OK I know there are at least a few of you out there that are using or have used the Bachmann DCC system. I am just starting out and it has been suggested to me that I could get a taste of DCC by buying the Bachmann system and then if I want more I can upgrade later without losing too much on the Bachmann which I could sell used. Makes sense to me.
Question: I have been looking for the Bachmann system on Ebay and I keep coming across someone who is selling the system that was part of a set that had included a locomotive. The locomotive was removed and they are selling the system without it. However, he notes in the description that the item does NOT include a “red universal track power wire”. Is this an important issue or something I could work around if I buy the system?
Yes I am an uneducated newbie who is taking great advantage of this fantastic forum and greatly appreciate all the wise people who so graciously take the trouble to answer my questions.
With what I can see, a 1/8 inch plug with wires could be used to connect the controller to the track but that is only a guess. The plug looks like a common headphone plug.
At the Bachmann link, click on the Ask The Bach Man Forum and join. There are people there who use the EZ Command.
Just remember, the EZ Command can NOT control sounds and has limited capability for changing CV’s but still a good starter system. Do not make assumptions on what the EZ Command can do.
Good link. I did not check the Bachmann site enough. I do see this question once in a while.
Bachmann recently re-did their site and I still have not found everything. They use to have the EZ Command Manual PDF on the site at one time but so far I have not found it.
The link I provided before is from the UK and the only difference is the UK uses 220 vac mains instead of the USA 120 vac mains.
I originally bought a Bachmann E-Z Command for the very same reason you’re considering one - i.e. to get my DCC “feet wet” without spending a lot of money. I paid $53 for mine (sans locomotive), used it for a year, and enjoyed it very much - even with it’s limitations. I sold the E-Z Command later on for $30 and purchased an NCE Power Cab. The cost of my DCC “experiment”? $23…and no regrets.
If you can find one for $50 or less, I say go for it. Otherwise, save your pennies and get a Digitrax Zephyr or NCE Power Cab; both great starter systems for ~$150, discounted.
Not exactly correct, Rich. The E-Z Command can control (i.e. activate) lights (F0) and sounds (F1-F8).
The address buttons (on the right) are “dual-purpose”. For activating a sound: Press the yellow Function button then the number corresponding to the sound you want to hear - e.g. “1” = bell, “2” = horn. To deactivate a sound: Press the yellow Function button again then the corresponding number. And you can activate more than one sound at a time.
However, the E-Z Command does NOT have the capability to alter or adjust any CVs. If you want to change Start up Voltage (CV2) to get your locomotive to start out more smoothly, you’ll need a more sophisticated DCC system to do that. The Zephyr and Power Cab (mentioned above) both have that capability.
Not exactly correct about the sound capability either. The EZ Command can activate sounds F1-F10 if the decoder has sounds in all those functions. When I had the EZ Command I was able to access all these sound functions in my BLI AC6000.
I personally tend to shy away from anything Bachmann. Their products seem to be well designed and pleasing to the eye, but lack the engineering to make them last longer than one year. I have had a problem with every Bachmann product I have ever bought. I seem like every one of my locomotives from Bachmann has had drive system problems. Anyway, we were talking about their DCC system. I have seen it and messed around with it at a friends house. He bought for his son a DCC set as a Christmas present, and it seems like a Okay every level system, that is relatively easy to use. But, I have to give Marklin my highest rating. I got into their line of trains a few years ago and have been nothing but impressed with the quality. Their mobile station is the easiest DCC system around.
Jim, you live by St Louis right? I live in Maryville IL, (By Collinsville) that is around 20 minutes from you. Reason I ask, is I bought Toms old E-Z Command and it you like to try it here at the house you are welcome to. I all so have a Digitrax Super Empire Builder DCC system if you want to try it.
I all so live with in 2 miles of one of the best LHS around, K-10 Model trains. Here a shoot of the shops layout.
Do you know if that is something that changed with later E-Z Commands? I had BLI Mike with a QSI decoder and I don’t believe I was able to utilize the power down feature (F9) on my E-Z Command. Course, it could have been that I just assumed that I couldn’t and never tried. [*-)]
The other “cheap” alternative is the MRC Prodigy Express, if you can get it for about $100. At $120 - $140, the PE is getting closer in price to the PowerCab or Zephyr. The PE is a full-featured starter system except:
can only write CVs, cannot read them
only supports 1 type of consisting
available MRC computer interface does not support JMRI/Decoder Pro.
The 1st two limitations get resolved when you add a Prodigy Advance2 throttle (about $80). You then have a full-featured (except for computer interface) 1.6 amp 2 throttle system for less than $200. The 3rd PE limitation can be worked around by getting a Digitrax PR3 as a stand-alone computer interface and programmer.
The point is that the Prodigy Express is expandable to some extent, and has CV writing and limited consisting that the Bachmann does not for about $50 - $70 more.
As Tom points out, going up to about $160 gets you an NCE or Digitrax starter system.
I’m not sure how to tell if there are different versions of the EZ command so I can’t say for certain if I have a newer version or not. Mine didn’t come in a train set it was purchased alone, I wonder if that could be of any significance. Looking at the online manual, in the functions section, it does imply that the EZ command could only access sounds at F1-F8 and lights with F0. I wonder if the Bachmann sound on board locos only have sound up to F8?
The Bachmann with sound on board have the SoundTraxx Tsunami with many CV options, more than the EZ Command is capable of. The EZ Command is old technology.
Go to the SoundTraxx site and download the Bachmann sound documents and get an education.
I belong to the Bachmann forums and I have never heard of changes in the EZ Command controller.
I use the NCE Power Cab starter set which does all I need.
The EZ Command may be able to activate F9, but I seriously doubt that it can activate F10, since the “10” button activates the headlight(F0). The only way I see that it could activate F10 is if it controlled F0 and F10 at the same time.
The other limitation is the inability to control accessory decoders.
That depends on what you want to do with the computer interface. If all you want to do is programming, then yes; however, if you want to build a dispatchers panel, do any kind of automation, or run your trains using an iPod/iPhone or Droid, then that won’t work.
Well clearly there are better more capable and more costly DCC systems on the market. But if you are getting the EZ for $50-$60 and it gets you up and running and your feet wet in DCC, it could well be a good way to start. If you hit its limitations and have a hankering for a more advanced systems in a few months then list it on eBay and make back most of your initial cost. I would say that your strategy is a low risk, low cost way of getting into DCC.
While not totally disagreeing with this concept, I wonder if it is really the best advice that can be given. For about $100 more it appears that one can get a system that seems to be not just a little more capable, but a lot more capable. And by the time one goes through all the effort, and fees, it would take to get the limited system re-listed and re-sold on E-bay, a lot of the potential cost recovery will disappear.
And while I understand where you’re coming from, maxman, for some folks a basic DCC system is all they may need or ever want. A person who’s primary purpose for a computer is only to check e-mails once every few days doesn’t necessarily need an upper echelon computer geared toward gaming. It would be a waste of money for them.
This could also be a similar scenario for someone looking to purchase a DCC system. They don’t need a system that enables them to access CV2 and CV5 to adjust Startup and Maximum voltage. They may be perfectly happy just to control two trains simultaneously and toot the whistles once in a while. The idea of tweaking their locomotive or MUing two or more locomotives together doesn’t interest them at all.
I totally agree that this path isn’t for everyone. However, if one can find a E-Z Command for - say, $50 or <, it can get them up and going quickly with DCC for a reasonable price, as well as ample time to determine which more sophisticated DCC system will best fit THEIR needs in the future. Given even the limitations of the E-Z Command, it was still waaaay more fun and engaging - for me - than running the same locomotive on DC.
As I mentioned before, my “experiment” cost me $23 when it was all said and done and I gleaned a year’s worth of enjoyment from it. It also allowed me time to research what things I wanted from my next DCC system. When the Power Cab came out in Feb '06, I was prepared - both monitarily and educationally - to make that purchase with confidence. So, again, no regrets from me. I do understand and respect other’s reservations and/or opposing view points on the topic though.
Lastly, I have to say that the one downside to the E-Z Command - that even a sporadic user might find helpful and beneficial - is the ability to reset a locomotive to factory settings in the event of a decoder problem. There are workarounds though…
Again, I’m not totally disagreeing with the concept. I understand that a basic DCC system will satisfy some people, and I understand the “getting your feet wet” idea. Where I have difficulty is that the person getting their feet wet may not have a clear understanding of how basic a basic system is.
What is needed is a comparison table of some sort where the “beginner” or entry level systems from the different manufacturers are listed along with the capabilities of each. And the capabilities should include the things you mentioned. Then someone interested in getting their feet wet could make a little more rational decision as to what to buy, and if they were willing to settle for the most basic system, then so be it.
To me, it makes no sense to tell someone that they can get something to get started with DCC with a particular system, and then frustrating them later when we tell them that “oh, you can’t consist engines with the system you bought. You should have known this before you made your purchase.”