DCC Systems Poll

[BRVRR]

I have a Digitrax Zephyr and voted for Digitrax. I have added a DT400 throttle for 'portability.' I use MRC, Soundtraxx and Quantum (BLI) sound decoders and TCS, Digitrax, Lenz, and even Bachmann standard decoders. My reverse loop has a MRC ARM. I agree with the comments here about the difficulty of some of the Digitrax manuals, though I found the Zephyr manual to be easy to follow. The most complex I have seen are the Soundtraxx and Quantum manuals. They make me doubt my sanity sometimes. Again, Digitrax because I have it.

[PennsyHoosier]

Think of where DCC was 10 years ago and then reread these posts. If the technology continues to develop like this--WOW!

[navygunner]

I personally selected the Zephyr to run my N Scale layout.. This was after trying the Bachmann and MRC offerings of 2 years ago. It suited my needs for the time and offers the hope of upgrades, where I can utilize my original purchase. I did look at the Lenz and NCE systems at the time also, but could not justify the additional cost for the (at that time limited) additional capability.

[gwrly]

I've been a Digitrax Chief user since Jan 1998, and have bought a second (for backup) Chief. I would say in general that the system its self is OK. However, when are Digitrax going to produce a throttle that is reliable and does not fail?

I have 3 DT100's all have been back to Digitrax for repair at least once, I have 2 DH400's of which one has developed a problem, can't lock in locos and when it does, decides to thottle up by its self to 09 after speed returned to 00. These units are not abused, they get a lot of use but are handled carefully, still they fail.

Living where I do on the otherside of the world Iam getting sick of the cost of having to return thottles to the USA, (I'm informed they won't even repair DH100's now).

Enough is enough, I'm going to replace my Digitrax system with NCE, at least I can get them repaired here in Australia and from what I've heard their customer service is much better.

[cmrproducts]

darth9x9

From what I have read it does not! And YES they need to be able to do this!

The design was not finalized at the National Train Show so it may still have it included.

BOB H Clarion, PA

[Anonymous]

Thanks Bob and Miles for your comments. I am happy to report that it fixed itself.[8D] I let it sit for a couple of days and it reset itself. It works fine. So, now it's back to figuring out the manuals so I know all of the Chief's features.[zzz][sigh][banghead] Thanks again.

[darth9x9]

Hey Bob (cmrproducts),

Will the new 4 digit radio throttle let you make and breaks consists? If not, Didgitrax needs to go back to R&D.

[cmrproducts]

jitrainnut

I had a DCS200 comandstation get nuked by lightning and sent it back to Digitrax and they charged me $25.00 to replace the motherboard in it. So I would investigate that route.

If you want radio the UR91 radio receiver will get the radio part (list $149.99) and Digitrax will be coming out with a simple 4 digit radio throttle in November (UT4R). It will list for $129.95 much less street price. This will get you into radio for a lot less as you not have to invest in a complete new system unless you really want to.

BOB H Clarion, PA

[Anonymous]

Jitrainnut, have you called Digitrax?

My friend did something similar, called Digitrax and they fixed it for 60 bucks.

[Anonymous]

I've been reading the Digitrax/NCE wars with interest. I recently toasted my old Digitrax chief (my fault, I was gone and someone else in the household changed my variable transformer from 15 volts to 26 volts. I also had a short, and with the two concurrent problems, I did not realize what was going on until it was too late[xx(]) I like Digitrax, but when something goes wrong, the manuals are very frustrating. I originally bought the chief so that I would have something that would remain top of the line for years to come, and it has. But, I have no need for all of the bells and whistles, and I am thinking of converting to something less complicated. In looking at all of the products, I seem to like the Lenz 90 the best.[}:)] My only concerns are the lack of a momentary fuction on the 90, and the lack of a radio throttle, although from what I have read elsewhere, the phone throttle is very cheap and increadibly easy to use. Problem is, no one around here has a Lenz system.
Several people here have the simple Digitrax throttles- UR 91 or something like that- and I like them. However, all of my Soundtraxx decoders are 4 digit and switching to a two digit address would cause conflicts- I use the engine number for the address and several numbers end in 14, for example.
I would like to hear from someone who uses the Lenz 90, especially if they are familiar with Digitrax also, before I shell out $300.00 for the thing. Thank You.

[cmrproducts]

This is one reason that I have the OPTUD (OP Till U Drop) sessions is to expose the hobby, DCC and serious operations to as many people as possible.

When the e-mail goes out (and I usually have these sessions twice a year) I receive a lot of replies that the regulars want to bring a few friends along. I am now getting operators from Cleveland, OH (100 miles) – Pittsburgh, PA (80 miles) – State College, PA (80 miles) – Jamestown, NY (80 mile) and they are there to operate trains not decide which DCC system is best. They learn to operate my system and have fun. Many soon ask about what type of system they are running and I can explain it to them. And many have bought the system. Northwestern PA is slowly becoming a Digitrax system. Why? Because someone has a large operating system and is able to show them how to make it run. We don’t waste time saying other systems are junk as they are not. (And YES I am on all of the other Yahoo groups – so I know what types of problems they are asking about - BLI sound!) I am out there to expose the modeler and potential modeler to operations. And the only way to do this is with DCC (any brand!) If we could all get with the program and promote modeling and forget this NCE/Digitrax – Chevy/Ford
- EMD/GE crap and just enjoy the hobby we and I mean WE all would have more fun! If you have to tra***alk the other systems to make your system seem better then you are not promoting the hobby!

There is only one NCE system that I know of, in my area, and that is near Erie, PA. If there others they have not made them selves known. And yes I operate on this NCE system and will be again in September. I still operate on a layout with the old Dynatrol system!

But the funny thing about this NCE system is that the owner has all of the trains all set up for us as he feels that it is too hard to teach us to acquire the trains during the session. Why? I don’t know, but to be honest the system was originally a Dynatrol/NCE combo system. He had so much trouble when he would bring a combo decoder equipped engine down and try and run it on any other system. I spent months trying to figure out the problem. The owner just gave up and replaced all of his combo decoders and went with all new NCE decoders and command station. Was/Is there anyone (NCE) to help this modeler with his system NO! Other than the internet. But this is not hands on!

So I spend a lot of time trying to help this modeler, because I am a modeler FIRST not a salesman for a DCC system. I try and learn about each system as it will help me down the road when a problem develops with another system and I may be able to help to get the system up and running. I want to run trains! Not tra***alk the other systems.

BOB H Clarion, PA

[darth9x9]

Hey milesdf,

In my profession, I am considered a very technical geek. As such, I have to understand and master a lot of technical geeky stuff. The Digitrax system that I was introduced to had the two button throttles which were very frustrating to use. It didn't take me long to understand and master it, but I felt it was way more technical than what it had to be. I should thank Digitrax because I did earn some pocket money as some people paid me to program some of the advanced features into their decoders and they had no idea how to do hex conversions (sure there is a table in the manual but they didn’t understand what a ‘hex’ was). Basically Digitrax was designed by technical people for technical people. Now they have come out with the DT400 which was a tremendous improvement but it was about six years too late.

Plus I don't think it is wise to add a feature to your system that destroys units that don't have decoders. Sure, you aren't suppose to run your non-decoder equipped loco for any length of time (nor leave it on the layout) but it is too easy for the layman to abuse that feature and then they have to replace the motor.

The FSCME is located in central Maryland and we display regularly at the Great Scale Model Train Show (www.gsmts.com) in Timonium, MD three times a year. We will be there October 9 and 10 this fall. Also, we will be in Kalmbach's Great Model Railroads 2005 so look for it to hit the newsstands on Nov 2, 2004.

[simon1966]

isn't it great that there are more than one really good choice for DCC? The competition will surely result in advances and improvements from all the vendors and therefore benfits to us. The often quoted improved DT400 Digitrax throttle was surely in response to NCE and others. I have Digitrax and my sons 4 and 7 have no problems operating it. Our local hobby shop has a huge layout and hosts open days for the public to come and use the system. He has old DT100 and newer DT400 throttles and complete novices are up and running trains in no time at all. It seems to me that just basic operation of acquiring a locomotive and running it in either direction are quite simple even on the "much more complicated" Digitrax system. Hopefully all the main vendors will secure large enough markets to prosper, and that we can be carried along on the crest of a technology wave.

[cmrproducts]

I just had my 5th OPTUD (OP Till U Drop) 2 weeks ago and had 41 operators in to run my layout using Digitrax Radio DCC. Maybe half of them knew how to run the Digitrax system all of the others were new to it. They were all runing trains with a simple instruction time which included how to pick up the train by pushing 6 buttons of which 4 were the engine number. The days of Digitrax being harder to learn are gone. It is just as easy as the others. It seems most of the arguments about how hard Digitrax is to use are from people that were trying it back in the early years.

All systems are getting user friendly! Yes for the new DCC owners and not having someone else close by to help with the learning curve, the manuals (and I mean all of them) leave a lot to be desired.

BOB H Clarion, PA

[johncolley]

There are 2 things which I find "irksome" with NCE. Other than these 2 things it is the system for me. 1. When operating on radio the delay in getting a command thru that you don't have in plug-in operation. 2. the fact that the hand-helds time themselves out if you are on a mainline run then have to slow down at yard limits or restricted speed zones. By the time you realize it has timed out and have to pu***he horn button to reset control, some nasty things can occur that get you brownie points with the dispatcher. Other than that I appreciate the intuitive operating ease of the system.

[Anonymous]

I think most of the DCC systems work well if installed properly and short cuts in wiring are not taken. It seems to me the choice comes down to choices in hardware, primarily throttles. I choose Easy DCC because their radio throttles seem to be more user friendly for those folks who enjoy prototype operation. And the hardware has been designed by folks who understand and are operators. And the support is there for unexpected problems. It's a first class system at a fair and reasonable price; and it works as advertised.
Chuck Hitchcock

[ClinchValleySD40]

QUOTE: My ranking is based solely on functionality and ease of use, and ignores cost. In my case, a couple hundred dollars one way or the other was not an issue, and I wanted true radio wireless throttles (not a chordless phone "throttle") with no need to plug in to acquire locos.


I agree, Digitrax is harder to get the hang of. But, Digitrax offers more features and reliabilty for less.

To get a 500 square foot layout done with transponding and signalling would cost so much more with NCE than Digitrax, I don't believe easyDCC has those options


And if nobody is interested in transponding or signalling, then what? Both are useless to me.
If you had a dozen people walk in the door that have never used the system and were there to operate, how would they do? With NCE and EasyDCC it only takes one minute of instruction and then they're on their way. I believe that is what Joe was aiming at. To some the major option is ease of use, not bells and whistles that we'd probably never use anyway.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: My ranking is based solely on functionality and ease of use, and ignores cost. In my case, a couple hundred dollars one way or the other was not an issue, and I wanted true radio wireless throttles (not a chordless phone "throttle") with no need to plug in to acquire locos.

I agree, Digitrax is harder to get the hang of. But, Digitrax offers more features and reliabilty for less.

To get a 500 square foot layout done with transponding and signalling would cost so much more with NCE than Digitrax, I don't believe easyDCC has those options.

[jfugate]

I've owned both Lenz and EasyDCC systems (own EasyDCC currently) and I've operated on NCE and Digitrax systems quite a bit.

In terms of features and ease of use NCE and EasyDCC are comparable, in my experience. Each of these systems have some strengths and weakness in their own right.

I personally rank Lenz next, and then Digitrax.

My ranking is based solely on functionality and ease of use, and ignores cost. In my case, a couple hundred dollars one way or the other was not an issue, and I wanted true radio wireless throttles (not a chordless phone "throttle") with no need to plug in to acquire locos.

Another factor to consider is what other modelers around you own and use. If you join the crowd, you can likely get lots of local support if you have issues. In my case, there are several EasyDCC owners in my area.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy reading and learning a lot from the contributors on this forum, but I just can't understand why some people can't admit they have made a mistake or an error in judgement. Why is it that almost everyone on here thinks they have the best?? Why do you resort to near name calling and product bashing if someone doesn't see things your way? Many times the statements aren't even backed up with any kind of fact. It's usually " Digitrax sucks, so I got NCE". Maybe the layout you tried one brand on sucked, not the system. I am sure all of the systems are good and none of them suck or they wouldn't be in business. I think a lot of factors play into it, such as layout size, equipment roster, number of operators, and most importantly, THE BUDGET. Everyone would like the best that money can buy, but in reality, few can afford that.

Oh, I forgot, Fords rule, Chevies suck!!![:D]

[jfugate]

QUOTE:

QUOTE: In my research, the only two systems that have comparible ease of use and feature set are NCE and EasyDCC.

What kind of research did you do? It must not have included Digitrax.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7145

EasyDCC is just that: too easy. When you said it has comparible features with NCE, I started laughing.

I'll ignore the remark about laughing and stick to what I found in my research.

I downloaded the Digitrax manual and read through it carefully. Frankly, I was not impressed with the complex key sequences and less-than-obvious way you have to do even simple tasks. The DT400 cab has alleviated that somewhat, but the 400 cab was not available when I made my assessment.

I design software in my day job, and the Digitrax system has all the hallmarks of a user interface designed by an electronics engineer who gave litlle thought to process flow or ease of use. Happens all the time in the software business, and hardware too.

I've actually used Digitrax and still find I have to be reminded by the owner how to select my loco, etc. Once I'm reminded, it's not too hard to remember how to do, but I can't tell just by looking at the cab how it's done.

Completely different story with NCE and EasyDCC, also systems which I have used. I assume from your response that you've read all the manuals and used all these systems and find Digitrax to be the best for you?

[ClinchValleySD40]

QUOTE: In my research, the only two systems that have comparible ease of use and feature set are NCE and EasyDCC.

What kind of research did you do? It must not have included Digitrax.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7145

EasyDCC is just that: too easy. When you said it has comparible features with NCE, I started laughing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Easy guys, turn off the flames. Quite frankly, I'm in a round robin group of about 20 layouts. Some big, some small. All types of systems used. First time operating a system, only NCE and EasyDCC can the guys pick up real quick. They are both super simple to use.
When it came time to purchase, my choice was between these two (because of the oeprators I'll have) and I decided on NCE.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: they had one of the larger DCC vendor booths

Meaning: they saw it as a good investment policy and paid more.

QUOTE: In my research, the only two systems that have comparible ease of use and feature set are NCE and EasyDCC.

What kind of research did you do? It must not have included Digitrax.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7145

EasyDCC is just that: too easy. When you said it has comparible features with NCE, I started laughing.

[ClinchValleySD40]

Originally posted by jfugate

You missed one of the major contenders: EasyDCC. If the 2004 National Train Show is any indicator, they are a major player indeed, since they had one of the larger DCC vendor booths of the entire show, placed right at the front door of the exhibition hall.

In my research, the only two systems that have comparible ease of use and feature set are NCE and EasyDCC.

Therefore, the poll is a bit skewed, since the directly equivalent system, EasyDCC, is not even mentioned as an option.

A major oversight, in my opinion.

Joe,
I agree 100% with everything said. Some of the layouts in our ops group use EasyDCC and it is very very user friendly.

Larry

Larry

http://www.youtube.com/user/ClinchValleySD40

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52481330@N05/

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/page/1/ppuser/8745/sl/c

 

 

 

 

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