Welcome aboard.
I bought the Bachmann EZCommand when I didn't know any better. It is very primitive by current standards. Almost any other brand is a better buy. Mine now lives in a junk box under the layout. I switched to Digitrax and recommend them highly. Other good brands include Lens, NCE, and MRC.
All modern DCC works together. As you continue the hobby you WILL reach the point where the EZCommand can't do something that you want to do. It's programming capabilities are nearly non existent. It is, however, cheap and is does work if you only have a couple of engines and are happy with the factory presets for their decoders.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Texas Zepher tycobandit: my consern with our ho layout is compatibility,will any dcc engine run with any dcc controler Yes it will. Pretty much that is the whole point of a standard to allow the different brands to interoperate. if i purchase a bachman dcc controler will i only be able to run bachman engines. No. The Bachmann EZ Command controller will be able to run trains equiped with almost all brands of DCC decoders. There might be some really old MRC 14 step decoders that might have problems. Likewise if you get the really advance sound equiped decoders with more than 10 functions it might be harder to access the ones over #10. Please note that I do not have any hands on knowledge of the Bachmann EZ Command Controller. From others I understand it might not have the best programming capabilities. For a few dollars more I can recommend the Digitrax Zephyr or the NCE Power Cab starter system.
tycobandit: my consern with our ho layout is compatibility,will any dcc engine run with any dcc controler
if i purchase a bachman dcc controler will i only be able to run bachman engines.
Please note that I do not have any hands on knowledge of the Bachmann EZ Command Controller. From others I understand it might not have the best programming capabilities. For a few dollars more I can recommend the Digitrax Zephyr or the NCE Power Cab starter system.
I am going to agree with Texas Zephyr here. I don't know anything about Bachmann's DCC controller, but a lot of the forum members here use either Digitrax or NCE. If I were you, I would buy one of those two DCC starter systems instead because of their more widespread popularity and therefore more widespread familiarity among forum members.
Rich
Alton Junction
tycobanditmy consern with our ho layout is compatibility,will any dcc engine run with any dcc controler
Yes, any DCC engine will run with any DCC controller. However, some of the functions (lights, bells, whistles, programming, speeds,etc) may not be done with all controllers. Heck, you can even run a DC loco on a DCC layout and run a DCC loco on a DC layout.
Not all manufacturers of decoders make command stations or locos. Not all loco manufacturers make decoders. My suggestion..... on the right side of the page, about halfway down is a "search our community" block. Do a search on DCC, read and learn.
You will have a ton of questions, there are plenty of in-house experts here, feel free to ask anything you're not sure about.
FYI, I have Bachmann, Athearn and Proto (Lifelike/Walthers) locos with Soundtraxx and Bachmann decoders being run by a Digitrax command station. My ingredients are minor compared to some, they all play fine together.
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hey,new guy here.i dont know anything about dcc,im building a ho layout with my 5yr. old son.i own a couple o scale mth engines.they are amazing,my consern with our ho layout is compatibility,will any dcc engine run with any dcc controler,i dont want to get stuck with limited options if i purchase a bachman dcc controler will i only be able to run bachman engines.i dont want to have to be brand spcefic.we currently are using a railpower 1300 thats about 8 yrs.old and engines i used as a child..needless to say were laging behind technoligy.any advice would be helpfull thanks.