What would be the least cost to upgrade Power Cab and Zepher to radio?
Based on running a max. of 3 N scale DCC locos at the same time, no sound.
What if the locos have sound (hopefully someday)?
To make a Zephyr radio, you need a UR91 and a UT4R throttle. That’s it. You cna easily run 3 sound locos with the Zephyr - I’ve run more than that in HO, and the N scale locos wshould have even lower current draw.
Dunno about the powerCab. I don’t think you can just add the radio base and a radio throttle, I think you need to upgrade to the full PH Pro command station to handle radio.
–Randy
This is a costly venture, at Tony the cost for a UR91 is $115 and the cost of a UT4R is $100 for a total of $215 plus the cost of the Zephyr. Not too sure about the Power Cab, I think you need a smart booster the SB3 is $78 plus a power supply for the SB3 $30. The Cab04P-R is $140 and the radio base station RB02 is $125 for a total cost of $373 plus the cost of the Power Cab. You may also need high gain antenna each costing $16 and Repeaters at $102 each. Hope I am wrong about the Power Cab. Not cheap even at Tony’s discounted prices.
Don’t know about the Zepher, but I went “radio” with the addition of one UR91 and two (so others can operate too) UT4R throttles, thus upgrading my old BigBoy. Everything works great, even with only one UR91 in my 16’x24’ Trainroom.
Check out www.LoysToys.com for good information and reasonable prices
The upgrade path is the same for all Digitrax systems except the very old Challenger set (which did not use Loconet). The Loconet system is modular, just add whatever new part you want. There is no special function in any of the command stations that are needed to support radio (or IR) operation.
There’s also no price penalty for buying an extra throttle now as a wired device and upgrading to radio later. You can send a UT4 or DT400 back to Digitrax and they will upgrade it to a UT4R or DT400R for the same price as the cost difference between the wired and radio versions. ie, list price of the DT400 is $179.99. List price of the DT400R is $229.95. Cost of radio upgrade to a DT400 is $50. So if you want or need an extra throttle now but don;t want to spend the money for radio yet, you can add it later with no penalty.
–Randy
I sure looks like Digitraxx is the way to go as far as starting small and working your way up. The expandability with little or no cost penalty is attractive.
If I’m understanding correctly, the Zepher with the addition of a simple tethered throttle gives you a 2.5 amp system with F0-F12 functions, computer hookup, programming track with main running separately, and jump ports for added simple throttles for about $225.00.
I’m not sure about NCE as their website is not very clear. But it appears that a 3 amp system with only its one throttle would be at least $240.00 and no computer interface, awkward progamming track and eventual upgrade to radio much more costly than Digitraxx.
I could be wrong on the NCE stuff but the shocker to me is comparing both companies websites. The much acclaimed user friendly NCE interface sure doesn’t show up in their website. It’s very hard to follow and tell what goes with what. The Digitraxx site is very well done and easy to follow. So I wonder about their manuals??
Also with just a quick look at the NCE manual it sure doesn’t seem as simple and easy to read at my Lenz manuals. I’ve heard that the Digitraxx documentation is not good but at this point that wouldn’t prevent me from buying it. The system seems superior in other respects so I think I could cope with the documention. I’ve been told that Lenz manuals are not good either and that sure isn’t true!
So, if I decide to build my experimental N scale layout, at this point I would start with the Zepher.
For the Computer Hookup you will need to get a LocoBuffer or build one yourself. To buy one you are talking about another $60 + $10 for the power supply.
Locobuffer USB can be powered off the USB port.
My Lenz serial interface cost about $90 so $60 sounds good. Don’t yet know what NCE’s will cost.
Actually, the Digitrax documentation is quite good. The “problem” with it is that it’s written in Geek [:D] so it’s sometimes difficult for normal humans to understand.
Steve