I am ready to buy my first system, and I would appreciate some one could provide me some advise.
What controller is better ESU, ROCO (multimaus, z21), DIGITRAX, NCE, other options.
What track should I buy providing I want with road bed with DCC for tirn outs.
(I am fine with the budget, and I want to buy somthiing with top spects
I would apprecita any help
Where are you located?
How many trains do you want to run at once?
How many different throttles do you want? Will you have guests run trains with you?
How big is your planned layout?
Do you want to walk along next to your trains, or sit and control from a central location?
Do you want to interface a PC to your layout?
There are so many variables. All of the manufacturers are top makers. Some are more dominant in one market, others in different markets.
Regarding track, who knows which you should buy. Is there a track plan that you are planning to work from? Does the brand you are considering have the sections you need?
Knowing so little about your situation and plans there is no way to make an intelligent recommendation about controller or track.
Which is better? For my situation Digitrax, but that is utterly meaningless for your situation. None of them are bad. Any of them might well meet your needs perfectly?
THANKS SIMON, HERE MORE INF
How many trains do you want to run at once? 5
How many different throttles do you want? Will you have guests run trains with you? 2,3
How big is your planned layout? 10 X 10 METERS
Do you want to walk along next to your trains, or sit and control from a central location? YES
Do you want to interface a PC to your layout? YES
There are so many variables. All of the manufacturers are top makers. Some are more dominant in one market, others in different markets.
Regarding track, who knows which you should buy. Is there a track plan that you are planning to work from? Does the brand you are considering have the sections you need? BACHMAN HAS THEM, I WAS THINKING IN GEO LINE FROM ROCO BUT I NOTICED THAT THAT MAXIMUM RADIO IS 20 INCHES, ALSO I NOTICES THAT KATO HAS JUST 90 DEGREES CROZING TRACKS …
Avoid the Bachmann turnouts. They have a higher than average degree of failure right out of the package. Mine all work great but I had to rework almost every one of them. Atlas turnouts can be worked in with the Bachmann EZ-Track very easily if that’s what you decide to go with.
Thanks, Jeffry, you mean that I can mix the Bachmann tracks with atlas track)
So in summary, up to 5 locos running at once. Expansion to allow for upto 3 guest throttles so 4 throttles in all. A decent room sized layout and you want a PC interface.
This will eliminate some models from consideration. Research their expansion capability and see if they will support your goals. Not all systems will handle the 4 throttles for example. I would say that almost any will handle the power needs. 5 locos in HO with sound would not pull more than 3A at the most, so this will most likely not be a limiting factor.
Still not sure if you prefer a static control setup or want walk around capability?
Do you have a particular function in mind for the PC interface? What do you want to accomplish with it?
If you are based in Europe I would seriously look at the European makers, simply for better local support. This is just a guess on my part, because you still have not mentioned the country you are in. Anyone talking Roco, ESU and meters is most likely in Europe or a very recent transplant to the US.