is that now hobby shops that want to keep up to date don't have the original Zypher anymore. At least the one I go to doesn't.
The problem with the Zypher Xtra is that now hobby shops that want to keep up to date don't have the original Zypher anymore. At least the one I go to doesn't.
The original Zephyr was discontinued when the Xtra was released. The MSRP of the new one is only about $10 more than the original. The best time to get the old Z was in the run up to the release of the new one, there were a number of fire sales at some of the internet dealers selling them off cheap. You can get the Z x for about $180 at the better on-line stores.
The problem with the Zypher Xtra is that now hobby shops that want to keep up to date don't have the original Zypher anymore. At least the one I go to doesn't. The Xtra has more than I want, or need, and is a little bit more than I want to pay for a starter DCC system. It honestly does make me think of old skool DC.
I am a very satisfied Digitrax radio Chief (DCS100) user. I recently purchased a brand new Zepher on Ebay for $125 plus $12 S&H. I will use this on my workbench to power my test track. I use a PR3 and Decoder Pro for programing and have a DT402D to run the test track; or use my PC and Dcoder Pro throttle to run the test track. The Zepher unit just functions as a command station.
The old Zepher is rated @ 2.5AMPS and the new Zepher Extra is rated at 3AMPS and will do 28 functions. (I don't use more than 3-4 functions (lights, horn, bell). It is easy to make a Zepher walk around by adding a LCOCNET with UP5s; or by adding a UR90 for infared or UR91 for simplex radio or a UR92 for Duplex radio.
With the new Zepher Extra on the market a lot of older Zephers are being sold cheep on Ebay. You may want to see if you can pick one up cheep.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
You can get your DCS50 (Zephyr) repaired for $35.00, which includes return shipping from Digitrax. See this link for the procedure http://www.digitrax.com/warranty4.php You could then add a one of the DT402 dual throttles with 28 function support and end up with both the Zephyr throttle and the walk around throttle.
Zach,
The two main differences that I'm aware of between the Zephyr and the Zephyr Xtra:
It uses the same enclosure so you would need to be in one location to operate your layout. For the price of a new DCC system, you could probably get your Zephyr repaired and purchase an extra throttle/panel for "mobility" with change left over.
And, just a suggestion, Zach. Although commas and capitalization aren't necessary, periods at the end of sentences sure make reading and understanding what you are trying to communicate easier for the reader. Without them it becomes more difficult to know exactly where one thought ends and a new one picks up.
Again, just a suggestion...
my old system was a first generation zehper from digitrax really only thing i disliked about it was the had to be right there on it and i have no where no on my layout to put it withough buildign a shelf for it which i dont' midn if i do get another one what is the difference between the old one and the new zephery extra and i really just want a walk around throttle. is my main thing with extra function number's to access my new loco with sound on it i like the fact it has the most power for the buck and i know it's dead because a puff of smoke came out of it yesterday zman.
Connect your multimeter to both rails. You should see about 12 VAC to about 16 VAC The controller must have some kind of power indication/light. What brand/model?
Connect a automobile 12 volt light bub if no meter.
Get a battery tester from a auto store, Walmart, Home depot. Looks like an ice pick with a light bulb in the clear plastic handle. It should be about the same brightness as a 12 volt battery.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
What system did you have before? What exactly leads you to believe that the command station failed on you?
Between the MRC PE and the NCE Power Cab, I'd picked the Power Cab. Although the total output is about the same (1.6A/1.7A), the PE is more limiting.
The PE has a separate command station. The Power Cab is a command station, booster, and throttle all rolled up into one. With that being the case, the Power Cab has to stay connected to the layout while it is on. Otherwise, if you disconnect it from the PCP panel, your layout shuts down. With the 7' cable for "tethered" walk-around capability, that's not a real deal breaker for me.
The Zephyr Xtra is another good choice. It gives you 3.5(?)A of total power and the upgrade path is the best of the three. With the recent upgrade of the 5-amp Smart Booster (SB3a), NCE has moved in the right direction along those lines.
The Power Cab can be used with an NCE Powerhouse Pro system. When plugged in, it automatically becomes a ProCab throttle.
Can your current one not be fixed?
What is the one that just died?
What do you like about the one that died?
What do you dislike about the one that died?
What features was it missing that you would like?
hey guy's well the other night my dcc comand staion crapped out on me.
i am looking for a new system had it for three year's worked good and just died on me. looking between the mrc prodigy express and the nce powercab though am up to other suggestion's and what are the pro's con's between these system's thank's zach.