for a small switching layout that is unlikely to ever have more than 2 engines moving at once, is the cheap bachman dcc unit a good idea? i would like sound someday.
maybe this topic will help… http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22114
elec_tron42,
The quick answer is “Yes, it would.” However, you will be limited to what you can do with sound. With the Bachmann EZ Command (EZC) system, all you’ll be able to do is:
- Program an address
- Turn lights on and off
- Consist locomotives
- (Momentum is preset at “28” at factory and no changable from the EZC)
- Maybe…toot a whistle and blow a horn - if your locomotive has a sound decoder? (Sorry, I don’t have a sound decoder so I can’t tell you for sure.)
elec_tron42, the short of it is: the EZC is a good, basic, no-frills, entry-level DCC system - no more, no less. I currently use it on my 4 x 8 layout at home running two locomotives and I’ve been farily happy with it. At some point in the future, I’d like to buy a more sophisticated DCC system so that I can reprogram the CV’s.
The EZC only cost me $53. (MSRP is $100) so the price for getting my DCC “feet wet” was well worth the trying out price. Hope that helps…
Tom
P.S. Another advantage to getting the Bachmann EZC: The mommand station/booster are one unit so it wouldn’t take up much space on your switching layout.
I too have this system and although I don’t have any sound on it right now I got the impression from the introduction DVD that comes with it that it will do the major sounds that most people would use (bells, whistles and so on). You’ll have to step up if you want to hear the sounds of the crews eating their lunch and so forth.
It doesn’t do a ton of stuff, but at that price who could complain?
Just think of it as kind of a one trick pony!
The Bachmann E-Z Command system will control most of the sounds on the QSI® decoders such as used in Atlas, BLI and LL P2K.
[2c] I have the bachman it it seems fine to me(it would have been nice to have an on and of f switch)I’am planing a new lay out (4’x12’) with a small boster I think it will be fine[:)]
OLE’IRISH
(Jim)
I am using a EZ Commander for my around the room layout and it runs two powered locos with MRC DCC sound decoders. It has a very nice speed control and does the job of horn, bell, and associated train sounds built into the decoder. On the build bench and test track I use the MEC Prodigy Advance controller which allows change of CVs and some decoders need the Function F1 - F19.