I am starting from scratch and presently have no equipment. I am not sure about what I want from a layout yet as I have no experience (other than an Lionel on an oval when I was a kid) and I live in a remote area so I can’t join a club to gain experience.
I am considering purchasing the Kato “Black River Junction” HO layout as a starter set.
I would like to hear your suggestions on where to start with a DCC system. Keep in mind I know very little about DCC so please keep your explanations simple.
First off: [#welcome] to the forum! Good to have you aboard! [:)]
This question is brought up at least once a week here. To adequately choose a DCC that is right for you, you first need to sit down and determine what your current and possible future layout requirements will/might be. For example:
How much $$$ do you want to spend on a DCC system? (Starter systems are $140 and up.)
How many trains will you want to operate simultaneously?
Will any be MU’d or consisted together?
How many operators do you anticipate having? Or, will it just be you primarily operating your layout?
Will you be tweaking your locomotive’s CVs (configuration variables) so that they run better in DCC? (Most DCC systems allow you to do this. Some make it easy than others.)
Will you want to use your computer to tweak/operate your locomotives?
Will you want to operate your turnouts with your DCC throttle?
Are you interested in lighting effects? (e.g. Mars, ditch, etc.)
Are you interested in signaling?
Are you interested in wireless or radio DCC?
A couple of good resources that might be handy for you:
DCC Made Easy (Lionel Strang/Kalmbach Publishing) - Lionel has a real knack for explaining things in very understandable terms.
DCC for Beginners - You can either read it online or download it onto your computer as a .pdf file.
Lastly, Mike, you might try using the search boxes (located under Search Community on the right side of the page) for other threads about DCC starter systems and recommendations.
The best advice anyone can give you about DCC systems is to try as many different ones you can and get a feel for the throttles. But you being in the sticks I know that may not be a possibility. Maybe you can venture to a train show that has modular groups and ask to see and hold their throttles. You can also download the manuals from the manufactures web site and read them. It will not give you a feel of the system but will let you see how the systems operate.
As for which system is better and which is not is something no one person can tell you. My club uses the Lenz system. I have an NCE system at home and I operate on a friends Digitrax system. They all are great systems. Each one takes some getting used to. Since the throttle is the major interface for the user I feel that getting one that feels good in your hand is the most important item. My Lenz throttle uses buttons for speed control. They also have a knob based throttle. My NCE throttle has a thumb wheel and buttons for speed control. They also offer knob and button engineers throttles. My friends Digitrax system uses the knob throttle that is also wireless except when acquiring a loco. They are all upgradeable and expandable for even the most largest rail roads.
Lenz systems are not wireless, But CVP offers a wireless throttle and receiver for Lenz and NCE. Digitrax and NCE have wireless systems right out of the box.
Second is do you want wireless control. Not a big deal on a small layout but becomes important when the layout gets larger.
Even though you are starting small now DCC is a huge chunk of your initial expenditure and you want to be a good enough system to take you all the way to where you want to be, not just where you are. No reason to buy twice.
Personally as it stands I would suggest NCE or Digitrax as they in my opinion are the best quality and have the most support.
Good questions Tom, unfortunately, due to my lack of experience, I can’t answer most of them but they give me food for thought. I found the DCC for beginners link very helpful.
I wish I was in a position to try out some DCC systems, unfortunately I have to rely on forums like this for information.
I agree with the suggestion about trying the throttles. Personally, I like the Lenz throttle, and it was a significant factor in my purchase of a Lenz System 100. Their “Dispatcher” throttle has big buttons, but not very many of them. Again, it’s a personal thing, but I would not recommend the Lenz “Engineer” throttle, because it’s awkward to do anything other than simply run trains.
If you look at some of the Digitrax throttles, in contrast, you’ll find small cell-phone sized buttons, and lots more of them.
It’s important for new DCC users to be aware that throttles are not interchangeable from system to system, so the system you choose will determine your choice of throttles.
With a DigiTrax Zephyr, the throttle control is neither knob nor buttons. The comments above are relevant to hand-held throttles, which is a major step for a budget started system. A Zephyr, as an example, fits a majority of needs for a smaller layout and has those jump ports to allow for a cheap expansion in terms of additional throttles. The Zephyr, like NCE systems, is expandable too.
Start with reading the Beginners guide in the link previously provided. Tstages’ list of additional questions and considerations will help establish what you need to look for in a system. My other advice is to go to the websites of the various manufacturers and download and read their manuals. Can you understand them? Considering that you have stated that you live in a remote area, ignore the advice that will surely come later to buy a system that matches others in the area so that they can help you figure out problems with the system. You shouldn’t have to rely on others to help solve problems, a well written manual should provide the answers to most of your questions.
Lastly, until you have answered Tstages’ questions, any advice given from someone to purchase a specific system is foolishly given and should be ignored. General advice and some background reading is what you need now. Once you’ve accomplished that you can come back with more specific questions.
I am in the same boat, about to buy a DCC system and I waiver between the Digitrax Zephyr and the Empire Builder… And the way I see it the Empire Builder might be the better bet since you do get a more power and a throttle to hand to two trains at once while if up graded the Zephyr down the road with another throttle, you are at the price of the Empire Builder. I big deciding factor for my soon to purchase is the manual from Digitrax, in very easy to understand wording
Ohh, you are not allowed to write that, Digitrax manuals are supposed to be impossible to understand!![:-^] [:D]
Some will tell you that the Empire Builder is out of date and should be retired from the Digitrax product line. However, I think you have identified the fact that it really is a very good value system. CV read back, or the lack of, is really the main shortcoming and this can be overcome if it is important to you with a cast off PC, free Decoder Pro software and a PR3 computer interface.
"