The new Bachmann DCC limits-pro or con?

[Anonymous]

Dave,
I e-mailed Wholesale Trains and they said they had it (1?) about a week ago. I have also seen it listed on either Discounttrainsonline or Internettrains (yesterday) but don't remember which one. Wholesale Trains lists it at $53 and change, and one of the others lists it near $59.

[Anonymous]

My LHS had at least two in stock last time I was there, about 2 weeks ago. They were sitting right on the new items shelf.

[Anonymous]

There's a post on the Layout forum where someone has reported that the Bachmann forum has a post talking about stuff that will be introduced in 2005 including a 5 amp booster. Don't know if it's true, but if true, and depending on how expanisve these new items are, it would be a good thing. Cheap intro and expandable. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

[Don Gibson]

Cannot add a 5amp booster to a 1 amp power supply.. Not many 5 amp wall plug-in transformers out there. - assuming the present control unit could even handle it..

Perhaps the one amp supply is for their 1 Train model and 2 amps a future 2 train version. With outboard power supplies (wall plug in) that would be an easy upgrade.

Until it's finally out and tested, everything is pure speculation.

It's main attraction is 'Entry level' DCC for select Bachmann engine's.

[Anonymous]

I have a question about the new Bachmann DCC - I'm interested in buying one, but the limitations of 9 DCC and one analogue loco are putting me off. What I'd like to know is this: What would happen if I plugged a handheld throttle like a Roco Lokmaus into the unit? I know it would work as both use the Lenz system bus for communications, but would it allow me to address more than 10 locos? The lokmaus can talk to addresses 1-99 when used with the other equipment (booster, transformer) from the Roco digital start set, so could it still talk to these addresses when used as an auxiliary throttle on the Bachmann system? Just thinking this would be a cheap way of overcoming the limitations if it works. My fleet currently numbers around 25+ locos, and though I only run three or so on the layout at once it would be a real pain to have to reprogram addresses when I swapped in a loco not numbered 1-10, hence my question!

[bcammack]

I didn't see any references to the EZ-Command DCC system having the Lenz system bus. I understand they did the software for it, but not the hardware. Is the "industry standard XPORT" jack they mention a Lenz system bus jack?

[Anonymous]

Well, it looks like a Lenz jack - I've seen a photo of the back of the Bachmann unit and there's definitely a socket of this type (RJ11?) there. I'm pretty sure one of the UK magazines said that the system would be Lenz-compatible when it was first announced, and I've heard nothing to the contrary since then.

[bcammack]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

Cannot add a 5amp booster to a 1 amp power supply.. Not many 5 amp wall plug-in transformers out there. - assuming the present control unit could even handle it..

Here's what HMinky posted in the layout forum. How does this reconcile with your observation?

QUOTE: Originally posted by HMinky
This is from the Bach-man forum on the Bachmann website for 2005:
Looks like they are serious
Item No.
44907 EZ Command Walk Around Companion with connector wires
44908 EZ Companion Layout Panel Connector with wires
44909 EZC Turnout and Accessory Control Center
44910 EZC Power Booster (5 amp)
44911 EZC Accesory, Turnout decoder
44912 EZC Reverse Loop Module

EZ Command Decoders

44913 Decoder with Harness
44914 3 pack of above
44915 Decoder with plug
44916 3 Pack of above

Hope that helps someone
Harold

[Bikerdad]

There is a 5amp booster planned, I know, because I saw it yesterday. The system is kinda nice, especially for the price, but I think it has a serious flaw that may hurt it, perhaps even more in the market its aimed at.

No LED/LCD readout. You have to remember what it is that you're doing, remember the sequence of things to push, without the prompting of the readout.

BTW, the emergency stop button DOES work. :D

[Anonymous]

I just got the Bachmann DCC system from wholesale trains for $53. This is my first step into DCC and think this is just about right for my first step.

Dave

[Anonymous]

I have run 6 - 10 locos at the same op session, with 3 opperators! That is normal on my layout. I do not have the Bachman DCC system but I do vouch for there locos smooth, quiet,and decent pullers(could be a little stronger) !

I dont think we should belittle bachman we should support them , mabey, just mabey others will see that DCC doesnt have to cost hundreds!

[Anonymous]

The Future for ALL modellers ?

Hi All

Ok. Please excuse the verbosity of the following but......

I'm in the UK and therefore my (price) observations may be slightly off-beam for those in the US.

Having formally had a model railway at the ages 7-15, I am now getting re-interested in the subject at the ripe-old-age of 37, due entirely to the interest in the subject now expressed by my father !

As a typical (?) ex-BR driver my Dad just can't let the trains go. (In fact he DID drive the last scheduled steam train on British Railways. - Ernest Heyes, Preston->Liverpool 196? ) . He has installed a 8x16 railway in his attic. Only yesterday he bought a conventional twin track DC controller for his layout.

Ok ; to the point. Upon browsing a 'well-known' UK site tonight I noticed the Bachmann DCC controller being advertised. I ran a Google Search on it and ended up here. I then read most/all the thread and downloaded - and read -the DCC pdf from Tony's Train Exchange.

My observations are as follows :

1. In the UK at least the pricing of the Bachmann DCC controller is only around 25% higher than a 'twin track' DC controller (£52 v's £39)
2. As such, this clearly sends the signal - to me at least - that DCC is going mainstream. And that it will shortly be de-facto for ALL layouts however small they may be.
3. This is a GOOD thing. GOD BLESS THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION.
4. The controller cost approximately the same as one median priced locomotive.
5. It is therefore a very acceptable 'suck-it-and-see' introduction to DCC, and ideal for the vast majority of 'regular' modellers.
5. Ok it isn't the Rolls-Royce of DCC. But how many people buy a Rolls-Royce as their first car?
6. Some contributors to this exchange should accept that they are 'leading edge' and that most people will never reach their level. And that if they do, by the time they do, 'best-in-breed' will have got better and cheaper. 'Early adopters' always pay more for their toys. (anybody pay $400 for a DVD player ?- I did ! [:D]). Those who wait for advances to become mainstream inevitably benefit by doing so.

O.K. Thats about it.

P.S Pleased I found the site[:p]. Suffice to say its Bookmarked! [:)]

Regards

Pete

[Anonymous]

Pete,

Welcome from across the pond!! Although I think I'll probably go with Digitrax when I take the DCC plunge, I think your observations concerning Bachmann's DCC entry is right on the money.

[Anonymous]

Interesting thread for me . . .

I have a question about the "one train" commnets being made here. How do other DCC systems handle this? My assumption was that all DCC systems allowed you to control a loco, let it run, switch to another, get it running, etc. Or do other systems come right away with multiple control units? How the heck would one guy run multiple trains with two units?

[Anonymous]

Now that Bachmann has released their EZ Command system, I'm probably going to give it a try because of the cost.and ease of use. Not every model railroader in the world has a large basement in which to build their dream layout. I plan on building a small switching layout (2' x 12') that will require the use of just a few locomotives, but the idea of NOT having to deal with electrical blocks for such a small layout is very appealing. I would like to have the option of keeping a half-dozen or less locomotives on the layout at all times, and I feel that DCC is a good option. I don't plan on running more than one locomotive/consist at a time anyhow, so the power output limitation will not be a factor for me.

I remember my first layout, before the advent of DCC. It was a hassle for me as a youngster to design, build, and wire a layout just so that I could do the one thing that I wanted to do from the beginning - OPERATE TRAINS! With a simple DCC like this one, I think that alot of first time modelers will find the hobby more enjoyable. I don't feel that you should have to take courses in electrical engineering just to build a simple layout. I think thats where this system's marketing niche comes into play.

Just as its not a requirement for all of your locomotives to brass, your DCC system shouldn't necessarily come with every bell and whistle. It was designed to be simple, because for alot of modelers, simple is what we want.

[XG01X]

How does it fair with sound functions?

[Anonymous]

Hello..

Very nice group here.. [;)]

First of all I am a HO newbie and this is my first post here.

I purchased a Bachmann starter set just a few weeks ago just to go around the xmas tree. I've have since then ordered a BLI steamer and a Bachmann DCC controller if anything just for the sound. I hope I won't be to disappointed being sight unseen only reading a few forums.

I will post from this newbie’s point of view after up an running. Could get interesting running with two engines, one DCC and one DC on a simple oval.

The only down side I see with the Bachmann is that EZ Command can not program a decoder. How serious this could be I don’t know? But I haven't seen it mentioned here unless I missed it? The other limit of two to three engines with out an additional power source.

Considering it’s a budget entry commander that’s to be expected.


Here are some sites perhaps worth looking at.


http://www.bachmann.co.uk/ezc.php4

and

http://www.bachmann.co.uk/dcc3.php4

Enjoy and stay-on-track
OTH

[Anonymous]

OTH wrote ; "The only down side I see with the Bachmann is that EZ Command can not program a decoder. How serious this could be I don#8217;t know? But I haven't seen it mentioned here unless I missed it? The other limit of two to three engines with out an additional power source."
OTH ; This is critical , as according to Tony's Train Exchange the BLI units need a lot of power to program. Your loco will just sit there if you can't program it.Otherwise you have to upgrade immediately. You should report back here ,as to your outcome with this setup. Many are intrested.

[PennsyHoosier]

BLI units are power HOGS. That's just the way they are. A 1 amp system may be hard pressed. I'd be interested to know if it can do it.

[PennsyHoosier]

By the way, Overthehill, [#welcome]

Treat the forum like voting in Chicago--early and often. [:D]

[RMax1]

I have a pair of old Atlas SD-35's and decided to drop an Atlas decoder in one nothing fancy. So now I have the Bachmann DCC running an Atlas SD-35 and a Bachmann GP-40. It works great. My layout is 17 X 6. I first started running both locos toward each other with no problems and then went to running them in the same direction but at different speeds. Still no problems. The Atlas is old and noisy but works good for this test. Programing the Atlas was simple and quick. After Christmas I'm going to order my decoders for my Proto 2000 E8's. So far I am happy with the system.

RMax

[Anonymous]

Well I got my Bachmann E-Z Command yesterday but still waiting on my BLI engine. Needed parameters are preset, but CV 3 and CV 4 are set to "0" so for a novice user nothing needs be tweaked to get up and running. Since the default engine address is preset to 3 you will have to change one engine if you run two but can be done with E-Z Command. I am still confused about 28/128 speed step control as the Bachman manual doesn't discuss it.

On another note, I have two Bachmann controllers, one DC and the other DCC and neither have an accessory buss *&^%! I guess the only way around this is to tap the wires from the transformer to power my switches. Bachmann kind of blew this one should include a "Y' with controller or switches for this purpose.

As for running my Bachmann EMD FT DC, runs just like they say other then light is always on and a slight buzz when it's stopped. You can control nine digital and one analog (dc) on the controller. If you have a Bachmann dc controller you can take the output from it and connect it to an dedicated input jack on the dcc controller and then your dc controller controls your dc engine and you pick up and extra digital engine. So in theory you could control eleven engines at once if each took less than 100 ma to run... :) If you park a few on sidings this could work out nicely, which is exactly what I intend to do. If I can get two moving at a time that would be great!

Overall I like this controller; it's simple, well thought out including the "ALL STOP" which removes all power to the track. Which seems to be a good idea, but when you enable it again everything resumes as it was unless you select the engine and reduce its speed. When you enable track again the new dcc commands appear to be sent immediately. I need to test this further, but this was the case with dc engine assigned to F10.

Will update again when I get my engine next week.

Have a nice holiday everyone..

OTH

[Anonymous]

I am sure most people that can afford BLI locos have no budget issues limiting them to a starter DCC system. As mentioned, this should be an entry level product for small and medium size home layouts with Athearn and P2K level locos at $20-40 each. Bottomless pockets that can afford top of the line would never need to give this a second look.

[camarokid]

QUOTE: Originally posted by enduringexp

I am sure most people that can afford BLI locos have no budget issues limiting them to a starter DCC system. As mentioned, this should be an entry level product for small and medium size home layouts with Athearn and P2K level locos at $20-40 each. Bottomless pockets that can afford top of the line would never need to give this a second look.

I believe everyone of us modelers should have at least one locomotive with all the bells and whistles even if we can't enable them all. I was looking at a BLI Cab-Forward with sound just last week. The price was right but the CFO said "no way, Jose". End of discussion for me. I wonder what the Digitrax people would find wrong with my MRC Command 2000 even though it's good enough for me.
Archie

[Anonymous]

I can't think of a better way to evaluate this controller than using it with a BLI w/sound loco. [^] After all I wasn’t about to let all those function keys go untested!

I agree with Bachmann that DCC doesn't have to be complicated nor expensive. As for sound right now it does come with a high price tag but even these prices have come down considerably.

For what it’s worth I looked at some other DCC controllers (including Lenz) and they all seemed overly complicated for my needs with a simple 4’x 8’ track plan. Now you have to admit even running two trains on this small a layout is difficult to say the least even if you have two independent loops but with DCC hopefully it will be that much easier, perhaps something one wouldn’t attempt otherwise.

Another note: Their DVD enclosed with controller is informative. Beside changing engine ID you can set its direction.

Will add more pro's and con's next week..

Enjoy
OTH

[Anonymous]

Stand back y'all here is my two cents..

First off. I would choose the Digitraz Zephyer. Why? It has full communication with a QSI engine such as a BLI engine. And you can still hold 100+ addresses in it. The locos will have a need for DCC modules in them unless it was a BLI unit etc.. that gets expensive... more expensive still if you add sound.

Everytime you need to address a engine, it has to go on the test track away from the layout. This is more true if you have switches that are also controlled with the DCC. You will find that the Bachmann's system is good for those with a few engines and a 4x8 or something similar.

Eventually they will realize that more advanced systems may be needed... similar to computers being stronger and faster.

A friend of mine has been quite successful with his DCC and from that experience and learning I have developed what I would want to be able to do in the future. While it is admirable that bachmann and others may want "starter systems" for DCC eventually Digitrax is the way to go. At least for me.

My two cents.

[Anonymous]

When I first saw the Bachmann DCC system I thought this may be an option for me as my layout is in the early construction phase and I plan to go DCC. The limitation was the number of functions the system can support. My plan is to have DCC sound in most if not all locos eventually ( the Shay with the Soundtrax decoder did it for both my wife and I).
I have done a lot of research into what suits my requirements and am purchasing an NCE system. I considered the purchase of the Bachmann system to set up the layour and then upgrade later and give the Bachmann system to my daughters when they get a bit older and start playing with electric trains (they are getting a Timber Thomas Set for christmas so they don't have to play with my expensive fragile ones. they are both under 3 years and love toot-toots).
For someone starting off in the hobby who wants to be able to run trains out of the box on a simple layout the system would probably meet their needs but with no information on expandability available it is too basic for my requirements.

[Anonymous]

OTH ; we're awaiting your results with the BLI engine. Does'nt anybody else have the bachmann dcc with an BLI , and is willing to chime in ? Let us know about the available sound functions also. Thanks

[rrinker]

Here's a good MINUS - it doesn't control accessory decoders, such as for turnout control.

[RMax1]

What do you want for under $100? Good Grief! This unit is great for the price. The unit will not make most of the Rivit counting prototypical obsessed train freaks happy. I don't think it is suppose to! It will make the casual person concerned with trying DCC, people on a budget, etc.etc.... Very happy because it has good features at a low price. It does give you the options for control and sound at the price of a good wall power pack. For the model railroader that is advanced, Bachmann is not targeting you. But the entry level and small hobbiest yes. Trust me Ferrari doesn't send me ads in the mail but my local Chevy dealers does all the time. Guys just get one and try it you probably will be happy if you have a 4x8 layout.. If you expand and out grow it give it to the kids. Sure there are others at twice that price that expand. Take a look at them too and decide. If you can spend $200 on a loco $53 dollars as a test is nothing.

RMax