NCE’s new Smart Booster SB3a should be a huge factor in choosing a DCC system. With an available upgrade to 5 amps, 6 recalls, and optional use as a dumb booster in future expansion makes the Power Cab a very nice choice for many.
I’ve always been a great fan of a Digitrax Zephyr (2.5 amps) plus a DT402 throttle as a terrific system for many of us. But now the option of a 5 amp Power Cab makes this system a real contender in my book. The cost of both systems, including power supply are relatively close.
MRC’s Prodigy Advance 2 is also a very good choice but has some drawbacks that make it questionable for some.
Anyway, the competition is really great and this should be very good for all interested in DCC.
I had always thought the Power Cab was a great starter system. You could go with the Smart booster or jump into the PH system and still use the Power Cab as a second throttle and double duty at the work bench for programming and diagnostics. You can use the Smart booster to power its own district on a PH system also. Clearly a lot of upgrade options. Even radio when not used as a Power Cab.
You can not use the original Smart Booster to power it’s own district with a Power House Pro system. One of the complaints people had with the Smart Booster was that if you upgraded to it and then to the Power House Pro, the Smart Booster could not be used with the Power House Pro in any way and was just wasted money. Apparently the new Smart Booster can be used as just a booster with the Power House Pro system.
One thing I have not heard is whether or not the new Smart Booster still has the four cab address limit. I considered the Power Cab and Smart Booster combination before I got my Zephyr, and the four cab addrdesses was just to limiting, especially considering that the USB adapter and Mini Panel take up cab addresses.
Wether it is 5 amps or 3 amps is not clear to me. Some say it is 5 amps other say it is still 3 amps. I will wait and see what NCE post on its web site.
I was on the NCE web site the other day tinkering around and the new SB3a was pictured in the PowerCab options. The site is back to the old version now. The new one looks completely redesigned, totally new packaging with all the connections on the front. I could have sworn that it said that it was 3A, but then these things are subject to change. Since the 3 in the SB3 stood for 3 Amps I suspect that perhaps the SB3a will be 3A otherwise the naming scheme goes out the window. The web site did clearly state that it could be used as a booster on a PH system, thus overcoming one of the significant draw backs of the SB3 which had no use except with the Power Cab.
Looks like Tony’s has them on-line now with pictures
It also says something about a factory trade in. Send your old SB3 to the factory, pay the difference and get a new SB3a. Good deal I should say.
So the new SB3a has a list price of $159.95 but you also need to buy an external $45 power supply. If Tony’s prices are typical street prices then you are looking at $172 to add the 5 amp booster to the Power Cab. This is a bit cheaper than adding the DB150 booster and power supply to the Digitrax Zephyr, so very comparable since with the Z you get to keep the 2.5A of the system and end up with a net 7.5A in split into 2 districts.
Anyway, this is clearly a nice enhancement to the PowerCab product line. Good job NCE.
Yes, you newed the SB3a to get command station functionality that the PB105 does not have. However, the DB3a is just a ‘dumb booster’ just like the PB105 and is cheaper. This is what I meant. If you already had a PH Pro system and needed an extra booster, it would appear the DB3a would work just fine, for less cost than the PB105 - making the PB105 a redundant product.
As for comparable Digitrax parts, it looks like Tony gets a bigger discount on NCE, since the list price of the SB3a and DB150 are the same but Tony sells the SB3a for less.
Randy,
AFAIK, all the major DCC players have a MAP policy (minimum advertized price). From what I understand, that’s usually 22% off the MSRP, give or take. Perhaps NCE has a slightly different MAP than Digitrax? (shrug) Your guess is as good as mine…
Sorry Randy, I got my SB3a and DB3a mixed up (trifocals you know). Anyway this seems odd. I wonder if there is something technically different between the DB3a and PB105? I guess we’ll just have to wait until NCE gives an explanation.
Thanks for posting the link, Simon. [:)] I had seen and read the TTE SB3a announcement page but didn’t realize that they had actual pictures on the Buy pages.
Wow! So the packaging (i.e. enclosure) for the newer SB3a and DB3a is completely different than the older SB3 and DB3 and is basically similar in shape to the NCE Power Pro command station.
I would agree that NCE is moving in the right direction as far as making their SB3 upgrade more “multi-functional” with other products (theirs and other manufacturers) and for addressing the upgrade path “obsolete-ness” issue that plagued the old SB3. Digitrax has done a VERY good job in that respect with their DCC system product line.
Tom are you going to take them up on the upgrade offer? Seems like a really stand-up offer to me, just what one would like to expect from a reputable company like NCE. To offer that on an item that in some cases must be 2 plus years old is a very nice offer indeed and says alot about what they think of their installed base.
The whole NCE/Digitrax bashing thing never made sense to me. It think we are very lucky to have 2 US based manufacturers, who actually make their stuff here, that seem to really care about their customers. They may be pros and cons about each solution, one may be a better choice than the other for any given modeller, but I don’t think anyone can question the integrity of either company.
I don’t bash NCE, it’s the only other system I’d buy if I didn’t already have Digitrax. I DO buy NCE decoders over Digitrax. It all depends on what you plan to do with the system - if you plan on adding lots of signalling and detection and don;t want to add a third party independent system, Digitrax has it all over NCE and the others with Loconet. If you’re interested in a solid system for doing no more than controlling your trains in an easy to use way, NCE is the choice.
Randy, you are one of the most knowledgable folks on the forum, who presents balanced opinions on DCC in general. I don’t think anyone would consider you an NCE basher.
Yes, I do plan to, Simon. Since I already have an SB3 (3 years now - Can’t believe that! [:O]): To trade “up” to the SB3a for the
Increased amperage (from 3A to 5A)
4 additional recall slots (from 2 to 6), AND…
The fix for the auto-reverser and circuit protection
ALL for ~$50? Yea, seems like a good deal to me, too.
And the ability of using the SB3a in “booster-only” mode (should I ever expand my layout sometime down the line) is icing on the cake. However, I will probably wait and find out some more definites before I box up my old SB3 and send it off to NCE.
Simon, I agree with you on the bashing. I’ve used NCE and Digitrax DCC systems; both are terrific companies and both excel in certain areas over the other. One system may fit the need of a particular modeler better than the other because not everyone’s needs are exactly the same. And, you’re right - they are also made right here in Webster, NY and Panama City, FL.
I see it as a win-win situation for all DCC users. Keep up the good work fellas! [:)][tup]
I abandoned my last HO layout 30 years ago, and I’m in the final planning stages for a new home layout (8’ X 15’) with DCC controllers (I would like to run up to be able to 4 engines at a time). I also plan on lots of accessories. From this and other forums, it appears that Digitrax & NCE are on the short list. Since I’m brand new to this, I have a few questions:
If $ were not a issue, should I go with the high-end (i.e. Digitrax Super Chief or NCE PH Pro)? 2) Which is easiest to program? 3) I’ve read that turnouts seem to be a problem with DCC. Is there a “DCC friendly” turnout? 3) What type track do you recommend, and does the code make a difference in DCC? Finally, a tough one: any suggestions on where to buy all this stuff? The local train stores in my area had heard of DCC, but didn’t know anything about it – no help at all!
Sorry to bother you experienced guys with these beginner questions.
How big is your layout, and how big do you expect it to get? Mainly with respect to number of trains to run simultaneously and number of operators. If it’s well within the limits of the starter systems, there’s little point spending lots more for the top of the line systems. If you plan to soon exceed the limits of the starter systems, then it would be more cost efficient to just get the bigger system.
2/ Both are the same - you get the appropriate computer interface and use free DecoderPro to make programming easy.
Mostly a red herring. If wheels are in gauge and so forth, there usually isn’t a problem. This issue has been blow out of proportion.
Code makes no difference. Track brand makes little difference. Use what you like.
I buy most of my stuff online. My LHS doesn’t give much discount on DCC stuff. Litchfield Station, Empire Northern, and Ulrich are my usual places.
Bruce Petrarca @ Litchfield Station, in particular, always has time to recommend the right decoder for whatever locomotive you might have. Tim Smith @ Empire Northern is only open Fridays and Saturdays. He’s done a couple of nice installs for me with locomotives that I have bought from him.
I haven’t tried Ulrich but have heard some very good things about them.
