Get the NCE PowerCab. You won't be disappointed.
Another vote for the NCE powercab.
Outta the box, it's a nice little 2A command station / throttle (everything is in the throttle body), which you can expand to 5a with a SB5 booster (and, as with other systems, you can use multiple SB5 boosters). I think you can have 2 or 3 additional throttles with it outta the box, and the SB5 is good for up to 6.
OR, if you like how the Powercab works, but you need more throttles (or want other features it doesn't support, even with the SB5), you can upgrade into a Powerhouse Pro system (5A or 10A), in which case, your Powercab commandstation/throttle just becomes an extra throttle on the PH Pro (I don't know the limit, though I *think* it's somewhere in the 60s -- 60 or 62 or something like that).
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
I have an NCE PowerCab system and I am very happy with it. One of the reasons I chose it was because the design of the face of the controller seemed easier to work with than something like Digitrax. I am all thumbs so looking at a square panel of identical buttons made my eyes glaze over. Having said that, I admit to being a dinosaur. You are obviously much younger and therefore likely to be much more able to adapt to different configurations.
As for speakers in N scale, you might want to explore the use of 'sugar cube' speakers like the speakers that are used in iPhones. I have only used them in HO but they are smaller than most speakers and produce excellent sound. Here is a link to one supplier with lots of information on them:
http://www.sbs4dcc.com/sugarcubespeakers.html
Again, I don't know if they have been used in N scale or not but they certainly deserve a look.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hornblower has some good points, however, I urge a little caution with one. If you are a club member or operate on other layouts often or expect folks to come to join you on yours, a matching system is important. Different brands are not compatable to operate with each other. Do look over a number of systems, but unless one really stands out to your personal preferences over the others, what is local can be an important factor. Being able to work with others and ask them questions can be as important as other factors.
Good luck,
Richard
One of the things you really need to consider is whether you will need more DCC system in the future. Some of the entry level systems are limited in their expandability/flexibility. Choose a system with plenty of power (at leat 3 amps), and that can be expanded by simply connecting more throttles. Some systems will allow only a limited number of extra throttles (how many operators can your layout use?) while others can handle far more than you would ever need. Also look into exactly what each system will need for expansion. Will expansion eventually mean you need to purchase a whole new command station or can you just wire in additional boosters? Also consider the user friendliness of the system. Will it take repeated treks through the manual and assistance from a local expert to learn a system or can you just turn it on and figure it out based on common sense? Each system is very different, especially the user interface. If you can, visit layouts using each of the major DCC brands and choose the one that fits you. Don't just buy the system everyone else seems to have simply because "that's what the club installed so I have to have that system to be able to run there." There are a lot of consumer products out there that gather a following based more on their market history than on their merits. Finally, look for a system that is robust enough to not need a vast service network. All of the major DCC brands have support networks although some systems rely on their system far too much! I'd rather have a car I can drive every day without problems than some wundercar that's always in the shop.
Hornblower
joes2fst4u Thanks guys I will do some research! You know a sound system like that which follows the engines would be nice and make me pretty happy, I'll have to do some research on that. Do you happen to remember anything about its name? Thanks!
Thanks guys I will do some research! You know a sound system like that which follows the engines would be nice and make me pretty happy, I'll have to do some research on that. Do you happen to remember anything about its name? Thanks!
http://www.soundtraxx.com/surround/
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I'll put in another plug for the NCE PowerCab. Works great, minimal physical footprint, the controller works with the full-boat NCE systems if you upgrade and there is a booster available if you end up needing just a little more power.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
SurroundTraxx. Great idea since small speakers are physically incapable of much low frequency sound reproduction. However, it does sort of lock you into an all-Digitrax system, because it relies on their Transponding technology to locate a given loco in order to direct the sound to the proper speakers. Now, they do have a pretty wide selection of N scale decoders to fit most locos, but sometimes you need other options to make it easier. Or to find ones that run better. There's a lot of overlap between decoder makers as far as specific board replacements to fit specific locos, but there are also a few that, say TCS will have that Digitrax doesn't, and vice-versa. You can run anyone's decoders on anyone's DCC system, but for a technology like Transponding, only Digitrax has it in their decoders, and even if you don;t care about detecting a certain loco, unless that other brand of decoder 'supports' transponding, it may cause it to not work if that other loco is on the rails.
If I were to switch back to N scale, I think I'd forego sound. I've been doing this since long before there were sound decoders, the silence doesn;t bother me. The ability to run freely, anywhere and everywhere, is my attraction to DCC.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I use Digitrax. They have the Zypher Xtra. It's a throttle and command station in one unit.The NCE is a good system as well. Both are expandable. Both systems offer a computer interface so you can use JMRI which is a free software. Google JMRI to find out more. Joe
I am in HO and have an NCE Power Cab, like it very much. It is able to run 4-5 sound locos and can be upgraded should you ever have the need. Remember it's the number of locos and other things you are running, not the size of the layout that requires more power. If you are only going to run three or four locos at once, no problem.
The only knock I have heard for sound in N scale is that getting a speaker into the diesels can be tricky and the small speakers lack quality sound. I haven't heard one, that's just from conversations here on the forums. There was a system mentioned recently that has speakers on the layout, but the sound seemed to follow the locos. It may be in a recent MR article, but I'm behind on my reading. Might be something to look into.
Goos luck,
So one idea I'm throwing around is upgrading my N Scale layout to DCC. I already have the track wired properly for it, but I'm just running DC through it now. Is there a good starter system you all would recommend that isn't crazy expensive but allows for multiple locomotives with sound/lights?
Eventaully I'd like to have all of my locos have the sound/light module in them too. So with that, which sound module sounds the best and most realistic?
Two engines I have I'm not sure if they are DCC capable or not, they're fairly new, one is a GP35 from Atlas and the other is a Dash-8 from Superior by Bachman. I would like to upgrade those with DCC and sound, how difficult does that sound? Thanks guys I'm just trying to learn all of this stuff now. Appreciate the help as always!