The age-old NCE vs Digitrax question

jeyjey Feb 16, 2015

  1. jeyjey

    jeyjey TrainBoard Member

    45
    1
    3
    So I had pretty much settled on a Super Chief Radio setup. It seemed to require a lot fewer keystrokes to set up a consist, it had a vaguely industrial look (as opposed to looking like a TV remote), and its radio frequency is EU-friendly. OK, so the screen layout and amount of info packed into it is a veritable train-wreck, but there are always trade-offs.

    This weekend I finally got some actual time on the two sets. Wow, what an eye-opener. The key bounce on the Digitrax was horrific. About 75% of the time I pressed a key it did what I wanted, about 15% of the time it wouldn't register, and about 10% of the time I'd get a bounce and double commands. I had no such issues with the Procab throttle.

    The somewhat excessive number of keystrokes with the NCE didn't actually bother me as much as I thought it would, while the DT402's screen annoyed me more than I thought it would.

    So despite it's TV remote appearance, I'm leaning back in the Procab's direction.

    Has anyone else had this negative a reaction to Digitrax in the flesh, or is it just me?
     
  2. dstjohn

    dstjohn TrainBoard Member

    234
    8
    16
    I have had Digitrax since the analog Challenger days, so I lean the other way, I just can't get the hang of operating NCE systems. It's a Ford / Chevy thing. Whichever you prefer is right for you.
     
  3. robert3985

    robert3985 TrainBoard Member

    841
    57
    14
    I've never have had any "key bounce" problems since I bought my Digitrax Super Chief Radio five years ago. I did an extensive comparo with NCE, Lenz, MRC, Rail Lynx and Digitrax. Digitrax was the clear winner for me because of its non-obsoleting upgrading, LocoNet and I liked the feel of the buttons and the industrial look better than the others.

    Was anyone else having "key bounce" problems? Was it just one throttle that had that prob? Could be that you got a bad throttle or someone had spilled something on it a while ago. I have never heard of that problem with Digitrax before.

    Cheerio!
    Bob Gilmore
     
  4. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

    4,396
    3,025
    87
    Maybe you should have tried the ESU system too since you are in Ireland.
     
  5. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    I chose NCE due to a big majority of my modeling friends were also running NCE. I have immediate and hands-on tech support! I ran a couple layouts with Digitrax before I ever touched NCE. For me, NCE PowerCab appeared on the surface to be easier to understand and operate. At this point, I don't care about all the extra bells and whistles... I just want to run some trains!

    When the time comes to worry about the bells and whistles, I expand and upgrade what I have and play with all of the hidden CV mumbo-jumbo.
     
  6. jeyjey

    jeyjey TrainBoard Member

    45
    1
    3
    Yeah, I thought it might be a demo throttle with a lot of miles on it, but the salesman said it was brand new. I really wanted to like Digitrax, but in the end I'm glad I had the opportunity to try them out. (There are no stores I know of in Ireland to try them out at, but I happened to be vacationing in Denver, CO.)

    Cheers,
    Jeff
     
  7. retsignalmtr

    retsignalmtr TrainBoard Member

    898
    4
    19
    I bought the Digitrax Super Empire Builder a year before my club went DCC with Digitrax. It does take some time to learn any system. Never heard anything about key bounce. Were you using the throttle in radio or IR mode? I did use an MRC system a couple of times. I didn't like their method of MU'ing with a consist number and the fact that only one train per throttle can be operated. Inexperience with a system can cause problems that are not the fault of the equipment.
     
  8. rsn48

    rsn48 TrainBoard Member

    2,263
    1
    43
    I don't know about key bounce but I do know about key stick, talked to Digitrax via email about it. Sometimes a key will stick and if you don't notice it, you can have problems. Often it is the plus and minus keys.
     
  9. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

    2,642
    2,793
    73
    I use NCE at home and Digitrax at the freemoN group/club. I still like the NCE throttles and menu guides, but with some time I have learned how to navigate the Digitrax systems a bit.
    You won't be disappointing with either system. There are support groups for both to help you with most any issue.
     
  10. Locoman

    Locoman TrainBoard Member

    14
    0
    3
    I use a NCE Powercab and love it. Support groups make it sound a bit like you're an alcoholic or something.
     
  11. Locoman

    Locoman TrainBoard Member

    14
    0
    3
    NCE for me. The Digitrax stuff just looks so last century with those odd pegs.
     
  12. robert3985

    robert3985 TrainBoard Member

    841
    57
    14
    Digitrax for me. NCE stuff looks like glorified TV remotes to me.

    Since the time period of my layout is 1947 through 1956, looking "last century" to me is a distinct advantage!

    Cheerio!
    Bob Gilmore
     
  13. UP_Challenger3985

    UP_Challenger3985 TrainBoard Member

    333
    8
    21
    I just switched from the old Atlas (was made by Lenz) to the Digitrax Zephyr set. I thought NCE might be nice, but for me, the cost of entry seemed a little high. I liked that for $200 (US), I could get a "ready-to-go" system that's easily upgradeable later on.
     
  14. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

    2,642
    2,793
    73
    Sounds right.
     

Share This Page