bigjoe11a That's what every one is telling, I'll have to save up for a new train set. and get extra parts. If I'm going to spend that kind of money I would be better off getting a new Train set. Thanks Joe
That's what every one is telling, I'll have to save up for a new train set. and get extra parts. If I'm going to spend that kind of money I would be better off getting a new Train set.
Thanks
Joe
Joe, I finally went with a Digitrax Super Empire Builder, the DCC system by it self cost more than what you paid for your starter set up. To be honest, don't enjoy my layout any more than when I used the E Z Command. In fact the E Z is much more durable than the Digitrax system.
I have some very nice engines, PCM Big Boy and Y 6b with sound. These are high dollar steam engines. They ran just fine on the E Z.
The two engines you got with the E Z will retail around $70.00 each so you did not do bad at all. Just not all you thought it was going to be.
Ken
I hate Rust
Joe,
Why not just get a good locomotive with sound and enjoy the E-Z Command for what it is in the meantime. Although you can't adjust CVs with it, the E-Z Command will control sound functions F1-F8 (plus lights), which really covers the essentials. Anything above F8 - IMO - is fluff and unnecessary.
In general, "train set" locomotives are average - at best. Better to purchase a good-quality locomotive. You'll be much happier for it.
I owned the E-Z Command for a year and enjoyed it because my two locomotives at the time were great runners. Even though the E-Z Command is a basic, bare-bones DCC system, it's still more fun to operate it with that than with DC.
Quality locomotives really make the difference. Keep in mind though that you do NOT have to spend a lot of $$$ to get good quality. I've found some great deals on new locomotives on places like eBay and M.B. Klein.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I paid about $260 for my Lenz DCC system alone. I paid $240 for a single sound-equipped DCC engine. And both of those were bargains. You didn't get cheated, but you did get an introduction into the hobby. It's not cheap. On the other hand, you got a couple of engines that will serve you well, and your DCC system will be fine until you're ready for something better.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I've watched the video and it is not misleading in any way.It clearly says that the EZ Command allows to operate all the bells and whistles that "come with the locomotive".I'm not impressed by how the system is controlled,however the video explains it very well.
To be honest Joe, I would not mess with adding a sound decoder at this point. It can be a real challenge depending on the engine. A good quality decoder like the Loksound 3.5 is $110.00 not counting speakers.
I would look for a engine with sound all ready installed. Try this site.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/
You should be able to find a sound engine for around $130 to $160 range. If you try E Bay, do your research first, it real easy to overpay if you don't know what you should be able to get them for.
I still have my E Z Command as a back up. Good little system.
Cuda Ken
You didn't get cheated, you just didn't read what you were getting for the price and made an erroneous assumption that every set included sound. No sets include sound unless the description says it does, and the price is going to be $100 or so more than what you paid for this one -- with two engines maybe $200 more..
I don't think you got ripped off. Bachmann lists that set on their web site for $350.
The product description says nothing about sound. One thing I've learned about train manufacturer's description is If it doesn't say it, it doesn't have it. this is especially true of DCC.
link to Bachmann set 0501
Martin Myers
Then I was right I got cheated on this price. I was watching the video on the EZ Command Center on Youtube and that's why I got it. They were showing me how to use the engine lights and horn and sound affects. So I got really screwed.
Thanks again.
IIRC, Dave, the E-Z Command will only access functions F0-F8.
Thanks Guys. very much. I am very new into train modeling. I have done this sense I was in High School and they never had stuff like this when I was in school.
You guys do thing that decoders from Soundtraxx or Loksound are better and will they be able to tell me what decoders I will need. and does any one have the URL for Soundtraxx or Loksound.
Any way I got the EZ Command DCC Train set with 2 engines. Model 0501. Like I said I guess I did get cheated. I did pay $260.00 for this set and those options were missing. I can get the lights on the engines to work. It's just the horn and affects would have been nice.
Before you begin buying more decoders and speakers be advised that the EZCommand is a very low end and not expandable system. It is not capable of programing those new decoders other than changing their two digit address from the factory default of "3" to an address between 1 and 9. It can, however, operate addresses from 1 to 10 and functions from 1 to 10 on previously programed decoders.
Welcome aboard.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
bigjoe11a I just got my new EZ Command train set. and It says that I have lights that I can get to work. There's no horn or any kind of affects. Does this mean I have to buy new encoders to replace the old ones to get the extra affects. I paid $260.00 for this train set and now I feel cheated. Any one have any ideas. Thanks Joe
I just got my new EZ Command train set. and It says that I have lights that I can get to work. There's no horn or any kind of affects. Does this mean I have to buy new encoders to replace the old ones to get the extra affects. I paid $260.00 for this train set and now I feel cheated.
Any one have any ideas.
Never, ever assume with DCC. It will bite you at times. There are many, many variables compared to DC operated locos.
Go to the Bachmann site and download the required manuals.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php
Being led by the hand here is nice but doing research on your own will prove to be much more useful and you can store the links you find or others post in Favorites for more reading and learning.
The below site has a lot of good DCC and sound info but he favors SoundTraxx sound decoders.
http://www.mrdccu.com/
Look in Curriculum.
Rich
By the way, your DCC controller is the Encoder. Learn the difference between encoders and decoders.
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.
bigjoe11a I paid $260.00 for this train set and now I feel cheated.
I paid $260.00 for this train set and now I feel cheated.
Which EZ Command train set did you purchase? Bachmann's web site lists them with an MSRP (full retail price) of between $115 to over $300, depending on which set you have. The sound equipped sets are over $500.
If it's one of the $115 sets you definitely got cheated.
I order not to speculate, which E-Z Command train set did you purchase? That will help determine if it comes with a DCC sound locomotive or a non-sound locomotive. Chances are that if it doesn't have the word "Sound" somewhere on the outside of the train set box, it's a non-sound locomotive.
Sound does not come standard, so YES, you will have to buy decoders for sound, and a speaker to go with it.
It sounds like you should have done some research before buying. I suggest that you do some extensive research before you start buying sound decoders to put in your locomotives or you may buy things that you wish you hadn't, again. Not all sound decoders are alike.
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.
DCC decoders come in a number of different varieties. The most important variations are "without sound" and "with sound." I'm guessing you don't have one with sound, since it came in a basic set. A typical locomotive with sound installed costs as much as you paid for the whole set, incidentally.
Depending on the engine, you can replace the decoder and add a speaker to get sound. You can get a low-end decoder and speaker for about $50 from Digitrax. Depending on the locomotive, it may be a fairly easy installation, or it may be somewhat more advanced. Given the effort involved in putting sound into an engine, many of us recommend getting a higher-quality sound decoder from Soundtraxx or Loksound, but that quality does come at a higher price.
Have you tried turning on the lights by pressing the 0 key on the system? That's the headlight control on most DCC systems. Or are they referring to something other than a simple headlight and backup light?