DCC

[Baja Chuck]

After being out of the hobby for 30+ years decided to get back into it, figure I'm old enough now.  Looks like the way to go is DCC, and have been reading, reading and more reading, as I live in Baja California, not many hobbyists around to ask questions.

I have been looking at the Digitrax starter system, but would appreciate any input that the board members may have regarding starter systems, good bad or indifferent, and O yes, I'm not a rich dude by any means, so can't afford a Cadillac system, but want something that I can build on to if needed.

[slammin]

Chuck,

Welcome to the forum and back to the hobby. Your question has been asked and answered dozens of times. First, you should post to the DCC section of the forum. You should also search that section for previuos threads. To answer you question, I use a Digitrax Zepher and love it. You can't beat hands on experience. Find a club, private layout or hobby shop where yoy can actually try the different systems.

[JoeinPA]

Chuck:

I also use a Digitrax Zephyr and am well pleased with it.  If you decide to go with a Zephyr I would suggest that you also get a handheld throttle.  These make for a more enjoyable experience.

Joe

[Comrad_Durandal]

I also echo the DigiTrax vote of confidence.  After some trepidation, and some brand hemming and hawing; I decided that DigiTrax did the most of what I wanted and had the cleanest upgrade path.  The Zephyr is a good choice, but so is the Empire Builder set.  Ultimately, you can use the Zephyr with the other sets if your needs grow - so you will be throwing away the least amount of equipment over the long term.

There is a bit of 'it's too complicated' attached to the image of DigiTrax's stuff, and I was almost swayed away from it - but after experimenting with it; I'd have to say I like it better than the other choices - and once you read through the manuals, you get a good sense of what each of the systems are capable of doing.

[Lake]

I also went with Digitrax. As I do not have a small HCD or 4x8 the main criteria was remote throttles though, so the Zephyr was not the choice. So I got the Super Empire Builder with DT400R radio throttle. I did not have a whole lot of money either, but I knew that if I bought any thing less I may have never had the money to up grade to radio control. I figured I would get the track and control system now and buy engines and cars as finances became available.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I use the Zephyr also and love it. I found it easy to use and for me the manuals were light reading. I had no problem understanding them. I like being able to program locos on the program track while I have trains running on the main.

[tstage]

Chuck,

The Zephyr (now the Zephyr Xtra) is a very good starter system and can be easily added to and upgraded from.  I like and use the NCE Power Cab.  Although it doesn't have the output of the Zephyr, I like the user-ability and intuitiveness of the throttle.

Chuck, if you are interested you can read a quick initial review of the Power Cab from my web site link below.  When you get to the home page, just click the Reviews link on the left side of the page.  There's also a review of the NCE CAB-04p throttle and the Smart Booster (SB3 & SB3a).

Hope that helps...

Tom

[simon1966]

Baja Chuck

 but want something that I can build on to if needed.

Chuck,  you have several answers already from Digitrax Zephyr users, so add me to that list as well, I have had one for best part of 10 years now!  Where did the time go?!

Anyway, I wanted to comment on your last need.

My old Z has proven to be an excellent starting point to be built upon.  My layouts growth and development coincided with my two sons growing from infants to strapping young men.  It was essential that I be able to add throttles and so most of the time there are 3 of us and sometimes more, running trains at the same time.   I have added a booster, walk around radio throttles, a PC interface, stationary decoders, and divided the layout into 4 power districts.  The old Z remains the brains and center of it all.  I have been very satisfied indeed with my original investment.  

[Baja Chuck]

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions  into the Digitrax, do believe I shall go in this direction and will post more as this project moves forward

[rrinker]

 My old Z is still the heart of my system (my layout is too small to support more than 10 trains at a time), I've added a Super Empire Builder Xtra set so I could have the 5 amp power to the rails (probably overkill), the Zephyr's track output I used to feed my stationary decoders so they operate even if there is a short on the track plus they don;t steal train running power. Plus I wanted a DT402 throttle - and the set is cheaper than a booster plus throttle purchased seperately.

With the new Zephyr Xtra, it can run up to 20 trains at a time - enough for an even larger layout. Plus it still has the dedicated program track and readback capabilities not in the Super Empire Builder. 

I also picked up an old DT100 throttle on eBay, and I have a DT400, all bit added to my Zephyr as I grew, yet the Z is still front and center and controls the whole thing. Through a quirk in my life a few years ago, I have now ended up with TWO orginal Zephyrs, the second one will be located at the end of my cement plant section, where the operator would be stationary anyway. Not sure what I will do with the track output on that one, I have no other real need - or I could use it to power the cement plant section I suppose. At any rate, nothing Digitrax ends up beig surplus or unusable - the downside being the older stuff still goes for top dollar on eBay, because it is completely compatible with any of the newer stuff. Case in pomt, the DT100 throttle. That was discontinued in the dark ages, and it's REALLY tough to program with (the source of most of the 'Digitrax is too hard' complaints), but it's great for running trains, and is smaller than the DT400/DT402. But a fully workign one (it IS an old piece of hardware, and not everyone handles their equipment gently) generally commands enough to buy a new UT4 throttle, unless you carefully pay attention to the auctions. It does so because it works perfectly fine with a brand new system purchased yesterday. That's the beauty of the Loconet design and peer to peer nature of things. Often comparisons give a negative to Digitrax because the command stations aren't user-updateable (however the Zephyr Xtra now is) - thing is, they don't need to be updated. Want 29 functions? Just add a DT402 and you have 29 functions, with no changes to the command station. Back when the standard went from 8 to 12 - you just had to add a newer throttle that did 12 functions, not modify the command station.

              --Randy

 

[Stevert]

rrinker

Often comparisons give a negative to Digitrax because the command stations aren't user-updateable (however the Zephyr Xtra now is) - thing is, they don't need to be updated. Want 29 functions? Just add a DT402 and you have 29 functions, with no changes to the command station. Back when the standard went from 8 to 12 - you just had to add a newer throttle that did 12 functions, not modify the command station.

              --Randy

Slight correction, Randy:  When the NMRA standard went from 8 to 12 functions was the ONE time the CS firmware DID have to be updated. 

But AJ was looking ahead (as always), and when he did that CS firmware update, he made it so that function commands above 8 are generated by the throttle and simply passed through the CS.  By doing that, any future increases in the number of functions (12 to 29, anyone?) wouldn't require another CS firmware update.

That's the kind of forward thinking and superior implementation that Digitrax excels at.  The playable F2 button that's always been available on the DT4xx's is another example.

[Phoebe Vet]

I have a Digitrax Super Chief and absolutely love it.  The only other system I have ever used is the very primitive Bachmann EZCommand, which was totally inadequate for my needs and desires.

[rrinker]

Stevert

rrinker:

Often comparisons give a negative to Digitrax because the command stations aren't user-updateable (however the Zephyr Xtra now is) - thing is, they don't need to be updated. Want 29 functions? Just add a DT402 and you have 29 functions, with no changes to the command station. Back when the standard went from 8 to 12 - you just had to add a newer throttle that did 12 functions, not modify the command station.

              --Randy

Slight correction, Randy:  When the NMRA standard went from 8 to 12 functions was the ONE time the CS firmware DID have to be updated. 

But AJ was looking ahead (as always), and when he did that CS firmware update, he made it so that function commands above 8 are generated by the throttle and simply passed through the CS.  By doing that, any future increases in the number of functions (12 to 29, anyone?) wouldn't require another CS firmware update.

That's the kind of forward thinking and superior implementation that Digitrax excels at.  The playable F2 button that's always been available on the DT4xx's is another example.

 Only if you had one of the first DCS100's, with the silly speaker terminals. The DB150's never needed updating.

                --Randy