My layout is very small, my son's layout is small. But we use DCC because it so easy with wiring the layout, and running the trains. We have the Roco Lokmaus. It is an inexpensive system with a very easy to understand throttle, a few programming options, and a nice rotating speed button. For small layouts the system gives enough power. If you have sound decoders however you would prefer a more sophisticated system: Roco Lokmaus offers only 4 functions, so my new HO Roundhouse steamer with 19 sounds or so has not yet produced all of its sounds... But Roco has also the more elaborate MultiMaus. And everything can be combined with Lenz. Our Ntrak club uses Digitrax. I find this system user unfriendly. It is too complicated: everytime tou want to run trains, you need the manual to get the system running and to change something simple as a loco address......
DCC is always an interesting conversation. I'm probably in the minority, in that I intend to implement a dual wired layout (option to toggle between either DCC or DC for both my inner loop and outer loops). The engineer in me enjoys the wiring tasks. Obviously, for crossovers, I would probably set each to DCC to take advantage of those features. That said, I will insist on the option of not having to convert every one of my locos to DCC. For the Kato Mikados, I'll just stick with DC since consisting and constant lighting are of marginal value and the DCC conversion is more that I care to take on. OTOH, with my primary interest in passenger modeling, I really like the idea of having constant lighting, switchable headlights, etc. in my passenger consists. Thanks to this thread, I may actually get off my duff and get going on all of this.... :tb-biggrin:
Its the Digitrax Super Chief for me all the way.It is easy to use and Digitrax has alot of adaptable components to go along with it.Not to mention there website technical support is spectacular.:thumbs_up:
I thank you one and all for your informative input. It is very enlightening, and so much needed to have all the fact prior to a major purchase like DCC. Hard to go in reverse after a monitary investment like this. Thxs.:tb-cool:
Grey; My layouts are temporary. I use a 4 x 8 table top over my dining table. It comes down for holidays and company. I do some reasonably complex layouts on it though. I have a number of older locos that aren't decoder equipped; about half of mine are DCC though. This is my plan for my next layout. My outer loop will be DC. My yard and Kato elevated viaducts will be DCC, accessed from my inner loop. I also plan an inner-inner reverse loop for DCC only of course. This way I can run my DC locos at the same time as my DCC. I can cross the DCC over to the DC outer loop with no problem. The DC trains I can also cross over because the Zephyr supports one DC loco as loco address 0. However, performance of DC locos is generally so bad on DCC that I doubt I'd do that much.
My layout is also suited for DC. I just take a DC powerpack and connect it with plugs to the layout. My DCC system has the same plugs, so reconnecting it is easy. This way I can also run my DC Life-Like engines. OK, putting two engines on the layout is not possible because I have no blocks that I can put on/off.
I have a Zephyer that I use a little. Only have about 5 locos that are DCC equiped so far. All the rest are still DC.
I'd never seen this unit before. It looks nice but rather expensive for a starter. It is the only "starter" I've ever seen that has dual throttles. However, it isn't a handheld unit and that's a turn-off for a lot of people. I'm a Zephyr user so it doesn't bother me. I want to add that one of the virtues of the NCE PowerCab I've seen mentioned on threads here was that it could "control two locos", which is confusing because it will run six locos. I thought that meant it had dual throttles. Today I read a few reviews. The PowerCab doesn't have dual throttles, it has a "recall" button like a TV remote. The recall button switches back and forth between your last two selected locos the way a TV remote switches between your last two channels. If you want to control any of your other locos you have to key in the loco address. I still think the PowerCab is an elegant unit. I wouldn't mind having a recall button on my Zephyr. But I'm still happy with the Zephyr's 10 locomotives at a time and 2.5 amp output. I do have to say that EasyDCC's starter is now the most powerful starter I've seen at 4 amps. But I couldn't find how many locos you can have on the layout at one time. Their web site looks nice, but the information could be organized better.
I have the MRC Prodigy Express. Its cheap, simple, and works good. However my layout is only 3x10 and runs 2 locos. I would say 5-6 locos is all this system would be able to handle. Less so on a larger layout. Good luck in the search.
I'm using a NCE Pro cab on the layout and an NCE PowerCab on the bench. Does this count for 2 in the other entry section?
I have the Lenz Set 90 and I don't find it "simple to use". If you want that get the NCE Powercab which I now use and is truly simple and easy to use.
I saw an NCE power cab running 6 HO locos at one time at my LHS. They were all in a consist but the PowerCab had enought power to run these locos at full slip. Don't be put off by the 1.5-2 amp rating of this system. Good locos don't draw all that much current.
