I have decided to buy a DCC system. I will choose from :
The Bachmann
The Digitrax Zephyr
The MRC Prodigy Express
I have a 5X8 single track mainline. I’m getting the DCC mostly for the sake of using
sound decoders in some locomotives. I may expand someday, but that will be a few years off if it
happens at all.
I’m leaning towards the Bachmann. My LHS will try to steer me to the Digitrax and probably
try to discourage me from the MRC. Comments?
Well, since you’re leaning toward Bachmann, obviously, price is a big issue to you. I’ll tell you right now, between the Bachmann and the Digitrax, you’ll wish you had gotten the Digitrax.
Price is not that big of an issue to me, but I don’t like the idea of buying more than I will use.
I will be running one train at a time by myself. There might be two locomotives on the layout at
one time. So far I have 17 locomotives, one has sound. I will probably add sound to some
of the better ones.
If sound decoders didn’t exist, I would have no need for DCC.
The Bachmann is a nice throwaway learner’s system for use on simple fleet decoders (under $20 per decoder) and the MRC system is better, but neither system is great with advanced decoders.
If sound decoders are what floats your boat (read: advanced decoders), you’ll have lots of extensive CV settings you will need to make. Neither the Bachmann nor the MRC system will give you much flexibility when it comes to fiddling with lots of advanced CV settings common in sound decoders.
If I were you, I’d consider the Digitrax Zephyr and the NCE Powercab – both systems have full featured CV programming capabilities and can expand later to what ever extent you need. Find out what all the other local model railroaders are using and weigh that in your buying decision.
If you like a walkaround form factor with a more user-friendly interface, then NCE’s your choice. If you like a powerpack form factor with robust accessory capabilities via LocoNet (but at a cost of slightly less friendly user interface), then Digitrax is your choice.
Checking Tony’s Train Exchange, I find the prices to be:
Digitrax Zephyr: $159.95
NCE Powercab: $139.95
If price is your main concern, you will be very pleased with the NCE Powercab as a starter system that can handle sound decoder programming. If getting good local support is your main concern, then paying a little more for the Digitrax Zephyr will probably mean you’ll have lots of help nearby if you get stuck.
Are there other modelers around you who have DCC? What do they have? Can they share expertise and parts etc. when the LHS is closed or far away. Do you belong to a club? What Does the club have. Definitly consider flexibility. Do you have a good book on DCC?
As sure as the sun comes up in the east, Joe is right is rigth again. I had the older MRC Prodigy system for quite awhile and really enjoyed it, but, it soon showed it shortcomings when the newer sound equipped engines started showing up on the layout. It was super easy to use but I could not access the CV’s to change things like alter sounds, speed functions etc. But, also the one really important one, volume. Which ,afterawhile can get really old. Quite a few of the sound equipped engines coming out today, can olny lower or raise the volume useing the CV menu’s. Other wise, you are stuck with a full volume engine, which, will get oldafter awhile.
I happen to have the NCE Power Cab and I am very happy with it, considering the bang for the buck. But, I would seriously consider looking in to a DCC system that will allow you to alter CV’s so you can get all you can out of your sound sysytems. It will be worth it in the long run.
KenK,
You must be spending time with Ken at K-10 Trains in Maryville! I happened to be in the shop the other day when someone asked Ken about DCC. After explaining DCC in simple terms, he showed the Digitrax system first, then pointed to the Bachmann system on the shelf with a comment on it’s limitations and finally pointed to an MRC Command Station, remarking that MRC DCC products are next to worthless. Ken also pointed out that MRC makes about the best powerpacks on the market but their DCC stuff just isn’t very good.
I would tend to agree with K-10, although I don’t think Ken has much experience with the NCE, nor do I. My understanding is that the NCE is pretty good equipment and the Digitrax is a step above NCE.
In our area, most of the DCC users I know have Digitrax. I will be setting up a Digitrax system some time in the future. It helps to have the same system as others in your area, although with a forum like this one where you can get all sorts of help, having the same system as others isn’t as necessary.
Still in all, the Digitrax is a top-seller for good reasons: capacity, expandability, adaptability and affordability. And K-10 has everything you will need, including decoders at good prices.
My advice, and it’s worth everything your paid for it, is to go with the Digitrax. You will never be disappointed if you do. Are you absolutely, positively, without a doubt SURE that you will NEVER expand? It would be a shame to pay for the Bachmann system, only to have to replace it when your needs change. With Digitrax, and some others, if your needs change, the systems can be easily upgraded to accommodate your new requirements.
Hope this helps. I’m not associated with K-10 other than as a satisfied customer.
Darrell, quiet…for now
I’ve been very happy with the Zephyr. It’s easy to use, will handle the CV programming and is expandable. revkelso
Bachmann: Nice easy system but extremely limited in funcionality and expandability. If you are buying DCC to accsess functions on sound decoders, this is not for you.
MRC PE: It sounds good and has a lot of features but it and the PA (MRCs step above the PE) are very finicky and unreliable. They are also very limited in expandability. It will do what you want but not consistently, not a good buy from my experience.
NCE Powercab: I havent actually used this one, but from what I have heard it is a good system, with good functionality and expandability. I would call it comperable to Digitrax, so between Digitrax and NCE you should buy the one with the control layout that you like best.
Digitrax Zephyr: I have a Zephyr on my layout and it is great. The Zephyr is really a full-featured system, it and the powercab get away from “starter system” features and quality while still being in the price range. You cannot beat Digitrax’s expandability, everything they make is compatible with the zephyr, so anything you need that doesnt come with the set is easy to add later. Loconet can be hooked up to a computer interface as well as all of your throttles, wireless units, or whatever you add and all of these things work seamlessly. The zephyr also allows you to use old powerpacks as throttles so you can put off the cost of buying extra throttles if you need them. There are really only 2 limitations I see with the zephyr.
Power. The most locomotives I have been able to run with the zephyr is 7. This shouldnt be a problem on your small layout, and if it is you can add a booster later.
Control Functions. The zephyr has function buttons 0-9 which was the standard when it was designed. However some of the new sound decoders have more than 10 functions, so you cannot accsess them with the zephyr alone. However, if you simply plug in a DT400 that problem is solved.
Our RR club bought MRC stuff mainly because of the price. We quickly learned we’d been penny-wise & dollar-foolish and we’d also been duped by the LHS owner…who we trusted for guidance.
He’d only wanted to get rid of unwanted inventory. MRC was inconsistent and difficult to operate with non-MRC sound-equiped locos…plus the system proved poor reliability & expandability.
After finally doing our homework right, we selected Digitrax Zephyr and have never regretted the decision whether running one train or many trains. As our layout grows, the Zephyr will allow us to expand accordingly.
I’d spend the extra pesos and buy something that works good and will give you the option of future layout expansion & acquisition of numerous brands of sound locos…Digitrax.
Ken,
I have been using DCC about 4-5 years. Started with Atlas to get wet, nice and easy to use with limited amount of features. The club I belong to is using it for our modular layout for train shows and the members can just get right in and start using as it is that simple. Mind you it is only a 2 digit address system and not expandable as of this date.
Next I bought a Digitrax Chief as that is what the club has and I wouldn’t give 2¢ for it as it very complicated for a beginner. Digitrax has every bell and whistle you can think of but only if you need everything. Sold that to buy an NCE.
I have the NCE Powerhouse Pro Radio and the Power Cab. NCE for my needs is more than adequate and is easy to use with all the bells and whisles you would need. My layout is 10’ x 28’ and I can run 6 locos with no problem with the NCE recall system.
The Power Cab I bought is for my “N” scale traveling layout I use for club train shows and I can use the throttle to run trains on my PowerHouse Pro as an extra throttle
I would say with you only running a single train and maybe 2 you would be well served taking a serious look at the Power Cab as it will run your layout well and if you should expand to the Power House Pro in the future it can be used as an extra throttle.
With NCE if you check out Joe Fugates site he explains how simple it is to use, I mean you don’t even need a manual to access loco’s or how to change CV’s, turn on lights, turn on the sounds as it is all right there on the throttle to see. The manual is needed to hook up the system to the layout and that is just about it but I would read the manual to make sure you uderstand the system.
Best of luck but I would recommend the NCE.
Barry
Hi Ken, seems that there is quite a group of us from the East side of the river finding their way onto this forum! I am another huge K-10 fan. My Zephyr came from K-10 because his price was close to the internet dealers and I think there is a lot to be said for having local support. The Zephyr is very easy to operate. I think I maybe looked at the manual once. I just don’t get the argument that this product is anyway hard to work with. I think most of the time the reports of Digitrax complexity are based on the older throttles (Which were horrible), just like -ve comments about NCE wireless reception are based on their old version of wireless. Anyway, all I can say is that my 8 and 6 year old are very adept at running the Zephyr. I would go and see Ken and get him to hook one up so you can actually try it out and see what it feels like to you.
I just want to add my two cents and perhaps someone can correct me if I’m wrong. I’ve been researching between the Zephyr and NCE. Up until yesterday, I had decided the NCE was the way to go - simple and you get a built in walkaround throttle for less money that does pretty much everything the Digitrax does. Except apparently one, and that one thing is a huge deal for me. You say you’ve got 17 locos. How long will it take you to get all those decoder-equipped? If you have limited funds like most of us, it will take a long time. I read yesterday that the NCE does not support running non-decoder equipped locos on address 0, but the Digitrax does. I’m in N scale and I have one loco (well, actually its my wifes - she saw it at a train show about twelve years ago and fell in love with it) that is very small and I’m not sure how I would ever get a decoder in it. I like everything else about the NCE, but I NEED to be able to run a loco without a decoder or I would be in big trouble with the boss, and if I want to continue in this hobby, I have to keep her happy. For you, I’ll bet it would be handy to run a loco without a decoder as well.
The Zephyr can indeed run non decoder equipped locomotives. I use this feature on occasion to run some old British locos from my childhood and to do a test of a DC loco prior to installing a decoder, but it does have some limitations. First of all you get a high pitched whine noise that modulates as you increase and decrease the speed of the locomotive. This is due to the method of running a DC locomotive using DCC stretched pulses rather than pure DC. Secondly, a DC loco will never run as fast on the DCC layout as it does on a pure DC controlled layout. So while the Zephyr can run a DC loco, I would not base my purchase decision on that feature alone. If you want to still run DC locos, you would be better to configure your layout so that you can switch between a DCC control and a DC powerpack. This would stop you being able to run DCC and DC together but might be a better solution. If you want to be able to run the DC loco and a DCC at the same time, then accepting the shortcomings, the Zephyr will accomplish that for you.
I would echo all of the above discussion. My choice will be between the Zephyr and the NCE Powercab. Not sure I agree with the one statement that the Zephyr is a slight step above the Powercab, and I like the looks of the the Powercab’s throttle over the Zephyr. Also, as I’m a newbie and have no old locos, the lack of ability of the NCE to power DC locos is not an issue with me; I can see where it would be if you wanted to run non decoder DC locos.
Jim
I did not purchase my DCC system (Digitrax Chief) from a LHS and I have not had any problems. My LHS did not have a clue about DCC and still doesn’t. The LHS has an MRC system sitting in a box collecting dust. My LHS said he was a dealer for Digitrax, but I have yet to see any DCC stuff in his shop.
There are several good Internet DCC suppliers. I have purchased decoders and DCC components from Loy’s Toys and Tony’s Train Excange. My Digitrax system is very user friendly and reliable (5 years of operation).
JIM
The choice between a powerpack form factor (Digitrax Zephyr) and a walkaround form factor (NCE) is largely personal preference.
However, I would argue that given the move to programming on the main in recent years, a walkaround form factor has certain advantages over a powerpack form factor. You can literally follow the train and program it on the fly as you go with a walkaround form factor. With a powerpack form factor, the assumption is you sit in one place and run trains.
For a small 4x8 style layout, sitting in one place is fine. But if you expect to expand later, having a walkaround form factor on your DCC system will mean you can still use all the DCC equipment you bought with the NCE Powercab.
If you have a Digitrax Zephyr, you can add other handhelds, certainly, but you may find your Zephyr throttle itself isn’t that useful for a walkaround layout design. In the days when you had to have a programming track, having a powerpack form factor made sense. Both the Digitrax Zephyr and the EasyDCC systems have a powerpack form factor for their starter systems. And this form factor is getting kind of dated now with programming on the main widely available.
Something to keep in mind while you’re shopping for a DCC system.
That might be the best solution, Simon, thanks for mentioning that. It would be quite easy to allow for DC or DCC operation while I’m building it, and then I can get my NCE and still have the wife able to run her train with a simple switchover. I’m not sure she would like her nice, quiet steamer whining as it went around the layout anyway.
Well, this is why we post questions on here. I was not aware of the reliability problems on the MRC, nor did I realize the Bachmann couldn’t configure CV’s. I don’t care for the NCE throttle design, I like knobs rather than slides.
So, I’ll be getting the Zephyr.
I’d stop at K-10’s on the way home from work tonight, but I forgot to reload my wallet this morning.[:D]
Oh, I forgot to mention: my layout will be setup to switch from analog DC to DCC as Simon suggests. Would that make it a “dual-boot” system?[:D]
The Zephyr is a great choice and your going to be very happy with it, I was with mine.