I am setting up a new garden railway and want to use DCC. Does anyone have experience and recommendations on what system to use/ NCE? Lenz? Massoth? etc.
My personal favorite is the CVP AirWire900 wireless DCC system and battery power. I have no experience running an outdoor layout with track powered DCC, but based on my experience with HO scale I decided early on to avoid track power outdoors.
I recently purchased an NCE system and really like it. I wanted something that could handle a lot of power, had wireless control and had a simple and comfortable throttle. I found all three in the NCE system. The system I bought comes ready to handle 10 amps right out of the box and you can add 5 and 10 amp boosters as you need. The one downfall is the wireless range is about 40ft max, but you can buy repeaters and strategically place them around your layout to increase the range. Go to NCEDCC.com to see the products. I found the best deals at johnshobbies.com.
LGB produces the MTS system which is also very friendly for outdoor use. However the system is much more limeted than some of the others like Lenz, Digitrax and NCE. LGB MTS has very good wirelss rannge and I think it is the easiest system I have ever used. Very user friendly. Here are the downfalls: the command station and boosters can only handle 5 amps each so if you have a train that pulls 7 amps, you are screwed. Also it is limited to just 23 adresses as opposed to most which have 9999.
In the end you have to pick the system that is right for you.
After changing to AirWire 900 and battery (14 volts), the only thing I have to clean from the tracks is ground cover. Phoenix sound is perfect match for AirWire. I live in West Texas, lots of wind and dust. Sawdust
I use NCE DCC, Aristo SS rails, runs great. I run standard gauge, transition era, so multiple locos consisted together, and doubleheading of steam.
I have various pictures, including details of my “power stack” of the power supply and the booster and command station. See http://www.elmassian.com for some of my stuff.
Regards, Greg