I’m building my first layout and have decided to go with DCC. Now, it’s going to be a fairly small 10 by 12 foot room around the wall layout. So, I’m trying to decide between Digitrax Zephyr and North Coast Engineering’s PowerCab system. My local hobby shop owner said they are both good, but Digitrax is more for computer-oriented folks, if that’s your cup of tea. They are both about the same price as well. Any favorites out there or suggestions on why to choose one over the other?
Thanks,
Mike
Both are very good systems. If your hobby shop has both try them out and see what you Like. I am a Zephyr user and like it very much. It is simple to use and does not require any special skill to use. I regularly have 3 or 4 throttles in action which would require some upgrades with NCE. Either choice would be good. Have fun!
I have been a Digitrax owner and user for almost ten years. It has been a very reliable system. To use a computer with your Digitrax system you will need to get a Digitrax MS-100 which is a RS-232 serial interface or a USB Loco Buffer. (Most new computers do not have RS-232 ports.) You can download Decoder Pro software form the Internet for free. Decoder Pro will alow you to program decoders, run signals and create computer based throttles. With Decoder Pro and a computer interface you do not need to buy the expensive DT-400 throttle. (I have one and do not use it for programming.) Just get the easy to use and less expensive UT-4. If you want to upgrade your digitrax to radio control you will need to buy a UP-91 radio receiver and UT-4R radio throttles.
JIM
Play with both the throttles and see which one you like better. The throttle will be your interface to the layout. It should feel “right” to your fingers. I’m a Lenz user myself, and one of the big selling points to me was the big buttons on the throttle. (I’ve got big hands, and I hate trying to get my fat fingers to push itty-bitty cell phone buttons.)
The Zephyr, as I recall, runs directly from the base station and requires purchase of an additional walk-around throttle if you want that capability. (Someone please correct me if I’m wrong on this point - it’s important.) The NCE comes with a walk-around.
Since you’re a new DCC person, be aware of this: Throttles are not interchangeable. You can’t plug an NCE throttle into a Lenz or Digitrax system, or any other combination, either. (Yeah, there are a couple of exceptions, like old Atlas systems are really Lenz systems, but we’ll ignore those for now.) So, if you want additional throttles and you buy a Zephyr, you must go with Digitrax throttles from then on.
The good news is that these are both great products, and you will probably be very happy with either one.
Hello!
Think about what you expect to use in the future, and try to calculate a total cost - the start package is quite equal in price. This could change depending on what you want for extra’s - I summed up my wishes some years ago, and went to Digitrax, and have not looked over to NCE after that. My advice is to take future plans into consideration! In the beginning I believe the hand control is the largest difference between the two systems.
Another thought is - do you know any fellow MRR-person in your area, or maybe a MR club, also using DCC? As a newbie it is nice to have someone to ask all those questions - and get help. Both NCE and Digitrax has great user forums on Yahoo Groups, where you can get all kind of help.
As others have staded, both are great systems!
Greetings from Olav, Norway
Thanks for the feedback. Does it matter as far as decoders go? Are there more compatible decoders for Digitrax systems than NCE? Or is that a non-issue?
Hello again!
No - Decoders may be mixed between systems. I prefer Digitrax ones because of the wrapping around the decoder - but I also have some NCE decoders. It all depends on what functions you want of your loco, and the price you are willing to pay for the decoder.
Best regards, Olav
If you’ll be running only DCC equipped locos either system will work for you. On the other hand, if you be running any analog (DC only) locos as well, go with the digitrax or put in a toggle switch to switch between the DCC and DC power source. The NCE system WILL NOT run a non-DCC loco.
So, if I have some DC locos that I haven’t gotten around to putting decoders in yet, they will still run using Digitrax? Out of the box with Digitrax, or do you need to buy something to get DC to work?
Mike
Hello
That’s correct, but only ONE dc loco at the same time.
Olav
The Digitrax system will run one DC loco at a time on address 00.
To clarify running DC on a DCC system:
When you do this, you go back to “running the track” for your DC engines. So, you can actually put as many DC engines as you want on the track, and they will all run, just like they would on a DC layout. You simply can’t control them independently. You can consist 2 DC locos, and they’ll run together, about as well as they would on DC. Like DC, you don’t control “forward and reverses,” but rather “direction of travel” on your layout, like clockwise or counter-clockwise around a loop. At the same time, though, you still have full DCC control of any DCC engines on the layout.
Auto-reversers do not work as you would want them to for DC engines on a DCC layout.
Also, the DC engines don’t run very well, and they emit a weird buzzing sound when running on DCC.
Unless you have a huge fleet of DC engines, though, this doesn’t matter much. Once you start using DCC, you will like it so much that you’ll make it a priority to put decoders in all your engines. Yeah, it really is that much better.
Just to expand on what Olav and Jeff have already said. You can operate one consist of analog locomotives, two or more coupled together, with the Digitrax system and you don’t need any optional equipment to do it.
DC locomotives will emit a sizzling sound when sitting still and at low speeds, but it stops as the locomotive comes up to speed. The signals running through the rails are pulses that are just out of phase between the rails. This causes the armature on the DC motor to oscillate slightly when at rest. While running, there’s no problem, but I wouldn’t let one sit on the rails at rest for a long period of time. I don’t know if damage would occur, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
I have a Digitrax system myself, an older model Chief II. It is a great system and does everything I’ve asked of it. Having never operated an NEC, I can’t comment on that, but from what I’ve heard, it a good system too.
Sorry for my redundant reply, Mr Beasley and I were responding at the same time, and he’s a better typist than I am.
You got a lot of good info and I have nothing to add except to stress that there is no interchangeability upwire from the power bus connections, so thinking to the future and what add ons you may want in the future may affect your initial decision.
The Zephyr and the PowerCab are both good systems. I chose a Zephyr, and I ruled out the PowerCab for a couple of reasons. The PowerCab has a 2 cab limit out of the box, and with the SmartBooster, it has a 4 cab limit while the Zephyr has a 10 cab limit out of the box. The PC Interface for the PowerCab is not available yet, but the PC interface for the Zephyr is. The PowerCab does have some advantages. It is a tethered walkaround controller and it does control functions up through 28; although, even with a sound equipped engine, I don’t need any functions above f12. People claim that the PowerCab is easier to use, but I don’t have any trouble with the Zephyr.
I have used both systems and they are both good. I have a Zephyr at home and like it. The thing not mentioned is the Zypher is 2.5a and I beliece the NCE is 1.7a if so, there’s a significant power advantage with the Zephyr which means you don’t have to upgrade so soon.
The Zephyr will run 10 engines while the NCE will run 6.
However, the NCE is built into the cab and the Zephyr (although you can control 3 locos with the consol and a couple old DC power packs) it’s cool to add the walk around throttles and they cost more to add.
So for having frieinds over to run, the Zephyr I think has the prcie advantage.
Mike,
You’ve gotten good and solid advice so far. Both systems would be great choices and each has it’s pluses and minuses, advantages and disadvantages. As Simon recommended, if at all possible, see if you can actually try both of them out at your LHS.
Mike, there’s a link to a review of the NCE Power Cab that I wrote on my web site that may be of benefit to you. Along with that, there’s also a review of their CAB-04p throttle and Smart Booster. Hopefully, the information and pictures will help answer some of the questions you might have and help you in the decision making process of determining which system will best meet your needs.
Also, writing down what your current and foreseeable future layout needs will be (e.g. size of layout, expansion possibilities, number of locomotives you want to run at one time, etc.) will be also help you narrow down your choices to one system or the other.
Mike, whichever system you should ultimately choose, you’ll be happy with it and it will serve you well. Let us know what you end up deciding on.
Tom
If your hobby shop has both systems in stock, I would ask them if you could hold the walk around throttles of both systems in your hand and see which one is most comfortable for you. The zephyr tends to be somewhat smaller in design with little round buttons and small potentiometers, while the NCE power cab is more like a large remote which uses a thumbwheel or soft buttons to advance or retard the locomotive.
Now if you belong to a club that uses either the Zephyr or the NCE, well thats a no brainer. Buy the one the club uses.
Guess which one I bought?
Yo, jamnest
Could you tell me more about Decoder Pro, if you don’t mind.