I went against everybody's advice and bought one of these for about the same price. The reason I did was because of BUDGET and I HAD TO HAVE WIRELESS. I do not regret my decision at all. For me, it was a good fit because to get "the good wireless system" with Digitrax or NCE I would have had to spend more than I wanted at the time. I have a small layout and regularly run 2 trains on each mainline. I have had 10 trains running at once several times. If you don't care about wireless right away, a Digitrax or Powercab seems like a great way to go.
Very interesting discussion. One option I haven't heard mentioned is wiring a layout for both DC and DCC. I'm planning a small layout now and that's something I'm looking at to be able to run my older DC equipment. I'd keep the block wiring fairly simple and have a master switch on the panel to select between DC and DCC operations.
Cost and skill are pretty much why I haven't switched to DCC. My roster consists primarily of non-DCC friendly steam locomotives which would be difficult to install decoders into. Not to mention the fact that I'm not very adept at soldering and the idea of soldering those little tiny wires does not suit me very well. I do like the trend of manufacturers including dual-mode decoders in their locomotives. Yes, it's more expensive, but it means that I can buy the loco now with the knowledge that someday, when I have a lot more time and money, I can switch to DCC pretty painlessly.
Thats what I did. My TechII is a dual throttle (4 wire)...the DCC is 2 wire. I am using a 4 pole/dbl throw/center off switch. Left is DC...right is DCC. I originally started with DC and no blocks...so running the DCC in was a breeze. :thumbs_up: .
I agree...somewhat... Manufactures can put all the different decoders they want in their locomotives...as long as they also sell locomotive WITHOUT decoders !! I am a firm believer in decoders are a modelers choice. For a manufacture to only sell locomotives WITH decoders is forcing the decoder THEY choose down a modelers throat !! If they decide on digitrak (for instance) and someone doesnt like digitrak....it will be a TS thing. Not good !! Give us the choice: 1) Decoder equiped OR 2) Decoder ready JMO:tb-tongue:
speaking of decoders, any ideas about which ones are the best for the use and cost? Still at that stage of shopping around for systems and decoders.
I think way too much has been said about this controlling an engine rather than the track. Personally I think controlling the track is preferrable. I fully expect that one day train engineers will go the way of stage coach drivers as trains will be robotically controlled just as people movers are today. We have unmanned aerial reconnaisance vehicles as well as deep diving ocean robots and even sent two robots on a sight seeing trip around Mars. So don't think it won't happen to railroads. The bottom line in this controversy is that DCC comes at a price over and above what is necessary to operate a layout and that price is very significant. So it all boils down to a cost vs benefit decision. Is the extra cost of DCC justified by the benefit derived? People will have different opinions on that question.
The majority of people in this hobby model transition era, so controlling the engine/realistic operations is very important. For the person who is just starting out, or only has a few locomotives, the cost is entirely justified. DCC isn't new, Lenz first introduced it to this country in 1993 and along with the advent of sound decoders it has made this hobby improve itself by leaps & bounds since. For those of you who still haven't converted, I say, "come on in, the water's fine!"
I totally agree. U.S. manufacturers should have standardised on the NMRA six pin socket that the innovative FVM uses, it seems to be becoming the standard in Britain and Europe and means you just take of the shell and plug in whatever make of decoder you like without even slightly having to pull the mechanism apart. The approach of U.S. manufacturers of having a different replacement light board style decoder for each locomotive just means in the end we have to pay more. Bachmann uses a dual mode decoder in their U.S. locos but a six pin socket in their British ones. As an engineer I hope your prediction never comes true but even with unmanned full sized trains as already run on some self contained rapid transit systems it is still the train that is controlled, not the track. Such systems are actually closer to a prototype for DCC.
I struggled with this when deciding what DCC system to buy. I admit that I got the MRC system for a really good price, and the club I'm in uses the MRC system, but being a DC guy at heart, I wonder if maybe I should have have gone with Digitrax or Lenz. Maybe I can find a deal on one of them...
Adress 0 is a big reason I chose Lenz over NCE. As it turned out, I rarely use this feature, and, as a couple of guys stated earlier, you can use a master switch to change from DCC to DC. In my case, I rarely run DC engines any more. Old engines are not up to modern standards in both looks and operation. Of course, we are all different and what's not important to me might be very important to you. As to controlling the engine rather than the track, for me it's a big advantage to control the engine. For someone else maybe it's not so big an advantage. I've done both and know what I prefer. Personal experience is best here. We can all tell others what we prefer, bot we won't know for ourselves until we try. Many use Digitrax systems and are very happy. I hate Digitrax, not the decoders, but the systems. It's a good system for them, but not for me. Opinions vary.
I'll be very slowly going DCC. I've decided not to buy any more non-DCC equipment. Further I will do my best to only get sound equipped locos. Disclaimer: If anyone quotes me I will categorically deny the whole thing.
That's the period I model. Back then the prototype controlled which engines could be in the same block. While the engines were individually controlled by the engineer, it was the dispatcher who controlled the track. Why not offer a free lunch too? Maybe those who have not converted should ask themselves why, if DCC is so great, we are constantly being bombarded with recruitment statements. Last time I listened to recruiters my butt ended up in Vietnam. And the water was definitely NOT "fine" there.
"Lenz first introduced it to this country in 1993 and along with the advent of sound decoders it has made this hobby improve itself by leaps & bounds since." To each his, or her own!
