I have a medium sized HO layout (24’ x 35’0 with 15 sound equipped locomotives. Obviosly I need more power. I now operate with a DB150. Should I add another DB200 or the more expensive DCS200? I don’t understand the $100. difference in the two units.
You only need one DCS (Command Station) unit with Digitrax. You didn’t say what sysem you are running but I am guessing an Empire Builder. You only need to add a DB150 or DB200+ (along with a suitable power supply). I started with a DCS100, then added a DB150 and then a DB200+ . I run a Super Chief system.
The DCS200 is the 8 amp Chief series Command Station/Booster. It will act as a plain booster if you want with the DB150 acting as the Command Station. If you do buy the DCS200, I would use it as an 8 amp Command Station/Booster and use the DB150 as just a 5 amp Booster. I am not sure if the DB150 needs to have ‘switch’ flipped to make it just a Booster or if it will go into Booster mode if the DCS200 is powered on first. Digitrax has on-line manuals. The DB200 is just a Booster - No Command station logic. Our club has 2 DCS200’s and a DB200. One of the DCS200’s is used just as a Booster. If the Command Station dies, we can swap the other DCS200 into it’s position and continue running.
Jim
You can add another DB150 and have one as the slave and one as the command station. Or you can add one of the more expensive units. THe DCS100 is a 5amp command station and booster combined. The DB200 is an 8 Amp booster only. The DCS200 is an 8 Amp booster and command station combo. If you add either of the DCS units, I would convert your existing DB150 to a booster and run the DCS as the command station. This will give you the performance of the Chief set (assuming you have the DT400 throttle). If you go the DB200 route then you will continue to use the DB150 as the command station. Look at the Digitrax comparison sheet http://www.digitrax.com/forme.php to see the additional features that you will get if you convert over to the DCS as a command station.
If you have a DB150 now, your best bet is a DCS100 or DCS200, which will upgrade your system to a Super CHief (if you need a second throttle - just get a Super Chief set, it’s cheaper than the command station and throttle ordered seperately).
The -200 units are 8 amp, the -100 and -150 are 5 amp. The DCS200 is only a few dolalrs more than the DCS100, but gives 3 more amps. The downside is you need a bigger and somewhat more expensive power supply to get the 8 amps.
Going to a DCS100/200 will add several features. The main one is a dedicated program track with CV readback - you can set aside a section of track isolate fromt he rest to program on, independent of the rest of the layout. And you will be able to read the values stored in decoder CVs, which you cannot do right now with the DB150 as the command station.
In addition, using a DCS100 as a command station will allow you up to 120 locos and throttles at the same time - probably more than you need, but a large boost over the DB150’s 22 loco capacity.
This is what’s cool about Digitrax - you can start with one system and as your needs grow you can grow the system, no need to buy a monster system fromt he start, and no need to throw out the smaller system when your layout demands more.
–Randy