The Facts About MTH vs. Lionel

[Anonymous]

Try this experiment with your MTH system:

Hold the loco.

Crank up the throttle (or whatever MTH calls it) and continue to hold the loco stationary.

Look at the "speed" displayed on the throttle - if the throttle shows any speed than 0 mph, then the MTH speed readout is bogus.

BTW - I still can't see what your MTH system can do that my Zephyr with one of the LCD Digitrax throttles (which would be about $300 total price) can't.

But let's talk specifics:

- How many throttles can the MTH system support (is each throttle $300, btw ???) ?

- How many locos (max) can be controlled by each throttle at the same time ??

- Can the MTH system control turnouts ???

- Can the MTH system be installed in Atlas, Athearn or P2K locos ????

(ok, if no HO or N level system, can it be installed in Atlas O locos ?????)

- Are three rails needed for this system ?????

(Sorry, O scalers, but 3 rails looks too toy-like to me!)

[BRAKIE]

George,I don't know about you but,it would take a superior product for me to replace my Digitrax EB II and UT2 throttles.

[AntonioFP45]

Wow!

This thread is still going?!

So...........the soap opera continues as DCS supporters struggle to bring out the positive points of the platform.

Good job, however, based on the info so far I still can't see the incentive for switching from a widely used--well supported--popular platform (DCC) to one that is much more expensive, and produced by one manufacturer with a "public relations challenged" reputation that didn't work with the NMRA.

In the end guys, when DCS hits the market the modelers that do purchase it will post threads here with their feedback. Also stands to reason that MRR will write articles as well.

Until then, we can continue just continue this soap opera.........but realistically, it's doubtful that minds will be changed here on either side. Myself included.

Peace and 10-4!

[simon1966]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

George,I don't know about you but,it would take a superior product for me to replace my Digitrax EB II and UT2 throttles.

Brakie, I think your response is spot on and really represents the dilema of coming to a market too late. Very few folks, if any would consider getting out of their DCC investment. I would not even consider having to pull all my DCC decoders from my locos and switching. However, I am curious to see if DCS could be a viable competitor for the DC crowd that has yet to convert to DCC. By all accounts this still represents the majority of modellers. At this point, it is clear that it does not. Two factors alone support this.

1. The cost and size of the boards to convert another manufacturers locomotive. This still has to be resolved. Unless the new PS3 board is significantly cheaper and much smaller it wont fly in HO. Apparently all the electronics in the new MTH K4 are in the tender. Alot can fit in a tender that will not fit into a good size deisel, let alone a switcher. Also, will these be sound only (Making it more difficult to fit) or will they offer control electronics for those that don't want sound?

2. The licencing of DCS has to be resolved. Sure, as has been stated MTH could do this, but unless there is a good selection of rolling stock on the market from numerous makers the technology will never fly.

This is a whole new environment and MTH will have to change some of their day to day business practices. For example, a PS2 board comes with a 90 day warranty, and that is only if it is installed by a certified dealer. This comes nowhere close to the decoder warranties from companies like TCS.

Anyway, I appreciate the fact that someone has taken the trouble to share some real information for a change.

[ben10ben]

I said this in another thread, but I'll say it again here.

Coming from a 3-rail O gauge guy, I think that the major disadvantage in DCS is the cost of the upgrade boards. A single board for three-rail O costs $200, and I'm sure that one for HO/N would cost about the same price. True, this includes sound and cruise control, but it's still a little bit of a steep one-time investment. With the other major three-rail system competing with DCS, TMCC, you can get a bare-basics 4 amp board to control the motor, lights, smoke unit, and couplers for $50. I've paid as little as $20 for a so-called "dummy" board to just control the lights and couplers. Should you wi***o add sound, it's available for another $90, including the speaker, to connect to anything from a $20 dummy board to an $150 15 amp motor driver. I believe that the situation with DCC decoders is much the same, from what I've read.

[simon1966]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ben10ben

I said this in another thread, but I'll say it again here.

Coming from a 3-rail O gauge guy, I think that the major disadvantage in DCS is the cost of the upgrade boards. A single board for three-rail O costs $200, and I'm sure that one for HO/N would cost about the same price. True, this includes sound and cruise control, but it's still a little bit of a steep one-time investment. With the other major three-rail system competing with DCS, TMCC, you can get a bare-basics 4 amp board to control the motor, lights, smoke unit, and couplers for $50. I've paid as little as $20 for a so-called "dummy" board to just control the lights and couplers. Should you wi***o add sound, it's available for another $90, including the speaker, to connect to anything from a $20 dummy board to an $150 15 amp motor driver. I believe that the situation with DCC decoders is much the same, from what I've read.

DCC decoders are quite a bit less expensive. You can get basic motor control and simple headlight for about $12.00. Most better quality decoders with multiple light functions are in the $25-30 range. DCC sound decoders are in the $100-$200 but with the new Digitrax sound decoder having a street price under $70 the cost of sound is coming down. When you consider that decoders like the TCS MC2 measures 0.71" x 0.41" x 0.19" and costs under $25 MTH has a long way to go to meet the current competition.

[rrinker]

It's gotten even BETTER recently. $25 gets you the custom-fitted DCC decoders for specific locos (at least in HO). A very good top quality generic (meaning, can be wired into anything - I'm talking about an NCE decoder) decoder with 4 function outputs can be had for $12 each in quantity now. Hard to use cost of equipping locos with decoders as an excuse to not use DCC now.
There really doesn't seem to be anything that DCS does that DCC can't. The sound was the big difference, but the real problem there was more one of SIZE. It's a lot easier and cheaper to make a LARGE piece of electronic equipment than it is to make the same thing but in less than half the size. We needed to let technology catch up a bit is all. If you want to use that as an excuse to use DCS, well, then by that reasoning we should all just switch to G scale and forget the smaller ones, as there is far more room for electronics and HUGE speakers that will sound great. Or why not 1 1/2" scale? Oh heck, just go 1:1!

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Go to this website www.tonylashexpress.com and click on "Joe Bolton Layout Photos to see my Ogauge Fastrack Layout. More Photos willb e in the September issue of CTT. Enjoy!

[Paul3]

Um, jnichols, is your tennis match over yet? [:D]

Paul A. Cutler III
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Weather Or No Go New Haven
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