I am new to the hobby and in the process of deciding which DCC system to use. Plenty of information on Digitrax and NCE. What about the CVP Products Easy DCC System? Thanks.
RH,
While Digitrax and NCE are the two predominant DCC systems in the US, there are a least a few CVP users here on the forum. I considered CVP when I was first evaluating DCC systems back in 2005 but I ended up with NCE (Power Cab). 14 years later I’m still very happy with that choice.
From what I know about CVP, they make a solid product. Whatever DCC system you end up choosing though, make sure that it both meets your present (and future) needs and is intuitive to you. If you belong to a club (or think you might eventually), there are advantages to choosing a like-system:
- You can use your own throttle to use at the club
- You have support and experience from other members to glean from
Lastly, CVP may be a single-source supplier. So, if you needed product, you’ll have to purchase it from them directly vs finding it from other vendors - e.g. eBay.
Things to consider…
Tom
I have a Lenz system, but CVP makes radio throttles and an accessory that connects to Lenz. Lenz does not make radio throttles. I like these throttles, but they are for running locos, but not programming them.
The throttles take batteries, rather than being rechargable. I have no dropouts or loss of control.
I prefer the Power Cab design to CVP’s
I have Easy DCC and I love it. I especially love the long slender radio throttles.
I have used CVP EasyDCC for the last 15 years. We have a local operating group that uses it as well. The system is rock solid reliable and I like the handheld wireless - a few buttons and a knob. I would go with them again if I were starting out today.
Guy
OP:
Do you have a smartphone or tablet? (can be Android or iOS).
If so, go to GooglePlay or the App Store and type “roco z21” into the search. Download the app and try it out (the app works in demo mode without the hardware). It’s free. See if you like it. (There are actually 2 apps, one older, one newer. Try both!)
I don’t use DCC for a number of reasons, but every time I considered it, CVP would have been my choice.
Most straight forward wireless throttle by far, and I like the “base station” nature of the main unit.
As for apps for smart phones or tablets, that is a non starter for me even if I ever did go DCC.
Control a train with a touch screen? It was a challenge to type this post on my S4 tablet…
Sheldon
Most reviews and comparisons on the Internet don’t even consider CVP in their analyses. Mostly, the reviews compare and contrast NCE, Digitrax, MRC and Lenz. However, Mark Gurries provides a comprehensive comparison between NCE and CVP.
Rich
That review is grossly out date and does not represent the current CVP product.
Sheldon
I like NCE’s starter set. Being quite popular and well-made, there are a ton of vids and forums about various aspects. The system offers a lot of variety and is quite easy to use. Another positive is outstanding and helpful customer service. NCE is a solid choice when starting out.
You cannot go wrong with that system nor devoting the time to watching the vids about how to set it up.
Sheldon, how about providing an update on Mark Gurries’ analysis to point out the shortcomings and inaccuracies of the analysis for the OP’s benefit?
Rich
As it happens, the July 2019 MR has an article reviewing all the different DCC systems out there.
NCE’s “DCC Twin” allows you to run two engines / consists independently with it’s two controllers. It costs about half of what the similar CVP “Easy DCC” starter system does - but it only does about 1/4 (or less) of what the CVP system does. With the basic CVP system you can program on a program track or on the main, access all the function buttons, control accessory decoders etc.
I replaced my Digitrax system with CVP a while back because I wanted radio control, and the Digitrax system didn’t work very well for me, even with several receivers. CVP radio throttles can be set to different power levels for their signal, I think 1 to 7 (?) with 7 being the most power used. Using just one CVP receiver, I can use my throttle from pretty much anywhere in my basement on just 2 or 3.
As noted, they are direct sale only, so you can’t bargain hunt on the web to find deals. Once in a long while something will show up on eBay, but otherwise almost no secondary (used) market…which might mean that once people get a CVP system, they don’t want to get rid of it!
I really don’t want to get involved in another useless discussion over which DCC system is best.
But, I am curious why you would use the NCE DCC Twin as a comparison. I woud think the PowerCab would be more appropriate.
Never mind.
Because it’s the only other DCC system that comes with a command station with two throttles built into it.
Since the OP’s question was about people’s opinions / experiences with CVP, it would stand to reason he might be interested in it because it has two built-in throttles…and if so, might then also be looking at the NCE Twin. At first glance, especially to someone new to DCC, they might look very similar except for the NCE unit’s cheaper price. However the CVP system “out of the box” can do many things the NCE Twin can’t.
Even though it’s only one throttle, the Digitrax Zephyr Express is probably the closest to the CVP base unit, in terms of form factor and functionality. Apart from the second throttle, it has a full color LCD and color/shape coded buttons, not an array of all the same buttons, and it actually can do more out of the box than the CVP base. The NCE Twin might LOOK more liek the CVP, but is way down on the functionality ladder - actually in some ways does LESS than the Bachmann EZ Command. At least until you add some accessories, then the Twin becomes much more full featured.
Mark’s comparison is not that much out of date, mostly the only changes are a new line of boosters that replace the old bulky and very much homemade looking ones (because they used to be offered as kits, but that stopped a LONG time ago). The new ones, liek the newer stuff from NCE and Digitrax, use DC switchign power supplies instead of big hulking linear transformer power supplies.
–Randy
Randy,
The review was from 2001. That was 18 years ago. There have been several big changes to the system, including two new wireless throttles since that date. The new (relative term) 5000 throttle offers lots of features that weren’t available from CVP in 2001, including expanded functions, different power levels, no external antenna, auto shut off etc…There have been lots of little changes that you wouldn’t notice unless you are a long time user - such as improved throttle aquisition time etc.
I recommend that anyone considering the system take a look at the CVP site especially at the throttles if you are considering wireless throttles.
Here is the 5000
http://cvpusa.com/easydcc_wireless_throttle_t5000e.php
Here is my favorite (the gold standard) 1300 - this throttle was recently redesigned. I have lots of the old ones and everyone in our ops group uses this throttle.
http://cvpusa.com/easydcc_wireless_throttle_t1300e.php
Guy
Ok, now I will comment.
I like the base station for programming, etc, I like the smaller, simpler wireless throttles.
Wireless is more important than DCC, so to me, there is no point in DCC unless it is wireless.
That said, the base station throttles could be very handy, but a tethered hand held throttle, especially a complex one that is the brain of the system, no thanks.
Sheldon
You would never consider something like the PowerCab for a layout of your size. Out of the box it’s already inadequate and you’d need enough extras that it would make a whole lot more sense to just get the full blown PowerPro radio system.
That’s why so many of those comparisons are just silly. There’s no point in buying somethign that could never meet your needs, no matter how expandable it is. The expansion capability is really only important if you are starting small and have future plans to grow the layout. There’s no need for the high end system with all the bells and whistles for a 4x8 layout, but the reverse is also true, the basic starter system is entirely unsuitable if you already have a basement filling layout, even if you can add on to provide that sort of capacity. I have what I have because I started with an 8x12 layout, added a walkaround throttle but still a tehered one because on an 8x12 I coudl reach all parts from one plug in. I expanded for my next layout which was larger, but since I never got the penninsula built that would have blocked direct access across the room, I never bothered to upgrade to wireless, because I could still reach nearly anything from one plug in point. Now that I am working on a MUCH bigger layout, wireless becomes a must. The club is already wireless, being 140+ feet from end to end it’s kind of required there as well.
–Randy