I’m wondering if you would do me a favor. Would you be willing to honestly list your pros and cons (or strengths and weaknesses) of the Zephyr here on this thread so that folks can “make an informed decision”? The only constraints are:
You can ONLY mention Digitrax products and their features (and shortcomings, if any).
No other manufacturer’s names are to be used, referred, or alluded to. (That way the focus and comparison is entirely concentrated on the Zephyr.)
Would you be up to doing that? Thanks.
Steve I think you’re missing Craigs point completely. NCE’s “Starter” unit allows you the freedom to move around via a tethered cord, unlike the Zephyr which is NOT movable. Thats why I purchased the NC
Well I know (by now we must all know) about this unplugging thing and it is not a deal breaker for me.
Both systems have plus and minus, Power Cab being a handheld is a defenite advantage over the Zephyr base station in my book. Digitrax LocoNet is also unmatched in the DCC field in my opinion
Recently with a friend we displayed a modular layout 2X26 feet at a local show. We had a Zephyr with 2 two tethered handheld and I found it cumbersome to have these cord always in our way. At the club we have radio and once you have experienced this freeedom you can’t go without it.
Now I know what it takes and the cost of upgrading the Zephyr to radio, anyone can quote what is needed and how much it will be to upgrade the Power Cab to radio?
I sure agree with this. Anyone cosidering a new system should consider that they may one day want radio. I know I do. I’ve been using the Lenz cordless phone and have experienced the freedom. So, I have a question about Digitrax radio:
With Digitrax you have to “plug in” in order to acquire a new loco. I didn’t like this idea at all when I first heard about it. It seems to take a way a little bit of that freedom. But, I’m wondering, in actual practice just how inconvenient this is? Is it a nuisance? It sounds like you couldn’t change locos very quickly. How long is the cord? Does this cord tend to get in your way?
Yes you do. I have (7) utp5’s to make it easier on the operators. This is a drawback but the system is about bullett proof. Major drawback is the fact that the t400r is on a battery diet that requires frequent feedings. I went to NiCads to cut down the cost of 9 volts.
My [2c] is I would get a “starter set” that had the Radio AND a DCS100 so you could get the readback from the loco on programming it. I have a very extensive DCC system all Digitrax and Tony’s for breakers and rev loops. I can just let the computer run (2) trains and I can run one and not have a problem.
The FUN in DCC is the ability to make a loco run like the prototype ( can not belive I typed that word). If you would like to take the trains to the level of being able to use all the things the new sound loco’s can do then you need to think:
JMRI Decoder Pro and Panle Pro (FREE)
CRC Loconet USB ($69.95?)
A computer to run decoder pro
SoundTraxx booster (or equal) $79.95? This is for the sound units
This is true, with Digitrax simplex communication protocole you have to be plugged in to acquire locos and built/break consists. To some this is a minus as oppose to other half duplex or full duplex systems. On the beneficial side however, the radio signal on simplex system can by regulation be stronger than half and full duplex. Therefore from day one Digitrax radio was not plaged with the poor range experienced by NCE users, I don’t know about the EXPA range.
Now is it a nuisance in practice, not to me anyway, at the club and this is also true with other NCE clubs I frequent, we have plug in stations at many locations, not every one own a tetherless control, so plug in stations ares always readily availables. The cord is 10 inches long, therefore it is never in the way.
Digitrax DT throtles are in fact two throtles in one, that is you can control two trains simultaneously without resorting to the recall function. In a normal operation cession I will first built a consist of 3 locos to operate as a through train and control it from the left encoder of the handheld. After that I will built a second consist of 2 locos normally MP15DC that I will control on the right encoder of the throtle, this train will be switching
To be honest I started with an MC Command 2000 wayback then we got the Zephyr. Then begining of 2006 we got Digitrax Super Chief and I found it a lot easier to use. I like the fact i can program everthing easily on the hand helld that came with it.
The Zephyr is a command station, throttle and booster all in one box. Having the DCS 100 of the Chief would render the command station portion of little use, but there is no reason why the booster could not be used as a slave 2.5A power district booster and the throttle controls could be used to run a train.
Does that only pertain to the older NCE wireless system? I remember reading that the improved NCE wireless system eliminated that problem that plagued the older wireless system.
Someone can correct me if I’m wrong. I believe the newer NCE wireless system uses a repeater (or multiple repeaters) to improve both the range and reception of the signal?
Tom you are quite correct I was refferring to the very first NCE wireless, my bad because I am very aware of the High gain antennas and repeaters NCE users must use in order to have adequate range and reception of the signal.
I do know repeaters are not cheap, therefore the wireless system for a large layout may be a bit too expensive. I visit on a regular basis 3 NCE layout, only one went with the added cost of repeaters the other two just ignored the wireless option. Now this may be irrelevent to a small home layout.
This is why I posted, I know what is needed and the cost to upgrade the Zephyr to wireless. Now can someone post what is needed and the cost to upgrade the PowerCab to radio.
We’re getting some very helpful information for comparing Zepher and PowerCab on this thread. I really appreciate it.
Now I have a couple of consisting questions for both systems:
Can you operate any of the light/sound functions for any loco in a consist by just calling up that loco’s specific address while the train is moving?
Can you run the train’s speed and direction by calling up any one of the loco addresses in the consist or can you only run the train from the consist address?
The reason for question 2 is because I have a couple of sound box cars that I like to match up with non-sound locos by consisting them together. I like to run the train from the box car address so I don’t have to switch back and forth to adjust speed/direction while using the horn or bell. Lenz will allow this.
Whether or not you can call up the address of a specific unit in the consist and have only it respond to a function depends on the decoder features and the CV settings you make. For instance, most decoders beyond simple fleet level have a “respond to consist address” setting for each function.
Depending on how this feature works in the decoder and whether or not you have turned this feature on, you may or may not be able to get a single loco in the consist to respond to a function key. In other words, you will have to get a decoder and do some trial and error testing to see if you can get it to do what you want.
You CAN NOT cause the entire consist to respond to a request if you attempt to only address one of the locos in the consist. At best, that one loco will respond to the request, and the rest of the consist will ignore it.
This all also depends on the type of consisting you have used to create the consist. There are three ways to create a consist:
Address consisting: Simply set the decoder address of all the locos to be the same. While this is simple in concept, it is a good way to end up with a mess if you try any programming on the main because all the consisted locos will respond to the programmi
Okay, that is very helpful. So I assume that if all my present decoders allow running the train’s speed/direction from any loco or box car address in the consist on the Lenz system, then they will work the same way on NCE. Is that correct?
I see two problems with that. First, my pros and cons, are just that, mine. What may be “better” in my situation or for my needs may not be better for someone else.
Secondly, how can anyone make an informed decision if they can’t compare between different brands?
What I’ve tried to do in this thread is point out that in order to make an informed decision, folks need to be aware that there are differences between the various manufacturer’s products, and that based on those differences they may want to choose one brand over the other.
But then I get bashed because I pointed out that there’s a difference between unplugging and re-plugging a throttle vs. disconnecting your entire command station.
Nobody bashes CVP for making a stationary command station/throttle combination. The obvious reason is because nobody expects you to have to unplug your whole command station and lug it around, whether it has a th
Not sure what you mean by “running the train’s speed/direction from any loco address in the consist”. I understand that you have sound decoders in box cars and consist them in now with a Lenz system.
What I don’t get is why you would want to use different addresses to also control a consist. You may have to explain in more detail what you are trying to do now with Lenz since it sounds rather unorthodox – either that or I’m just not following you.
I’m sorry that I’m not making it clear. Consisting on the Lenz LH100 throttle is very simple and quick for me. I have a consist address plus each loco address that I can call up. Then by cycling thru these addresses by pressing the (-) key I can quickly go to an loco address in the consist. I can then operate any of that locos functions and can also control speed/direction of the train from that loco’s address.
So, when I want to use a sound box car, I simply add it to the consist, even if there is only one loco involved. Then by running the train’s speed/direction from the box car address its sound revs up and down according to the train’s speed, and of course I can whistle and bell as needed. This doesn’t work without consisting, unless the box car and a loco have the same address.
So all the time I’m running that consist I just stay on the box car address except when I want to turn lights on or off on any of the locos. This all works great on the Lenz Set 100.
I’m considering getting a smaller starter set to use on a separate N scale layout. I may not be getting int
I would like to recommend the MRC Prodigy’s. Seriously, it took me only 5 min to convert to DCC, it’s that easy. Just plug in the power and then hook up 2 wires to the tracks and you are done. I have the Advanced and if you just want a entry level, you can get the Express and it’s just as easy. And you can buy the Advanced cabs later if you want more functions so expansio path is also good. Plus they also offer upgrade to their upcoming Advanced II with 28 mapped functions at a small fee for any existing current Prodigy system.
