Anyone buy theirs?

There were quite a few of us discussing the DCC system we wanted pretty intensively a few weeks ago.
So, has anyone bought theirs yet? With the last few weeks for it all to soak-in and using my DC system trying to coordinate locomotive locations with my switching work I've been getting closer and closer to my purchase.

I've also come to a concrete decision to go with the NCE. I'm a small modeler - will never belong to a club and don't need to spend an awful lot on the best. So hopefully I'll get to my LHS this afternoon

 

Sheldon,

Did you get your PowerCab. If so how do you like it?

 

Sorry, unfortunately that post turned out a little premature. I never made it to my LHS on Friday, and this weekend left no time at all for my railroad.
Now today - I'm home sick with a bad cold.

 

I was sold on PowerCab, but looking at my layout plans a little closer, the Prodigy Advanced at 3.5 amps $179 should be all I need. so I'm thinking that is the one.

 

I purchased a Powercab and I love it.

I have a few of my older era engines for sale and when I get them sold , I will be buying an NCE Powerhouse Pro.

I'll then be able to use my Powercab as an extra throttle and I'll take the powerpanel from it and mount it at my workbench. That way, I can use the powercab at the workbench when I need to.

Craig

 

Craig, how is the thumbwheel action on that handheld?

 

It's ok, it has what is called ballistic tracking. The faster you turn the knob, the faster you increase or decrease speed. I also use the pushbuttons on each side of the knob for more precise control.

The powercab does have a downside to it though. You can only stack 2 trains into the recall button. The Procab is able to stack 6 trains.

But for most home layouts, how many people actually operate more than 2 trains at the same time all by themselves?

My layout is 11'x 24' and N Scale. I run 3 trains at the same time, each chasing the other. So I have to hit the select loco button to take control of the 3rd train, and that kicks the 1st train out of the recall stack. It's a minor inconveniance to me that will disappear when I get my Powerhouse Pro system.

Craig

 

Don't buy on Amps! You can't have too many and if you don't have enough it is easily fixed (on most systems) with a booster.

Look primarily at features YOU might need, how it fits the way you drive trains and whether you can understand it/work it (and/or local support ). Obviously some people will have an absolute price cap, but try not to - unlike locos and freight cars, this should be damn near a once in a lifetime purchase.

For example - I have sound locos. This only works properly (sound:motion consistency) with a fair amount of inertia. As a result I almost never use the analogue knob on my DCC (NCE); I use the +4/-4 buttons almost exclusively. So I wont be getting any extension cabs with the knob, I'll get the pushbutton ones.

 

yep, that recall stack of 2 kills it for me.
plus I like the knob with yard mode on the Prodigy Advance better than a thumbwheel. and recall is 25.
also, the P.A. should be all I need for power, where the PowerCab I would be a little short.
My layout as designed will be 3.5 ft x 10ft and have 2 mainlines, two branchlines (one a mountainlogging/mining) plus a yard and turntable. so I will be running at least 6 trains myself at a time and maybe up to 8 if I can handle. there is always friends & other visitors too.

 

Well, I just did it... ebay 'buy it now' NCE powercab for $149.
I should have it NLT Friday. Now I gotta find a couple decoders for my Kato Dash 9's

 

Sheldon:

Tony's Trains ( a very reliable source) has the NCE Powercab priced at $139.


NCE PowerCab at Tony's Trains

Stay cool and run steam....

 

I picked up a Lenz 100 a few days ago and it is purported to be in the Postal System somewhere.

 

Stan:

You made a very wise choice.

Who did you buy it from if I may ask?

Stay cool and run steam.....

 

Mike Fifer at Fifer Hobby Supply. Very good to work with I might add!

 

Not in stock - a good 3-4 week wait. I'm getting mine NLT this Friday. That's worth $10 to me.

 

Now Sheldon, haven't you heard the best part of something is the anticipation of it and you chose to give up three or four weeks of the best part for some instant gratification? Just Kidding, I'd like to hear your impressions of it when you get it going!

 

Stan, I've known that I wanted DCC for 6-8 weeks now - it's just taken me that long to figure out a happy medium between what I really need what I want and what I can afford.

Once I have my mind made up, I get it. So it's not really instant gratification - I've been waiting now for nearly 2 months.
I'll definately post my impression of the powercab. I just need to find a really nice decoder for the Kato Dash-9

 

That magic word "need" pops up again.

 

A word of warning about temptation

My friend recently got his new DCC. However, the shop didn't have any suitable power supplies and he had to order that from another place (both were mail ordered).

As luck would have it, the DCC arrived before the weekend but the PSU did not, so my friend grabbed an old controller and used that to play with his new toy. The max voltage permitted for the DCC is given as 18V, the old controller gives 18.8V. My friend (who is an engineer) thought that iddy-biddy little 0.8V wouldn't matter.

His new toy is now on it's way back to the manufacturer for repair

I'm sure we've all done this or something similar once in our lives - analysts probably call it Christmas Syndrome . Experience is never cheap is it?

 

Fortunately for the powercab - I don't need to purchase a separate power supply. This was another key factor in my decision to go with NCE.