I have a small collection of Rivarossi Steam Engines that i usually run once a year(Christmas) but now would like to set up a permanent layout with muilt running trains. The power supply i have now will not be enough, i was looking at MRC but looking for suggestions on what to get or features.(like current output rating) The one thing i don't like about the cheap one i have now is low speed control, it's too touch sensitive.
I may be young but i'm was "old school" with my trains, i never paid much attention to DCC until after i made that first post asking about power supplies. I though DCC was just for sound & effects, then i read about it & was immediately convinced that this is the way to go! So...any suggestions on what brand of DCC?
Duster I have both a Lenz-100 and a MRC Prodigy Advanced Squared and both will do all the nifty DCC functions. It's cool being able to run Multi Unit consists and multipules of them at the same time in any direction with no worries about power districts. Also the sound, lights and route control is awesome. I don't think you can make a bad choice on which system just make sure it will have the capabilities you want. The lower end MRC's are inexpensive and so are the Bachmann's but they do have limited capability.
Essentially, except for the bottom basement Bachmann EZ Command, I would be quite happy with just about any of them from any manufacturer. But that is me. My point is that relying on feedback here about something as expensive and important as DCC systems is perhaps not the best way to educate yourself. It isn't the same as engines, where one manufacturer has a bad run of their Consolidations, say, and we all agree to stay away from that model for the time being. The DCC systems all conform to a set of standards or practises so that they can be used interchangeably with all other manufacturers' decoders. But that is about where the standardization ends. Their architecture and their ergonomics differ considerably, and that, unfortunately, or fortunately, means that there will be strong biases or preferences for one system over the others....if you can test them. For example, I use, and am very taken with, the Digitrax DT400 throttle. I can't imagine what it would take to improve it, unless making it a radio throttle were the case. (it can be done, for a fee, by Digitrax). It is all I know. Others in other forums have tried many systems and find that one is somewhat better over the others. Long story short, it is the features that eventually count for each of us, and that makes it incumbent upon us to find out what will suit us the best. How does the throttle feel in your hand? Are the buttons set out intuitively? What steps must be taken to programme the various CVs? Is there read-back display capability so that you can see at a glance what value is currently programmed into any given CV? What is the mean usable range for radio throttles in the system you intend to use? How much amperage to the rails will system Y provide with an appropriate power supply? Why would it matter? And so on. Sorry to lecture, if it seems that I am...I just feel strongly that you should only treat the replies here, including my own, as if it were somehow tainted with personal biases.
I think DCC is like digital cable TV, it's nice when it works right. I'm building a pretty large layout and staying with the block system myself. Shop ebay for a couple of MRC Tech2 controllers, they will be pre-china era, made in the USA and worth every penny. Or check out my "build your own handheld throttle" in the elctronics section if you are electronics savvy. Just my tainted personal bias.
