I’ve been looking for an alternative to my buggy MRC Prodigy Wireless system. I didn’t want to go with Digitrax, because it isn’t as user friendly, so I looked to NCE. I tried to start my research with their website. But, their (newer?) ncedcc.com site doesn’t work. Their ncecorporation.com site works, but was last updated in 2007, so it’s more like a ghost of their former past.
Then, I thought, why not call them to see if they are aware their newer website was down. Well, that number is not in service.
Did I miss the announcement that they were going out of business? Did Digitrax and MRC competition do them in?
It would be ashame if NCE was no longer around as the research I did before checking their website made them seem like the ideal combination of solid DCC technology with good ease of use.
Folks used to working in technical environments might like Digitrax, but, at least to me, the interfaces seem very dated and not user friendly for those less tech savvy.
If we’re to continue this hobby in this age of digital everything, we’d better keep up with the interface concepts pioneered and perpetuated by Apple and Google or we’re going to become less and less relevant in the coming years. We already have a lot more competition for today’s youth’s interests than we ever did.
MRC seems to have the user friendly part down, but has a spotty record on reliability.
Am I wrong, does NCE exist in some other form that I have not been able to find?
Can anyone offer some insight as to what’s going on with NCE (formerly North Coast Engineering) of Webster, NY?
The fine folks at NCE are still in business. Larry just answered the phone at the following number: 585-265-0230. The site does appear to be down, but the message I am getting says their bandwidth has been exceeded, meaning that the server is restricting access.
Depending on how their phone service is set-up, a server problem can take down VOIP lines also.I know the feeling. Our VOIP modem went down almost two weeks ago, resolved to smoked modem, been waiting on replacement to arrive for a week. Good thing I don’t make many calls.[^o)]
Milwaukee: Based on a false report of NCE going out of business, prices on popular internet auction sites jumped by an average of 41% on Wednesday across the board on new and used NCE DCC equipment. Although quickly corrected, thousands of worried NCE DCC system users quickly bid up the items, some by as much as an astounding 343%.
Asked to comment, one worried NCE user simply stated, “Digitrax? No way, man.”