I’m currently Building a 19.5by11.5 ft double deck layout. I would like to know which DCC would be better: Bachmann, Digitrak, etc. The layout can be controlled by computer and will be Carolina RailRoader’s Association’s club layout.
[#welcome]
You might want to lean towards Digitrax.
Be warned, you have a long journey ahead of you.
IMO, Digitrax would be a good choice. The Bachmann system is very limited and I don’t know enough about the NCE system to comment on it.
Trainman,
First off: [#welcome] to the forum! Good to have you aboard! [:)]
If a computer interface is important to you then Digitrax and NCE will work for you. I think all three of the Digitrax controllers can have a computer port added to them. (Do any of them actually come with a RS-232 port already installed?)
My friend’s NCE Powerhouse Pro came with the RS-232 port. The NCE Power Cab, at present, does NOT. The USB port is still in beta testing and no one knows yet for sure when it will be available. (Hopefully in the next 6 months.) Both systems also have radio or wireless capability.
Trainman, hope that helps…
Tom
Study the comparison matrix at Tony’s Train Exchange’s web site and also read through all of his other system comparison articles.
http://tonystrains.com/productcompare/dcccomparison.htm
After considering 4 different systems for our HO scale club for nearly two years, we decided on the NCE PowerPro Wireless system. Through dealers such as Tony’s and Litchfield Station NCE offers a 30 percent discount to clubs. That saved us $700 over a comparable Digitrax system. Another consideration for us was upgradability. With NCE, you can usually perform a do-it-yourself microchip swap. Digitrax, at the time we were comparing systems, had to be sent back to the factory to be upgraded, which would mean two or three weeks down time. I don’t know if they have changed their policy.
Great advice. Sometimes I shudder to remember that it’s been 10 years now since our club was in the same boat, and we went with an NCE Powerhouse Pro system for a club with 10-12 members and a 20X20 modular layout. Now its a 60x110 ft monster with the same basic PHP system running it. Yes, we have added boosters over the years,(along with another 20 or so members) but other than that,we’ve done nothing special to keep it running. Plus the folks at NCE have been WONDERFUL with tech advice and upgrades over the years. And yes, we do have it tied to a laptop running Decoder Pro so adjustments to loco’s can be done “on the fly” and one other benefit if I may for clubs. If the club has a PHPro, members Powercabs will work on the club layout just as they do at home, which translates to the club itself does not need to purchase a whole lot of cabs itself. Our club bought 6 originally (1 Procab + 4 cab04p’s and 1 cab02p). Rarely do the smaller cabs get used anymore, as most of the club members have ProCabs or Powercabs of thier own.
I have an 8 by 24 layout, and I use the Digitrax Zephyr, with three extra UT-4 walkaround throttles. The whole layout is one big power district, and I have had no problems with it. I can run three or four trains at once, although three is about all I can keep track of. I also have half a dozen other sound equipped locos sitting around the layout rumbling away, and the Zephyr seems to have all the power I need.