DCC Criteria Selection Poll

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Click here to give your input on the most important criteria for selecting a new DCC system.

I tried to get the Poll to work from this site, but it did not like the process, so I had to do the Link thing.

Joe Daddy

2

Only 15% carry about price? Well then no one should be complaining about spending $600 on a complete system then.

3

I checked “Other.” With the growth of sound-equipped locos and the ability to MU engines together, “Available Power” was very important to me, even 2 years ago. I chose a Lenz 100, largely because it handles 5 amps out of the box. Pricier than some out-of-the-box, yeah, but in mid-2005 it was one of the few offering more than 2.5 amps.

4

What!!?? NCE and Digitrax have had 5, 8, and 10-amp systems for years, and I’m pretty sure EasyDCC has offered their 5 and 10-amp boosters since well before mid-2005. Even the old Wangrow System One was a 5-amp system “out of the box”.

Steve

5

Yeah, the MR article on assembling the Easy-DCC 10 amp booster was definitely more than 2 years ago. Never did get that one, it was more like free publicity for CVP since it wasn;t DIY like Keith’s original CTC16 and CTC16e projects, this was strictly instructions on assembling a kit, with some “how it works” thrown in.

–Randy

6

Maybe I’m in the slow learner class, but I couldn’t find a link directly to the poll results. I’m not qualified to vote, as I’m just beginning to learn, but I’d love to see how experienced modelers voted.

Rick Krall

7

Good poll. I’d be interested in seeing the results after a few weeks.

Doing ops sessions with 15 - 20 operators, ease of use had to be one of my top criteria.

Thanks Joe.

8

True, but those require additional boosters. When I was looking (and admittedly, I was a total newbie at that point) you had to go up to one of the higher-end systems (Empire Builder, etc.) to get 5 amps. There may have been other options I wasn’t aware of. I did some research, but I was also influenced by what my LHS supports. I might have gone with the MRC or NEC offerings at the time other than that.

9

Huh?

The Lenz Set-100 is a “higher-end” system, and is comparable to the NCE PH Pro and Digitrax Super Chief (which BTW are both 5-amp systems and don’t need additional boosters to reach that mark).

I’d actually consider the SEB to be “mid-range” since it lacks some of the features you get with the Super Chief and even with the Zephyr.

I’m not sure what information you had or what features you compared, but you seem to have down-rated the PH Pro and Super Chief from their 5-amp ratings.

Steve

10

Looking for a DCC system?

With 96 participants voting, which of these three issues is the number one thing to be considered when selecting a DCC system:

  • Price
  • Ease of use
  • Expandability

See the results of my poll on my train blog at http://wwwjoe-daddy.blogspot.com/

Here is the link to DCC buyer selection criteria

Joe Daddy