Atlas or MRC DCC Systems - Which is Better?

[Anonymous]

I am a new member to this forum, so bear with me if this question has come up before. I am thinking of using a DCC system on my layout and was wondering if any members of this group have tried and/or have a preference for the Atlas vs. MRC DCC systems. I don't really want to get into Digitrax as it sounds too expensive and complicated. Thanks in advance for any replies!

[Anonymous]

I am a new member to this forum, so bear with me if this question has come up before. I am thinking of using a DCC system on my layout and was wondering if any members of this group have tried and/or have a preference for the Atlas vs. MRC DCC systems. I don't really want to get into Digitrax as it sounds too expensive and complicated. Thanks in advance for any replies!

[Anonymous]

Digitrax Zephyr, go Digitrax for Atlas/MRC money.

[Anonymous]

Digitrax Zephyr, go Digitrax for Atlas/MRC money.

[Anonymous]

if your going to go with sound some day--i would seriously consider the zephyr from digitrax. i hemmed and hawed for months, but with the coming of my broadway limited hudson i went with the zephyr,and im not sorry-

[Anonymous]

if your going to go with sound some day--i would seriously consider the zephyr from digitrax. i hemmed and hawed for months, but with the coming of my broadway limited hudson i went with the zephyr,and im not sorry-

[Anonymous]

Zephyr is the most feature laden, Atlas next, then Prodigy. The Zephyr - right now - is considered the "best" entry level system.

[Anonymous]

Zephyr is the most feature laden, Atlas next, then Prodigy. The Zephyr - right now - is considered the "best" entry level system.

[Kent]

I had a Zypher (and a DT400), in the fless then a week I had it it locked up twice requiring me to turn thepower off to it to get it to rest.

I sent it back and went to a Lenz Set 90, far from entry level, but very solid, and I can use my old Atlas Commander as an extra throttle for it too.

As entry leval unit go, I like the Commander better then the Zyher as the Commander was far easier to learn to use.

[Kent]

I had a Zypher (and a DT400), in the fless then a week I had it it locked up twice requiring me to turn thepower off to it to get it to rest.

I sent it back and went to a Lenz Set 90, far from entry level, but very solid, and I can use my old Atlas Commander as an extra throttle for it too.

As entry leval unit go, I like the Commander better then the Zyher as the Commander was far easier to learn to use.

[Anonymous]

Digitrax Zephyr is the way to go in budget DCC - its way eaiser to use than the Atlas Commander (which is designed by Lenz and sold by Lenz as the Compact in UK and Europe). Although the Digitrax system has the ability to do complicated stuff if you want it to, you don't have to do all that to begin with, its no more complicated than the Atlas system to get going. I have no experience of the MRC system but from what I've read, although its very easy to use, it is very basic - it can only do very basic programming of decoders and you can't expand on it if your pike grows or you want it to start doing some flash stuff.

Although the first Zephyr I bought had a fault the dealer swapped it out straight away and I've been running the replacement without a problem for about 12 months. The whole beauty of the Digitrax system is that its totally expandable beacuse all their units run LocoNet networking system - so I can buy any Digitrax throttle or accessory (or even use my Palm Pilot as a throttle!) and run it off the Zephyr. On a real basic level I find the ability to key in a loco's number from a keypad a real advantage too.

Compared that to the Atlas/Lenz system where you have to buy the dedicated walkaround throttle (tethered only no chance to expand to cordless or radio here) and have no option to expand if your layout grows (chuck it away and start over with a new command station). To access loco or accessory addresses or alter progamme CVs you have to use the main dial to scroll through, I find this a real chore. At least you CAN do more complicated programming with the Atlas unlike the MRC unit.

I also know of a couple of people who have Lenz Compacts flake out and be unrepairable after not a lot of use. There have been lots of horror stories in the past about Atlas Commanders frying certain types of decoder (particularly Soundtraxx) but as long as you follow the advice on the Atlas and Soundtraxx websites there's no need to be a problem.

[Anonymous]

Digitrax Zephyr is the way to go in budget DCC - its way eaiser to use than the Atlas Commander (which is designed by Lenz and sold by Lenz as the Compact in UK and Europe). Although the Digitrax system has the ability to do complicated stuff if you want it to, you don't have to do all that to begin with, its no more complicated than the Atlas system to get going. I have no experience of the MRC system but from what I've read, although its very easy to use, it is very basic - it can only do very basic programming of decoders and you can't expand on it if your pike grows or you want it to start doing some flash stuff.

Although the first Zephyr I bought had a fault the dealer swapped it out straight away and I've been running the replacement without a problem for about 12 months. The whole beauty of the Digitrax system is that its totally expandable beacuse all their units run LocoNet networking system - so I can buy any Digitrax throttle or accessory (or even use my Palm Pilot as a throttle!) and run it off the Zephyr. On a real basic level I find the ability to key in a loco's number from a keypad a real advantage too.

Compared that to the Atlas/Lenz system where you have to buy the dedicated walkaround throttle (tethered only no chance to expand to cordless or radio here) and have no option to expand if your layout grows (chuck it away and start over with a new command station). To access loco or accessory addresses or alter progamme CVs you have to use the main dial to scroll through, I find this a real chore. At least you CAN do more complicated programming with the Atlas unlike the MRC unit.

I also know of a couple of people who have Lenz Compacts flake out and be unrepairable after not a lot of use. There have been lots of horror stories in the past about Atlas Commanders frying certain types of decoder (particularly Soundtraxx) but as long as you follow the advice on the Atlas and Soundtraxx websites there's no need to be a problem.

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: Compared that to the Atlas/Lenz system where you have to buy the dedicated walkaround throttle (tethered only no chance to expand to cordless or radio here) and have no option to expand if your layout grows (chuck it away and start over with a new command station).

Um...not true.

The Lenz XPA cordless phone adapter and a cordless phone gives you a good-working, user-friendly wireless throttle for about the cost of a basic DIgitrax tethered throttle ($CAD90 plus a cordless phone, about $CAD 125 total).

The Commander/Compact can be incorporated into a larger Lenz system as a throttle, although it doesn't support 4-digit addressing.

For features and expandability, Digitrax Zephyr is the best option, but it's 50% more expensive than Atlas. If you can live with 2-digit addressing and want wireless control, go with Atlas. For simple DCC on the cheap, go with MRC, but look at its features carfeully; it offers the least expansion.

In my area, most DCC operators use either Digitrax or Atlas. I don't know anyone that has had an Atlas fail except for me, and that failure was partially a defective unit and partially an installation problem; Atlas bent over backwards to make things right.

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: Compared that to the Atlas/Lenz system where you have to buy the dedicated walkaround throttle (tethered only no chance to expand to cordless or radio here) and have no option to expand if your layout grows (chuck it away and start over with a new command station).

Um...not true.

The Lenz XPA cordless phone adapter and a cordless phone gives you a good-working, user-friendly wireless throttle for about the cost of a basic DIgitrax tethered throttle ($CAD90 plus a cordless phone, about $CAD 125 total).

The Commander/Compact can be incorporated into a larger Lenz system as a throttle, although it doesn't support 4-digit addressing.

For features and expandability, Digitrax Zephyr is the best option, but it's 50% more expensive than Atlas. If you can live with 2-digit addressing and want wireless control, go with Atlas. For simple DCC on the cheap, go with MRC, but look at its features carfeully; it offers the least expansion.

In my area, most DCC operators use either Digitrax or Atlas. I don't know anyone that has had an Atlas fail except for me, and that failure was partially a defective unit and partially an installation problem; Atlas bent over backwards to make things right.