I have a Digitrax Super Chief and JMRI. I love it, and even my 5 year old grandson can operate it.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Thanks to all responding. I just need to learn one system well and stick with it. I agree with the person who said you need to stay with what other local people are using.
Thanks
Rob Cooper
Rod: I use the MRC Prodigy Express on a layout about half the size of the one you plan. It works very well. Any problems I have can be attributed directly to the trackwork. I converted from DC and a multiblock system that was pretty forgiving when it came to such things. That said, all is working well without any modifications to the layout or track, but sometime I plan to tweak the trackwork.
I was able to put together the MRC system with a wireless adapter and throttle for a fraction of the cost of out of the box wireless systems. It works very well. It is also very very convenient for programming and very little time is needed for referring to the manual. It is quite intuitive. One important caveat: JMRI does not support MRC equipment.
I would say that the NCE throttle has a big advantage with its backlit LCD display. Operating in very low light can be problematic without a small flashlight with the MRC throttle.
The great difference in all of this DCC "stuff" is the decoder. I have installed and used Digitrax, NCE and TCS. By far the best non-sound decoder (ie motor control) is the TCS line. Their auto-adjusting BEMF feature sets up a slow start and slow speed running right out of the box without modification. Adjusting the momentum CV's (3 and 4) is all that is needed to smooth out the speed step changes.
Good luck with what sounds like a great layout. I hope you keep your progress updated on this site.
Ray
Personally, I own an NCE PH-Pro 5 amp wireless system for my layout which is similar in size to yours.
It is not really complicated, but there is a learning curve with any DCC system.
Once you work with it, it all seems pretty easy and pretty intuitive.
From what others on this forum say from time to time, the two best systems are NCE and Digitrax.
I have to believe you will be happy with either one.
Rich
Alton Junction
I purchased an NCE Powerhouse Pro wireless and have been very happy with it and find it easy to use. I did not try or have experience with any other system. One of the reasons that I purchased this system is that my LHS had it at a very good price during a special sale.
One thing, in my limited experience, that I would strongly recommend is interfacing with a computer with the JMRi software. This makes decoder programming much easier. Another thing I plan is purchasing one of the simpler NCE throttles. For normal operations there are a lot of unnecessary buttons on the dog bone throttle.
Rob, what throttle are you using, the model of Digitrax throttle, because over the years there have been many and some were quite cumbersome? Some idea of the functions that you are struggling with would be very helpful, because then a direct comparison of number of key presses could be made with the alternative. NCE is frequently touted as being simpler to use, but when you make the comparison of what you have to do, there is actually very little difference in the process.
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
Rob,
There is going to be a learning curve with any of the systems. Even the big NCE 'Hammerhead' throttles can get confusing to some as they go into 'overload' with too much information in all of those menus.
I think the real question is if you are operating on other layouts, and they are Digitrax - Will those guys be 'lost' operating on your 'XYZ' brand of DCC system? I have operated on several layouts with different DCC systems - the throttles I liked best were the MRC ones! They seem to be well laid out. The problem is that the MRC systems do not support features I really feel I need.
I have been using Digitrax at home since the late 90's(when the DCS100 'Chief' came out. There was no wireless back then, and the DT100 throttles had all kinds of 'shift-hold this button' sequences to just program the address or aquire a locomotive. The DT400 series of throttles fixed that, and then a computer interface(Decoder Pro) came along that eliminated a lot of the 'techo-geek' stuff. My old DCS100 handled all of this new stuff and I still use it(maybe 15 years old?). I program everything from my computer, and only build consists from the throttle. I might have to look at the manuals if I had to go through all that button pushing on a throttle to program an engine again!
The basic questions you need to answer are:
I went with Digitrax due to several reasons, but I almost bought a large NCE system. At the time, the only full featured systems tended to be the 'top of the line' offerings from Digitrax, Lenz, NCE(Including Rammtraxx and Wangrow System 1), & EasyDCC. Now there are excellent 'Starter Systems' that are home sized, but are expandable.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
What function(s) are they trying to do that is so hard? I assume it is not running the train.
For acquiring new locomotives I've found the Lenz-90 throttle to be the worst. But as you said that could be because I use it the most seldom.
Are they programming CVs, or doing consisting, selecting stationary decoders, or what? I think that knowing this will help us better answer the questions. It could also be that different systems are easier to do one thing than the other.
In my opinion Digitrax is a more technical system than the others. This is great for engineers / computer people who really get into the technology and love playing with all the bits and bytes. Most of my Digitrax experience is at clubs and other peoples houses because my only Digitrax system is a Zephyr. Most of the layouts I operate use NCE with the big hammer heads radio throttles. While I have an NCE I don't have enough throttles to consider it primary. My main system is the Lenz LH-100. I also have an old MRC and CVP Easy DCC system. The Easy DCC is great with its panel interface for loco selection and programming.
I find them all to be a little "video gamish" while poking through mens to find options one wants to work with or change.
I have been operating 2 different friends layout using Digitrax for 2 years now but still feel like all of the functions and buttons are difficult to remember. I'm about to begin building my layout of about 800 sq ft point to point 225 feet of mainline. Is there a better system out there that's easier to use than digitrax for a large home layout or should I just try to learn it better. The other layout guest seem to have problems remembering how to use the digitrax system as well. Are they all this hard ?
Thanks,