Interesting on the throttle size AGAIN. I can;t find information on the size of the NCE throttles, either the full hammerhead or the smaller CAB-04 and CAB-06 units but I did find dimensional data on Digitrax and Lenze. The Lenz throttles are 2.6" wide, Digitras is 2.4". Lenzis. is .9" thick, Digitrax is .85" thick. Height is really irrelavent to fitting in your hand. Width and thickness are the main factors, and Digitrax throttles are smaller than Lenze, so I dunno about this "too big to hold comfortably in your hand" stuff comes from. Not to mention, not every user needs the biggest full featured throttle - the Digitrax UT throttles for basic train runnign are significantly smaller than either option from Lenz, and the same size or maybe a tad smaller than the train running throttles from NCE.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hi,
I use a Lenz system from the first year it was produced.
Update were made to the system by Lenz via my hobby shop.
I never had any kind of failure whith the system.
I am a Nscaler and use a lot of lenz decoders as well as Digitrax, both performed very well but it seems the Digitrax are somewhat a little more fragile, but i'ts my opinion.
Many guys forget that DCC is based on Lenz protocole which offered it to NMRA years ago.
Lenz give all the basis for a universal system.
However some things are not easy to program but it seems to be the same by the others manufacturer.
A recent forum here in Europe say it's the more reliable system on the market which is full compatible and certainly offer one of the best brand of decoders.
The rest is Your own choice.
Marc
thanks for warning me about how many things are wrong with that comparison. Having looked deeper they are both about the same price and both jmri compatible. For the sake of $2 more, I think I'll go with the NCE power pro system.
thanks again
csxbnsfbnrailway ... I found that the lenz set-100 did the same things as the nce power pro set and It was over $100 cheaper...
... I found that the lenz set-100 did the same things as the nce power pro set and It was over $100 cheaper...
Lenz is certainly a very capable and well made system, and was a "finalist" for me when I was deciding on a system a few years ago. One thing you might want to take note of is Lenz's prices have increased quite a bit over the past couple of years and may cost as much or more than the Power Pro set now.
I have Lenz on my home layout. Recently I installed a NCE system so that I could evaluate NCE as possible system for our club layout. I would agree that NCE system is a little easier to learn.
For my purposes, the downside with Lenz is that it does not support turnout routing and doesn't have a full featured wireless throttle. The main downside with NCE (and Digitrax) is the oversize throttles which aren't as pleasant to use as the Lenz one.
As noted above, best to try both and see what you prefer.
Unlike most on this forum that has responded so far I have an experience with both systems. Both systems are very good. The NCE system is probably more beginner friendly than the Lenz. Both systems are upgradeable and adaptive to change. Lenz uses a DIN plug on their throttles that is easy to plug and unplug where NCE uses a little telcom connector that can and will fail after multiple uses. I love the LH90 engineers throttle with the big knob and direction toggle. Functions 0 through 4 is a one touch deal and higher functions that I never use is several button presses. Functions can be set to momentary or latch on latch off unlike other systems. The loconet system does not need additional power supplies like some systems need when doing multiple throttles. Like NCE each throttle needs it own address. As Mr B has stated the LH100 is a super throttle.
I have an NCE system at home. It is more user friendly and easy to use. The large hammer head throttle is hard to beat. I have had problems with the Telco connector but is easily repaired with the proper tools.
Both systems are very capable.
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!
Aside from the out-of-date and/or incorrect comparison data already listed, note that Lenz and the Power Cab are VERY different to use. I find the NCE system simple and straightforward to use. To me, Lenz is not intuitive at all and I dislike setting up Lenz throttles. I would urge anyone considering Lenz to try out the system first to see if you can get used to how it works, even more so than with NCE, Digitrax or EasyDCC. You may find the cheaper cost of entry comes with a user interface that annoys you like it does me.
Rob Spangler
That chart is way out of date, plus there is no explanation whatsoever of just what all those things mean. Hey, 10 sound sbetter than 5 - yes, but does it MATTER?
Also, AMHD is now the US distributor for Lenz - oh and its also Tony's Train Exchange. And QS Solutions, distributor of QSI decoders. Oh and DCC Specialties. Conflict much? I know many people have gotten great service from Tony's, but to say they aren't biased a bit in their recommendations would be a bit naive to say the least.
Before reading any thrown together comparison chart, you need to understand what they are comparing and how it affects your choices of layout design and intended use. SO you cna spot the mistakes. Quick glance tells me severla thigns are wrong with that, besides the out of dateness.
Unlimited locos in a consist? That's true of ALL systems - if you use the basic consisting method of assigning the same address. If they intended to list the actual capacities using more advanced features, then NO system is "unlimited"
The MU capaibilties row - meaningless with the data they have there. If they inteded to say HOW you can MU with a given system, as inferred by the fact that for the Zephyr they say "same address" which is WRONG, then they shoudl list the MU methods supported - most systems supprot all 3 options - making the row useless sicne all systems listed would have the same thing written there. If they meant to list the default methiod used by each system, well, then the ones with numbers in that row are not the correct answer, and the "same address" listed for the Zephyr is still wrong.
Total functions is woefully out of date. If you count that the Zephyr is actually repalced witht he Zephyry Xtra, they ALL support 29 functions now. If you want to include the no longer prodced Zephyr, it's 9 for that one, not 10.
Max current is ok except tor PowerCab - they must have written that before it was released.
Software upgrades is where it gets misleading. Digitrax generally doesn;t have software upgrades, because they aren;t needed. It's a peer to peer system, all the braisn are NOT in the command station like the others. Prime example, original Zephyr, which I have, cna only do F0-F8 on the built in keyad. Plug in a DT402 throttle, and you get all 29 functions. No upgrade required. The bowed to the pressure of such idiotic comparisons though and the Zephyr Xtra and the DT402 throttles do have user-upgradable firmware - which I really think so far has been more toruble than it's worth. It also tempts manufacturers into releasing not fulyl ready products because "hey, we can send out an upgrade later"
Feedback is another fun one. Yeha, those listed as yes have feedback - but what kind, how much? You'll never get the sheer number of feedback devices (block detectors, etc) on Lenz or NCE that you cna on Digitrax, because of the bus and communications design. ANd Digitrax remaisn the only one where teh computer interface and related software, like JMRI, actually 'sees' ALL throttle activity, rather than having to rely on reading the command station for the status of each throttle.
Direct mode programming a no on the Zephyr? Really? COuld read the manual to see tha thtat's wrong, Zephyr supports Page, Direct, and Physical Register modes, as well as Ops Mode, same as the others.
Wireless - they skirth the Lenz falldown in this area by lamely putting a Yes in their columns. If you enjoy using a cordless phone as your 'throttle' they do indeed have wireless. Or you have to buy the CVP wireless system to use with Lenz to get 'real' wireless throttles.
NMRA conformance? Well, all those systems work with any decoder, so despite any listings in that row, they all work with each other as intended.
Feedback - well, neither transponding from Digitrax nor Railcom from Lenz (the "NMRA' system) work very well except ont he simplest layouts. Nor are they needed, RR&Co and JMRI can follow your trains around for automated operation without the use of feedback liek that. Plus the dirty little secret - the NMRA adopted the Lenz Railcom design, but to actually implement it requires modifications of every other brand of command station, sicne Railcom requires a 'quiet' period in the transmission of the DCC signals to the track to allow the decoder to send the data back. Or there is a way to install a cutout device between the booster and track, made by, surprise, Lenz.
And not to pick on AMHD, every comparison chart I've seen in other palces has similar mistakes made, including those posted in MR. I even had my 'letter' to the editor published correcting one such mistake in one of the articles. Was actualyl kind of thrilling to get a personal email from Andy S asking permission to publish my message. The small things..
I bought my Lenz Set 100 about 7 years ago. It has worked flawlessly ever since. It's a matter of personal preference, but I like the large hand-held throttle with the big buttons. The Set 100 comes with the LH100 throttle. I added on an LH90 throttle, and I never use it. If you want a second throttle, get another LH100. Programming and consisting is very awkward with the LH90, while it's easy with the LH100. The LH90 holds 8 locomotives on its "stack," while the LH100 holds a whopping 32.
Lenz does not make a wireless throttle, but I think the CVP wireless throttle will work with a Lenz system.
I installed a control bus all around the fascia. The Lenz units use 5-pin DIN plugs and jacks, which you can buy at electronics stores.
The Lenz base station provides 5 amps. That's plenty of power for almost any home layout. It does not include a power supply, so plan on another $40 or so to get a 5-amp supply. (Get that right away. Don't try to save money buy running it off an old 1-amp train transformer. It works, but you'll run out of power pretty quickly.)
Remember, though, it's a design that's getting on in years. The newer models support more DCC sound functions, but the keypad is the same, so you need multi-key combinations to get to them. I can live without crew chatter and station announcements that they put up in those high function numbers, so it doesn't bother me.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
The chart referenced to is way out of date. Pretty useless in my opinion.
Jack W.
It seems that in some peoples minds, cheap always wins. But – you get what you pay for.
The two best DCC systems on the market today are Digitrax and NCE, hands down. Both in ease of use and setup, for expanding as your RR grows, and manufacturer chip upgrades, fixes, and service. Both are US companies. Made in the USA and all that.
Remember, manufacturers will tell you anything to sell their product, but recommendations from users is the very best source of information.
I have NCE at home, and we have Digitrax at our club.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Hi
As most of you probably read in my other form on nce vs mrc I was trying to decide between the 2 dcc systems. Well now I found a website (http://www.amhobby.com/download/dcc_compare-ahd.pdf) that compares multiple systems. When looking threw that, I found that the lenz set-100 did the same things as the nce power pro set and It was over $100 cheaper. I am wondering if some people could share some of their experiences with these sets and the pros and cons of going with the lenz set.
thanks