Helpful poll on DCC

[Anonymous]

I had sent for product literature on the PSI Dynatrol system in the early 1990s. I felt that command control was the logical next step in control systems for model railroads. I knew that the most cost was going to be in the receivers for the locos (decoders). When I saw how reasonably priced decoders had become for DCC systems I become much more interested. I finally purchased a Digitrax Zephyr. I was attracted to Digitrax, first because of name recognition. I had been paying attention to Digitrax since DCC first came on the market as they were a market leader. I hadn't taken the plunge into DCC, because the systems were still sorta pricey. When the Zephyr came out, I decided to move forward. I have a small 14' X 8' one man operation layout and the Zephyr will handle my needs very well. So far I have 10-12 locos with decoders installed and need to install a few more and all my locos will be converted. In most of the locos I have converted I have used Digitrax's DH123D decoders. This is simply a decoder with a 7 inch long wiring harness. I have had no problems installing decoders and have done both steam and diesel. I have found Digitrax's operation manuals to be detailed, intuitive and easy to read. After having used the manual to change a couple of loco's addresses, I now do so without the manuals. My opinion is the Digitrax Zephyr is as good a unit as I need and I am very happy with it! I have had to send the unit back to Digitrax due to stupidity on my part and their service is very good.

[Anonymous]

I have never used a DCC system. I think the cost is to high till you buy the system then all the decoders. I am sure I would like it though. I have looked at them many times and keep looking at the NCE. If I were going to purchase one it would be that I suppose.

[Anonymous]

I cannot vote, since my dcc system isn't on the list, I run Marklin Digital, which is their own DCC system. I believe they worked with motorola in developing the system but I might be wrong on that. I do love the system, I have also run on a friends layout that uses the Digitrax Super Chief system and I like that one as well.

[NZRMac]

I've got the Lenz Compact (Atlas Commander)
It's a bit limited in getting to the decoder CV's but have no trouble apart from that
It's fully expandable, my next bit will be wireless with an adaptor and cordless telephone. I also have a local distributor which makes it alot easier.
I have just one loco with decoder, soundtraxx dsd 100lc which fitted ok in a Athern GP38

Ken

[jrbernier]

I have a Digitrax Chief system(1997???) with DT400R wireless throttles(2001). I have really had no problems with it, and have expanded it with wireless(2001) and a booster(2004). I have about 20 engines with decoders(5 are sound steamers). Very nice system - If I did it again, I might look at a smaller unit like the 'Zephyr', but I do have rather limitless expansion......

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

I have the Digitrax as well. And its far too much for my beedy little mind.
But I figure that I won't be hemmed in. Just mind-less. I hope to hit the
lottery here in Florida and build a system bigger than The Science and
Indusrys' in Chicago.

[Anonymous]

I am also in the DigiTrax camp. I bought the Chief a month after it came out. The reasons I went with DigiTrax is the Loco-Net. I have computer control and that network makes is very easy to do many things that would be more complex without it.

I upgraded the orignal DT100 to radio and have DT400R's. I also have a Zepher to take to other layouts. When it's home it is part of the Loco-Net system. It's a great little package and it's 2.5A booster is nice for my staging yard.

Regards;
Ken

[Anonymous]

Having used several different systems at one point in time, I went with NCE.
Its the simplest to use, fully functional system out there. Period![^]

[JerryZeman]

I purchased Dynatrol in 1987. I was happy with it, and it took an in-home demonstration by Don Wangrow to convert me to DCC. I'm running System 1 (interchangeable with NCE) with several NCE cabs. I converted in 1997.

No single item has increased my enjoyment of the hobby than DCC. I love the ability to program in the locomotive based on cab number (9999 addresses), the reliability, and the wicked cheap decoders (I'm not running sound).

I love the features of the NCE system, but if for some reason they weren't around, I'd be just as happy running Digitrax, Lenz, or some other system.

regards,
Jerry

[Anonymous]

I have nothing bad to say about MRC Its cheap, easy to use, and does every thing I need to do to opperate my layout!

[cacole]

Such a poll is meaningless and the results are already known -- people will vote for whatever they own and few will have experience with any other system, so the results will be biased, no matter what.

[jfugate]

If price is an issue, then Digitrax is probably the choice for the best combination of price and functionality.

If price doesn't matter, and functionality is most important, then NCE or EasyDCC is probably the choice.

If price is the only issue and you just need DCC of any kind then probably Bachman or MRC is the choice.

For me, it was functionality. I looked at NCE and EasyDCC, and ultimately went with EasyDCC because I prefer the feel of their throttles and their promptness is filling their orders and providing techinical support. After 4 years of using their system, I'm still very pleased with it.

[Anonymous]

I am currently using MRC Command 2000's on both my HO and my wife's N scale layouts. Though limited in fuctions and numbers of loco addresses (10 for each system) we have both been very pleased with the operation and ease of use with the systems, especially when using the handheld control in addition to the command station. This would not be a system for use with sound or advanced functions, but for my wife's N scale, sound is not really important. You can use multiple engines on the same address for simple consisting including reversing direction of individual locos in a consist ( when running A units back to back you can use the same address and just program one loco with polarity reversed).

I have used mainly NCE and Digitrax decoders (basic models) with great success and use the 28 speed step option. With the Command 2000 you can regulate the acceleration and braking speeds with great realism when programming. I did not like the basic MRC decoders with the 14 speed step limitation and have removed them.

When I advance my HO system to sound, I would not hesitate with MRC Prodigy Advanced system.

[johncolley]

I have used NCE on a friend's operations based layout and really like it, but it is way out of my price range. Therefore, I got maybe 90% of the capabilities for 1/2 the price and for my needs so far I am very happy with the new Prodigy Advance from MRC. A giant leap forward from the original Prodigy. Whatever you all go with the main thing is to enjoy! Happy Railroading!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

Such a poll is meaningless and the results are already known -- people will vote for whatever they own and few will have experience with any other system, so the results will be biased, no matter what.

I don't recall requesting that your vote be unbiased and to the contrary assumed that your opinions would likely be so! If my attempt at providing information for newcomers to DCC has missed the mark, Mr. cacole, would you please, in your infinite wisdom, provide us with a better poll!

Why do people have to be so NASTY!!!!!????

[Anonymous]

Digitrax gets my vote.

[cmurray]

I use PSI Dynatrol DCC (now Lahti Associates; same guy, different company name) because I originally had his conventional Dynatrol command control. He added digital to his system in conjunction with NCE so it was natural for me to convert. Eventually I converted totally to DCC and sold off my conventional parts. Because the command station and programming cab are from NCE, that's who I voted for in the poll. I have nothing but good to say for both NCE and Lahti's Dynatrol DCC. They work great!!

[Anonymous]

I guess Cacole was right about the value of a poll such as this! The response was under-whelming! For the high praise given Easy DCC and NCE, these manufacturers did not get much votes, gathering 3 and 9 votes respectively. Digitrax seem to be unjustifiably high, with 26 votes. Are there more votes and or comments on DCC systems?

[mikebonellisr]

I started out with a digitrax big boy and soon after traded up to the chief.I am very pleased with the system and have never had any kind of problem with it what so ever.When I'm finished running for the day,I put the system into sleep mode and the power ON. I've been doing this for 8 to 10 years without any problem.It is taking time to get use to the d400R throttle.

[Anonymous]

I use and recommend Easy DCC for those who like wireless control and are interested in a full featured system. I like the knob on the wireless controller (none of those buttons for speed control). The wireless gives train direction, function buttons and speed knob. Nice and simple. I prefer the one way infrormation flow to the base station because I find it to be more reliable than other systems I have used that use two way. The system is rather spartan in the amount of info it provides the operator. I find I don't mind this when I am operating and I like the simplicity. It is very much like a hand held cab of the old days with function buttons.

The system is easy to use. I have programed CVs, etc in my decoders and it all is pretty straight forward. I was able to hook it up and run it out of the box in about 30 minutes.

I also like the Lenz 1035 slow speed switching decoder. I can get locos to run so slow you have to look twice to see if they are moving. I have also used Digitraxx, NCE and Soundtraxx decoders sucessfully. I have almost exclusively newer generation plastic steam and decoder installation was very simple in almost all cases (with the exception of Soundtraxx LC sound decoder in a Spectrum Shay). If you use NCE decoders, make sure you cut the capacitor on the board in Bachmann Spectrum locos (search Tonys for more info). They run slow speed much better this way.

I think that a lot of the arguements over DCC come down to an issue of style. What do you like??? I like to run trains and don't care about all the bells and whistles. I don't need to be able to program CVs from my hand held. I don't need to see the time, functions engaged, etc on the hand held either. Some people prefer to have these features. There are systems out there that offer them.

As some others have mentioned, try before you buy if possible. Go to Tony's, Loys and other sites and read about DCC. Learn about CV's, decoder functions, harnesses, transponding, back EMF, dither, Sound decoders....etc The more you know about this stuff, the more you can figure out which features you want and which system is right for you.

I know for myself there is nothing cooler than to be able to run a loco while another sits a few inches away on the same track stopped. No more "who has my train?"!!!!.

Never looking back,


Guy