Come again Joe on your last comment regarding the 14 gauge bus? I have a 14 gauge bus and never had a problem with them staying put in the NCE pcp panel.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
When I made the decision to go with NCE form factor was a consideration The hammer shape was more useful to me because it could roll with me around the layout whereas the Digitrax Zephyr was more for stationary application and a handheld throttle was an additional cost.
But as with everything in life you give up something to get something else. In this case I get up the ability to use address zero to run non DCC locomotives.
Also the Zephyr has separate wire terminals for a programming track. Also the NCE has to have the PCP panel mounted somewhere. I also had some issues getting my 14 gauge bus wires into plug NCE Supplies and having them stay put.
Joe Staten Island West
Yes, Randy. I understand that Digitrax can retail for cheaper than MSRP as well.
NCE Power Cab @ 156$, Zephyr @ $165
bearman Paul3: first the prices you mention are probably MSRP. Retailers offer these products at a discount. I did not pay $220 for my SB5 booster. Secondly, if one does one's research, one would quickly determine that the NCE PowerCab is also the command station and has to be plugged into the left socket of the PCP panel in order to run trains. Like a lot of situations, personal preference as well as cost ultimately factor into anyone's final decision. I would encourage bugman to read this thread, which is chock full of advice and personal biases, do his own research on the different systems out there and then make his decision based on the fact that he is spending his money. I, for one, would hate to recommend one system over another and then be castigated, and rightfully so, one year later when it turned out that my recommendation did not fit with the OP's situation.
Paul3: first the prices you mention are probably MSRP. Retailers offer these products at a discount. I did not pay $220 for my SB5 booster. Secondly, if one does one's research, one would quickly determine that the NCE PowerCab is also the command station and has to be plugged into the left socket of the PCP panel in order to run trains.
Like a lot of situations, personal preference as well as cost ultimately factor into anyone's final decision. I would encourage bugman to read this thread, which is chock full of advice and personal biases, do his own research on the different systems out there and then make his decision based on the fact that he is spending his money. I, for one, would hate to recommend one system over another and then be castigated, and rightfully so, one year later when it turned out that my recommendation did not fit with the OP's situation.
Yes but it's only dair to compare MSRP to MSRP, yes, you can get things cheaper, but you can get Digitrax things cheaper than those prices too.
The new LNWI from Digitrax makes going wireless even cheaper, if you have a smartphone that runs either Android or IOS. Cheaper than a UR92 and a throttle, by a LOT.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Zephyr plus the LNWI plus the smartphone you probably already own = wireless throttles. Cheapest option - even if yuou have to buy one of those $30 Android phones they sell at Walmart.
If you think you need more, or will want more right off the bat, the Evolution starter set would be a better option, 5 amp command station/booster instead of 3.5 amps and hand held throttle.
Radio, regardless of which one, is beyond the basic starter set liek Zephyr or PowerCab and will cost you equally no matter which way you go. I find the NCE throttles to be absolutely gigantic, and I don't have small hands.
Thanks everyone for their responses. My biggest fear was getting a system that I would have to totally replace down the road. I think some of it falls into a Ford/Chevy kind of thing. The nice thing is both units will work fine and are upgradable to fit my needs.. I am going to sit down and go over all the details of each and see what will fit best on my layout.
Thank you, Lonehawk! Exactly the point I was trying to make. And, the digitrax is a fine system.
I just recently did this research myself. I only need to run 1 or 2 trains on my layout, with about 15’ of reach in either direction from the station. So for what I want, what I need and my budget, I found the NCE to be a better choice for me. The Digitrax looks like a fine system, but it’s more than I need. And I also prefer the way the NCE throttle is laid out. But YMMV. As others have said, it’s about what’s best for you.
- Adam
When all else fails, wing it!
Paul3 bugman9317 stated hi wanted a basic system and the Power Cab is a basic system.. If he wants to run two trains solo then the Power cab will get the job done without the stuff you mention.
And yes,I still fully believe the Power Cab is a step above the Zephry for solo operaton.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
POWER CAB !
Brakie,The NCE PowerCab is nice, but it's not a "step above" the Zephyr Xtra.
Sure, the PowerCab is "walkaround", but it isn't really. As soon as you unplug the PowerCab to move to another socket, all the trains stop because the throttle is the command station. To keep the trains running while unplugged, you need to buy the SB5 SmartBooster for another $220.
The PowerCab is limited to 2 amps continous, 3 amps peak load. The Zephyr Xtra is 3 amps continuous, 3.5amp peak.
The PowerCab can only have a maximum of 4 throttles. The Zephyr Xtra can have up to 20. To go wireless throttle control with the PowerCab requires the SmartBooster SB5 ($220), RB02 radio ($160), and either then Procab-R ($250) or Cab06r ($190) for a total of either $570 or $630.For wireless throttle control with the Zephyr Xtra, it requires the UR92 radio ($160) and either the UT4D ($135) or DT500D ($254) throttle for a total of either $295 or $414.In many ways, the Zephyr Xtra is more advanced than the PowerCab. What it isn't is portable like the PowerCab. However, the upgrade path is significantly less money with Digitrax due to that portable nature of the PowerCab.bugman9317,I had a 25' x 50' HO layout that I ran with my Zephyr. My entire DCC system was the Zephyr, a UR91 radio, a half dozen UP5 panel sockets, and 3 DT400R throttles. I would run with up to 6 operators running trains at the same time (they'd bring their own Digitrax throttles, too). My Zephyr had no problems handling all that. It's a full-featured system for relatively cheap money (the cost of one soundless diesel loco these days).
Thanks Brakie: I am looking at the NCE right now.. I figure I will look into them all because I don't want to make a mistake and get something that I will need to replace.
While the Zephry is a excellent system I would take a close look at NCE's Power Cab that can be bought between $130-140.00.
IMHO I believe its a step above the Zephyr.
That's the million dollar question that I need to figure out. I looked at the wireless starter systems and by the time I add a receiver and throttle to the Zephyr I'm at about the same price.
One nice thing with the Zephyr is I can spend a little now and a little later I guess..
I think Randy has hit on it. The question may be, how expandable is a starter system if you want to expand it down the road. The corollary question is, if you are going to expand a starter system down the road, are you better off paying for a bigger system up front.
And, bugman, check the Digitrax web site, they do offer what they consider a starter system with what appears to be a hand held throttle
Thanks everyone. I am going to read about all the different starter sets because my layout is going to be a room sized walk around so I am going to want the ability to move the controller around with me.
Started with the original Zephyr, still use it, 15 years later. Nothing is surplus with Digitrax, as the layout grows, you cna add stuff but never have to repalce anything. The Xtra supports 20 locos, the original one 12, so even if you need more power to run 20 locos, you can keep using the Xtra as the command station. My last layout, while room sized, only could support 3 trains running at once, so my faithful old Zephyr was my command station.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/217527.aspx
Mike.
My You Tube
Go to this thread that was a discussion of Zephyr expandability a few years back on this site.
bugman, I can recommend it. The Zephyr is an excellent starter set, however, if you want walk around capability it wont work all that well. I started off with a Zephyr and when I realized that I wanted more than one location on my walk-in U layout from which to control trains and the possibility of more than one operator I switched to the NCE PowerCab and the Zephyr is now relegated to programming locomotives on a separate length of track.
Digitrax advertises that the Zephyr is expandable and that you can add more throttles but I did not look into that when I switched.
The main question is, how big is your layout and do you want/need walk-around capability? I suggest you look into the Zephyr more closely as well as other starter systems that are out there and try to envision what you might want to do in the future regarding train control.
I'm building a new layout and would like to go DCC. Would anyone recommend the Digitrax Zephyr Xtra Starter Set. I know this is a loaded question but is there is something better in the $200 price range or am I better off waiting until I have more of a budget?
https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/digitrax-zephyr-xtra-complete-dcc-starter-set-system-with-3-0-amp-power-supply/
The biggest thing I don't want to happen is shelling out $169.00 for this unit and then a year down the road needing something different.