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The Zephyr is the best entry level system out there. The only other entry level system worth looking at made by Lenz is the Atlas Commander unit. But you will be better off with Digi. Now for the truth about DCC which you don't often hear. If you are building a larger layout, wiring for DCC can start to get interesting. Both DCC and DC can get complex in all honesty. Most guys have a smaller layout and then DCC is definitely easier. But the future is DCC; this statement is a no brainer. DCC is computer meets the layout. Now we all know that computers are appearing everywhere from cars to refrigerators, so logically they have arrived on the layout. The future is computers, computers and more computers. So with a larger layout you will have to pay for it in some "sweat" equity as you try to figure either system out - DCC or DC. I'll give you a taste of how complex it can get, but don't freak, its just as bad on the DC side. So you have your layout but you have added around circuit breakers (PM42) to ensure that when you have a short your entire layout doesn't shut down. But you decide to install signals so you have to add detectors, to feed information to the electronic controllers for the signals, either Chubb's or Digitrax's or some other manufacture. Then you decide it would be great to have the computer run trains in and out of staging only - why tie up a human to do a mundane job that a computer can do, so this means more detectors, and a computer interface and a computer program. While using the program on your layout room dedicated computer, you decide to install Decoder Pro (a free program) to program you decoders - an easier task with this program. So you see your entering a new and fascinating facet of the hobby. Do not let fear stop you, fear is the greatest obstacle to over come to attain an excellent layout. With DCC almost all of us started out just like you; and there will be the occasional day when you curse it, just like you occasionally curse your computer, but DCC is already light years ahead of DC.
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