DCC Someday[:)][(-D][swg]
Already planning on Digitrax Zephyr.
Decoders for locomotives will be TCS and Soundtraxx. After some info gathering it turns out that for “basic” decoder functions TCS decoders outperform Digitrax. In addition, the TCS “goofproof-no questions asked” warranty is hard to beat![;)][swg][tup]
I installed a Digitrax Big Boy system right after they came out, in '95 I think. Several years later I upgraded to a Chief. Decoders are all Soundtraxx now. I think it’s a really good system and I’m very satisfied with it.
Tom Watkins
None here thanks. I can’t afford it. Too many locomotives here.
Gordon
Once I build a layout, I’m getting the Digitrax Zephyr system, and will use Soundtraxx and Digitrax decoders.
TomWatkins, [;)]
Very impressive! Sorry but got a bunch of questions for ya! Here goes:
[1] Can you tell us about your experiences with Soundtraxx sound?
[2] What types and brands of locomotives do you have sound in?
[3] Did you find installations, difficult?
[4] Any difficulties in maintaining the sound decoders?
[5] Any problems with sound whenever your track or locomotive pickup wheels get dirty?
Your experiences would be very helpful as more of us get into sound. After hearing the sound samples on Soundtraxx’s website last year, for me sound became a “must have”. Just have to budget for it like everyone else. [:)]
Thank you and God Bless, Amigo!
No plans. It will just take me a little bit longer to climb
that grade to HO heaven.
You forgot NCE as a major one [:)]
Jay
I voted for none. My small home layout doesn’t warrant the extra expense for me. I may convert at a later date but not in the near future. Not that I’m against it, but DC does what I need quite well. Ken
Yeah,what about NCE???
or Lenz for that matter??
Wanna try this again??
Digitraxx, since that is what the club uses. I have a ready made source for answers when I have questions.
None for me - my hobby dollars are limited and I want other things ahead of dcc. Probably a future direction though.
Enjoy
Paul
Lenz Set-90
Why?
Ten year warranty.
Can’t refuse price of $200 ($98 off)
Discount coupon for decoders
Railcom (pending NMRA standard)
Company has working relationship with NMRA
Has NMRA warrant seal
Hand held dial throllle
Compact size
Adapter to make cordless phone into radio throttle
Clean looking web site
Good support
The Atlas Commander is made by Lenz and is the North American version of their Compact. They also offer a decoder that is unaffected by dirty track, maybe even brass rail.
NCE
this is a hard choice
$450 for the digi radio 5 amp (ouch)
whats the best one for me
I have brass rail over 20 loco
and may not need radio control
I have a chance to wire this midland
whatever way I like
B -
LENZ,
LH 100 controler, LZ 100, LV 100, LI 100,
Not enough time , money and skill to get into DCC. Joe G.
I built the CTC-16. Compared to current technology, it is an albatross. But, it does work as designed. I only wish I possessed the skills necessary to upgrade the system, but I do not. The other option is to junk what I have and purchase the very latest and best and then wait a few years until it also becomes yesterdays technology. I think I’ll just stand pat for now and use my funds for other things in the hobby.
Tom
I use Lenz D+
Why!?..because it works.[:D]
and i don’t need multi protocol systems like a lot of my fellow europeans.
although have to admit the other brands like Digitraxs and such are hard to get in europe.[;)][:)]
kind regards
Cor
At the Cochise & Western Model Railroad Club in Sierra Vista, AZ we are using A-Track, a DCC system developed by Dr. Terry Chamberlain in England that uses an old Atari home computer as the CPU. The big advantage to this system is that decoder data can be saved to a floppy disk so you never have to worry about a backup battery doing dead and erasing all of your locomotive data.