POLL: Which DCC system do you use?

I bought an NCE PowerCab last year, and so far have been pretty happy with it. Sometimes I wish they had gone with a regular knob for the throttle instead of the scroll-wheel that they did, but it's nice to be able to control everything with one hand.

For a starter set, it's been great so far. It was a toss-up between that and the Zephyr, with the ability to hook up a DC throttle being a major draw to the Zephyr, but the handheld throttle form factor was more important to me.

 

Easy DCC by CVP. It's all in the name. Bring someone off the street and they aquire and run in less than a minute.

 

In '02 I took the plunge and got a Digitrax Super Empire. Hooked it up to my block system.. and away I went.

In '05, I totally rewired my track w/ larger cable (14awg bus) and 22awg feeders every 4 to 6'.

In '06 I got a Digitrax Super Chief Radio.

So I am running:

Super Chief Radio
2 DT400R's
1 UT4R

 

That's great!

Thanks! I'm glad you mentioned the online group for MRC. At least there will be some direct support from the one's who made the system. That's very reassuring.

 

There's really nothing wrong with the original Prodigy that I didn't know going in, it was never meant to be permanent. And, as I've said, I think MRC is coming closer to getting it right. But, the path that has gotten them to where they are makes me uncomfortable.

I'm not going to rehash my complaints. I hope they are successful, and produce a good system. The more competitive good systems there are out there, the better it will be for the consumer, I think. The fact that I won't be buying one does not mean I wish them ill.

Jeff

 

Digitrax here. I picked Digitrax based on a variety of reasons, but mostly because of their (at least perceived, at that point) quality, sweeping product line, support network, and relatively long history.

I had used Lenz, EasyDCC, and Digitrax when I decided on Digitrax. Although I preach "try before you buy" and that the controller/throttle is one of the most important decision makers, I can't say that I truly love the Digitrax DT400R ergonomics or appearance. But functionally it works well and is time tested and all the other benefits of Digitrax swayed me over Lenz.

I have the Zephyr but will probably buy a Super Chief station soon because I want to permanently mount it on the layout and keep the Zephyr for programming, testing, goofing off with Unitrack, etc. I also have a LocoBufferUSB, a BDL168, an SE8C, several DS64's, Signal Masts, etc., etc.

 

Wangrow did indeed become NCE. There are still people using Wangrow equipment with their NCE systems.

I went NCE for the primary reason of local support. The Australian agent for NCE is a 20 minute drive away and I would be hard pressed to find better support for any product than I get from this agent (Digitrax, Lenz or MRC don't have a local agent on the east coast Oz that I know of). Besides, in the segment it is aimed at it's just about the only walkabout option for a small layout without additional throttles.
If I was building a large layout I would then reconsider the choice dependant on what features (accessory control, signalling, etc.) I would like and how I would need to implement these. To this, Digitrax has the advantage in as much as the support by third party vendors for the LocoNet protocol.

As for the operation, it couldn't be easier than the PowerCab I have. Sure, it's currently lacking a PC interface but it is very close with DecoderPro v1.9 already released which supports it. In the meantime any decoder supporting 3-point speed curves are a breeze to programme from the throttle. The problem begins with some of those that don't support 3-point, as in the Atlas (Lenz) N Scale factory fitted decoders which need the speed steps individually programmed.

A second PCP and power supply gives you a transportable second system for programming and testing away from the layout, say at the workbench, and the PowerCab becomes a ProCab on another NCE system, using the supplied 4-core coiled cable.

As Tony mentions above, there are no ex-NCE Digitrax users...

 

I picked up a NCE power cab starter set last fall after i found that decoders were availble for Z scale. After narrowing my search, I setup demo visits with both Digitracks and NCE rep's to try out the systems. Unimpressed does not even begin to describe the experiance i had with the digitracks guy. He spent more time in the book looking up CV's than running trains, and i was left with a poor feeling about support and system simplisty.

My NCE demo was much different. The rep handed me a throtle, gave me a few simple explanations about the different buttons, and i was running two different trains in minuets. He took me through consisting and extra functions, and i was very impressed.

After owning my power cab for less that six months, i bought a new NCE pro cab with wireless and now use my power cab throtle as a second unit with the pro system. You sort of can't go wrong with the power cab, since the relative cost of the whole system is equal to buying a second throtle for a Pro system. So if you find that you want to upgrade to a larger and more powerfull pro system, you can still use your power cab throtle with it.

Pretty cool..

I do not work for NCE, but am a very satisfied customer and really like their sytems.

Tony B...
Wasatch Z Club

 

apartment dweller, so n-trak is the only way I can run some trains. if you want to use DCC in n-trak, digitrax is in the catbird seat. Due to a divorce and subsequent return of some trains, I have two zephyrs (they rock) two DCS-100's, one DB-150, three PS-2012's, two UR-91's, two dt400r's, one dt-300, and i believe six ut-4r's. recently did the RR-cirkits USB buffer, it works very well with decoder-pro (JMRI). i like to set up a DCC system at n-trak shows, but i know there are true guru's that are alot better at it than me. a laptop helps at shows.

truth be told, i was ready to chuck my first DCS-100 over programming loco addresses. thanks be to the powers that be at JMRI... used a really old computer with a honest to goodness serial port. found the right plug, and i was well on my way to DCC happiness. the dt-400r has helped a ton, making consisting easy.

the true joy of DCC is handing a ut-4r to a non DCC believer and watch their eyes light up. I don't feel i am in n-trak to promote DCC (i just wanna run trains) but standardization will only help big meets run better

thats my opinion only... your mileage may vary!!

Ed

 

DCC pft. I use Analog Command control based on David Barrow's old system. you people and your easy of use.
Sissys the lot of you.





OK, OK, just joking, but this has been an interesting discussion, because the next major purchase I need to make is DCC.

 

Well as of today we have a total of 109 votes tallied. It seems like a very low number when considering that this poll covers ALL scales. I would have expected many more to vote by now.... and I doubt that we only have ~110 DCC users on Trainboard. The poll will go thru the end of the year (12/27)... so perhaps some more casual users will see the poll and cast their votes and comments.

Thanks for your participation!

 

That 109 might not be much removed from the number of active members of TrainBoard who are also modelers and who actually use DCC. If you look at the members list there are a lot who don't check in often, or haven't been seen in 100 days, or what have you. Judging from what I see on the N, Z, and HO fora, I would guess that you're not going to get much more than 109, even throwing in the other scales.

Good luck with your poll!

Adam

 

I think you've probably got about the info there is to get, no mater how many people 'vote'. Digitrax has about half the market, NCE has come on strong recently, to become the clear #2, at about half what's left. Lenz, MRC and CVP split most of the rest.

The thing I'd be most encouraged by is that slmost every one is happy with their system, no matter which one they have. (Except for that idiot with the original Prodigy, he should have known better any way. Who was that......oh, wait, I resmble that guy!) So, no matter what you decide to get, there's a good chance you'll be happy as well. The follow on question that would be interesting, perhaps, would be what would you buy if you were starting over (branching off of what do you have now, so you know it all)? But I expect enough would get what they already have the the statistics wouldn't mean much.

Jeff

 

This is correct, and I feel these may be the best available out there. They have even developed a two-piece CN decoder for 'Classic' locos - those with the two-piece lightboard used by Atlas, Kato, LL in the past - which should be available shortly. There's very little information on these on site, though.

I don't think so. They are a small but specialised outfit and reckon if they develop new product beyond loco and function only decoders it may be accessory decoders first.

Yep, that's what it is about.

 

DCC needs to move from EEPROMS and drop in upgrades to a flash memory system. Seriously....OK, I work in the computer networking field, so we're probably ahead of the game compared to model railroading, but still. "Bought new EEPROMS?"
Is it frackin 1995 around here? Flash memory, plug into the computer and upgrade over the internet. Why is it so hard? It should be cheaper.


Anywya, that's kinda a pointless rant. I want to suggest that you'd get more responses if you asked people who haven't purchased to vote which way they're leaning. I doubt the results would change, but you would get more of them. I think 100 votes is probably a significant enough sample...Well, you're probably missing a lot of the N-scalers, cause they never leave the N-scale forum....

 

It has been like watching a bag of microwave popcorn cook. At first it took a while and got a few pops (responses), then the responses came in fast and furious, finally the last few responses came in sporadically. Maybe I just need to throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave...

Anyway... I still am surprised at how few Lenz users there are on Trainboard. At one time... Lenz and Digitrax were seemingly far above the rest (may have been the only ones to choose from too).
I actually was considering the Lenz system because of Atlas' support of their decoders. I had also heard that Digitrax decoders were not always available. At that time I felt that the decoders and the DCC system needed to be the same brand in order for everything to work. It may have been that way in the early days of DCC... but I'm not sure if something changed (NMRA standardization of DCC???) or I was just not properly informed.

 

Even the YAHOO Lenz forum is quiet compared to Digitrax. Probably like the Sony / VHS tape recording deal. The best is not necessarily the one that sells the most. Marketing has a lot to do with the subject and if you can get a lot of people initially to buy by way of price reductions, giveaways etc you can sometimes come out the "leader". Once you are the "leader" then you end up with the whole market. That does not say you are the best however.

...don

 

I had a similar experience, but just reversed. I looked strong and long at both Digitrax and NCE prior to my initial purchase. I really liked what I saw in both. However the demo' I got on Digitrax was superb over the demo' I got w/ NCE. The guy I purchased my Digitrax unit has a very nice layout set up on his home. I got to see most of the available Digitrax bells and whistles in the flesh, right there. It sold me.

Truth be told, I know I would be as happy w/ an NCE as I would my Digitrax. I have even considered switching to NCE just for the heck of it... but having just invested in upgrading to Digitrax radio keeps me from that being more than a passing thought.

From all I have read and heard, Digitrax and NCE are sorta like "Ford and Chevy". Different in many respects, but globally, not much difference between the two. [/ducking because of that last, opinionated statement]

 

As a Ford man, I take offense at that!

Ok, no I don't cause it's pretty much true.

Has anyone ever played with the Bachman DCC system?
It's super limited I know, but It's so much less expensive and my Decoder costs are going to outpace the initial purchase, I often wonder if it isn't worth the price just to start out.

Then I kinda shake that off, but I'm curious if anyone has ever used it.