UPDATE: Users of Bachmann EZ Command DCC system inquiry

[tstage]

I'm looking for some input here. I wanted to know how many of your out there currently using the EZ Command system have installed your own decoder(s), programmed them, and are running them using Bachmann's EZ Command.

The reason for asking is that I received a rather bizarre reply this morning, from a "reputable" DCC dealer (whom shall remain nameless, but is mentioned quite often on this forum), to an e-mail that I sent on Saturday inquiring about their recommendation for decoders for two of my locomotive: An Athearn Genesis 2-8-2 Mikado and a Proto 2000 Alco S1 switcher. I initially told the distributor that I would be running the locomotives with the Bachmann system. Their reply was this:

"Thanks for your inquiry. Unfortunately the Bachmann System can only program Bachmann decoders. There are no Bachmann options for these locos. Use NCE D13srj for Mikado and N14ip for Atlas when you get another system."

If that is true then I'm VERY disappointed. I was under the impression that I could run any decoder or non-decoder equipped locomotive with the Bachmann EZ Commander system. The two primary limitations were the 1-amp power supply and the "non-adjustable" CV settings. Am I wrong?

I never read, heard or understood anything to that effect from the MR review article on the Bachmann EZ Command system a few months ago. I sorta got the impression that the dealer was more or less blowing me off because I wasn't using a more sophisticated system. The guys on the Bachmann forum thought that the dealer misunderstood me. I was very explicit with what I was looking for so I don't think my inquiry was confusing.

Anyhow, have any of the rest of you had any difficulty programming or running your decoder-equipped locomotives with the Bachmann system. I would be very interested in hearing any of your responses. Thanks! [:)]

Tom

[tstage]

UPDATE: (This is exactly the same as the one over on the General forum)

For those of you who might have been interested, I just received a reply about my inquriy from Joe Freeman, VP of Sales at Bachmann Industries. For all intense and purposes, it's basically what I posted here, but I included the dealer's name for Bachmann so that they knew who I had cooresponded with. (Uh,oh I hope this doesn't lead to an ensuing battle. I just glanced at the e-mail again and noticed that one of the cc: recipients of Joe's e-mail to me is to the dealer HIMSELF! [B)]) Anyhow, here is Joe's response to me:

QUOTE:
Subject : Bachmann EZ COMMAND SYSTEM
Date : Wed, 9 Feb 2005 12:59:13 -0500

Hi Tom: I am the VP of Sales at Bachmann, and would like to respond to your recent Email on our DCC system. First of all [the dealer]* is totally wrong. Our system was developed in conjunction with Lentz Electronics, one of the major “players” in DCC. It was specifically designed to be used with anyone’s loco, using anyone’s decoders. With your EZ Command system you can run up to 10 locos.

We are developing and will ship our own line of decoders this year. In addition we are developing a complete DCC system which includes a DCC “walk-around companion”, “ companion connector panel”, “ DCC turnout and accessory controller”,” 5amp power booster”-a total inexpensive DCC system.

Hopefully I have addressed all of your concerns. If not please let me know. Please send us your address and we will send you, hot off the press, our 2005 catalog that details our entire line of model railroading, especially our EZ COMMAND SYSTEM which we are very proud of.

Joe Freeman

*I've opted to omit the dealer's real name from the reply for the sake of focusing on the issue

Okay, so according to Bachmann, "anyone’s loco, using anyone’s decoders".

I hope that's been of some interest to some of you. Thanks to all of you who responded. I'm now actually looking forward to receiving my EZ Commander in the mail today. All I need now are some decoders....

Tom
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UPDATE TO THE UPDATE:] 02/10/2005 - 12:26 EST

I received the EZ Command system yesterday and I'm fairly pleased with it. I don't have any decoders yet so I've only tried it out briefly on DC. Address button #10 is designated for DC locomotives. A slight buzzing can be heard when the loco is standing idle. (I think I remember reading that this was "normal".) The sound seems to dissapate more when the locomotive is in motion. I'm looking forward to actualy running them with decoders. [:)]

I contacted Loy's Toys for their decoder recommendatons and they were of the same conclusions as the "other dealer" was about the Bachmann only being able to run and program Bachmann and Lenz decoders. This whole gaffawful has turned out to be quite a bit of detective work. I'll be glad when I can finally put it behind me and enjoy my new (but limited) DCC system. Hopefully, this whole thing will be a help to all.

Tom

[Anonymous]

Tom,

Thanks for that update. When I first read about the Bachmann system I too thought that it was too good to be true. I would like to go DCC some day soon because I see that LONG TERM it will improve on my enjoyment of the Hobby as well as possibly simplify things for me.

Thanks!

Chris

[RMax1]

Tom

Great info! I am looking forward to seeing what Bachmann turns out this year. Maybe just maybe some of the cost will be brought down. I've heard a bunch of conflicting reports on this unit and it's nice to hear it straight from the horse mouth (sort of) . I've owned several Bachmann products. Some are really good and some leave a lot to be desired. This one I am pleased with and look forward to tinkering with it for a while more. I think i need to hit them up for one of the new catalogs!.

RMax1

[simon1966]

One thing for sure, there will be a lot of folks getting into DCC with this system. At the "World's Greatest Hobby" train show in St. Louis, one of the booths had piles of Bachmann DCC sets for sale at quite a discount as I recall. Anyway, I kept bumping into people carrying the boxes, so they were moving quite well. This was the only DCC system you could actually buy at the show!

[eng22]

I have an EZ command, I bought a digitrax decoder from Loys toys, I installed it in a P2K loco, I programmed it with my EZ command. Simple and to the point.