SouthPennNCE PowerPro 5 Amp system, $399.00.
That's attractive! For that price, going to the Power Pro is a no brainer even though you have to buy the power supply separately ($47.99).
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
OliverHevvy My, they don't give this stuff away, do they? One poster recommended the NCE PH-Pro 5 system. $600! I'm sure there are lower-cost options, and I'm not saying that's a deal-breaker, but it's not trivial, either.
My, they don't give this stuff away, do they? One poster recommended the NCE PH-Pro 5 system. $600! I'm sure there are lower-cost options, and I'm not saying that's a deal-breaker, but it's not trivial, either.
You need to research this stuff a little better.
Rich
Alton Junction
And the same seller (a very good one - I buy most of my stuff from them as they are almost local and shipping is fast - also, they have a true live inventory system that works - not just DCC stuff, all models and supplies) has the Digitrax Super Chief Xtra for $340. http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Digitrax-SCFX-Super-Chief-Xtra-5-Amp-Starter-Set-p/dig-scfx.htm
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
NCE Powercab. Less than $200.
Oh, I'm not complaining. I used to road-race motorcycles. Want to talk about how to spend money quickly? ;-)
I am looking forward to doing more with DCC. As an electronics person with long experience in networking and microprocessors, it's a good fit, althought it's also a bit of a busman's holiday. In retirement, you are NOT supposed to do what you did for a living. ;-)
But it's a lot more fun when you only have your own deadlines.Really, you can equip a 2 or 3 train railroad for a couple of hundred bucks in pretty much any system. Ultimately it comes down to what you like. I chose EasyDCC because I like the shape of the handhelds. Digitrax would be my second choice. If your layout is small enough that you can get away with tethered throttles Digitrax may even be a first choice.
Interestingly, I've noticed that preferred DCC system tends to be regional. The Boston area and Minnesota/Wisconsin are full of Digitrax, and Kansas City is a mix of Digitrax and EasyDCC.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Also, reading the NMRA DCC spec was a good idea. Took me a while to figure it all out, but I'm glad I did.
OliverHevvyI'm sure there are lower-cost options,
Are you aware of the DCC++ project going on? Someone showed how to build a DCC base station which can be made for about $30 using an Arduino clone, no soldering required. He wrote the software to generate the DCC signals and released it as open-source.
The main downside is that it needs to be hooked up to a computer running JMRI (which is free.) You can use a cell phone as a wireless throttle. There are also a couple of guys designing more conventional throttles with knobs.
There's an entire subforum devoted to DCC++ over at the Trainboard forums..
Here's the DCC++ Youtube page...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJmvQx-fe0OMAIH-_g-_rZw
Here's a video of a throttle Dave Bodnar recently made...
Steve S
If you should go DCC, consider the following:
Several people at a small gathering of operations minded model railroaders I attended over the weekend were sharing stories about how often their Digitrax systems act up, often running beautifully one day and then running strangely or not at all the next. They were also complaining that the correct "FIX" is always different depending on which Digitrax expert you contact. Often the "FIX" occurs all by itself by either leaving the system alone for some period of time or following all sorts of futile repairs/component replacements that caused no progress but the system suddenly restored itself anyway.
Eventually, the following question was raised:
"If you were to totally start over, would you use Digitrax to power your layout?"
Most everyone with existing Digitrax systems agreed that, if they were not already tied to it at "the club" they would not use it again if they were to start over. Although there were a few misgivings regarding the size of the NCE throttles, most said they would start over using NCE (if they were to start over).
Hornblower
hornblower If you should go DCC, consider the following: Several people at a small gathering of operations minded model railroaders I attended over the weekend were sharing stories about how often their Digitrax systems act up, often running beautifully one day and then running strangely or not at all the next. They were also complaining that the correct "FIX" is always different depending on which Digitrax expert you contact. Often the "FIX" occurs all by itself by either leaving the system alone for some period of time or following all sorts of futile repairs/component replacements that caused no progress but the system suddenly restored itself anyway. Eventually, the following question was raised: "If you were to totally start over, would you use Digitrax to power your layout?" Most everyone with existing Digitrax systems agreed that, if they were not already tied to it at "the club" they would not use it again if they were to start over. Although there were a few misgivings regarding the size of the NCE throttles, most said they would start over using NCE (if they were to start over).
That's odd. My Digitrax system is reliable and Loconet serves all of my needs.
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Vet hornblower If you should go DCC, consider the following: Several people at a small gathering of operations minded model railroaders I attended over the weekend were sharing stories about how often their Digitrax systems act up, often running beautifully one day and then running strangely or not at all the next. They were also complaining that the correct "FIX" is always different depending on which Digitrax expert you contact. Often the "FIX" occurs all by itself by either leaving the system alone for some period of time or following all sorts of futile repairs/component replacements that caused no progress but the system suddenly restored itself anyway. Eventually, the following question was raised: "If you were to totally start over, would you use Digitrax to power your layout?" Most everyone with existing Digitrax systems agreed that, if they were not already tied to it at "the club" they would not use it again if they were to start over. Although there were a few misgivings regarding the size of the NCE throttles, most said they would start over using NCE (if they were to start over). That's odd. My Digitrax system is reliable and Loconet serves all of my needs.
Dave,
I'm quite sure it is entirely possible to put together a reliable DCC system using any brand system. I just thought it rather interesting that so many people in one group of experienced DCC users were fed up with Digitrax gremlins. I have been at three different operating sessions were the session was interrupted while some portion of the Digitrax system required attention. One of these sessions had to be entirely abandoned because the problem could not be found (and was not found for a couple of weeks).
I agree. That's some of the reasons I replaced my Digitrax with an NCE system.
Whereas in my neck of the woods it's NCE that gets replaced.
I've used NCE, Digitrax, Easy DCC, and Lenz. NCE is my LAST choice.
If I was starting new or replacing any DCC system I would give RailPro a serious look. I am testing a 5 engine consist with RailPro and IMHO, nothing else comes remotely close. I really wish I had known about RailPro when I replaced my Digitrax junk.
The NCE vs Digitrax vs others, etc debate reminds me of the interoperability wars in computer control networks 30 years ago.... ;-) It will settle out eventually. I hope.
It hasn't for 20 years. Not likely.
But it's one reason I would think my concept of a BT enabled throttle (because there is a large subset of DCC users who do NOT want touchscreens for throttles - they want a real knob to turn) to work with pretty much with any smartphone, which would then leverage JMRI or RocRail's smrtphone support to provide a universal throttle that will work with any DCC system supported by those software packages is a good idea.
Of course then it would be NCE throttle is better! No, Digitrax throttle is better! No, Universal Throttle is best!
After decades I finally upgraded an existing layout to DCC. Six months later it appears that all the bugs are out of it (knock on wood).
After all that time, starting with a Lionel set at age 2, then moving to HO in my late teens, I recently experienced somthing I've always wanted in model railroading. Running the trains with constant level lighting, especially passenger cars, lighted, that I recently detailed the interiors, sound, more sounds than my childhood Lionel ever had. All because of DCC. A real milestone. And I've just scratched the surface.
Yes, there is a learning curve (albiet sometimes very frustrating), but if you're starting new and have nothing to unlearn or getting back in after a long, long absence there's no reason to not go DCC.