Apparently no one has addressed this question since 2003. Has the debate been settled or is the choice of system now irrelevant as long as you get a “full featured” system? As a dc modeler, building a new layout (18 x12) now is the time to make the jump. Have looked at all the mfg sites and read much of what is on those sites and some commercial “comparisons” (tonystrains.com). Most modelers in my area use Digitrax but will be moving for the new layout and not familiar with what those in that area use so that provides little guidance. The main concern from current digitrax owners is the “learning curve” but some say that has been reduced with new digitrax developments. Costs appear to be close (+ - 20 for all parts). So any advocates for Easy dcc or digitrax (or system one, or NCE) that want to advice an old dc guy…thanks in advance…
The majority of the ers in my area have either Easy-DCC or NCE. I have operated on several Digitrax layouts.
The Easy-DCC layouts I have operated on were all 2 digit addressing. All programming and consisting was done on the programing track and by the central control panel. The command bus was coax cable. The Easy-DCC wireless operated well. The throttles were easy to understand and use. The system operated reliably.
The Digitrax layouts I operated on were both 2 and 4 digit addressing. No programing was done while I operated so I can’t comment on that. The command bus was 6 conductor phone line. The Digitrax wireless operated well. The throttles were horrible. The owners had several different types of throttle and there was no consistent pattern of buttons between the different s of throttles to do things. The throttle were not intuitively marked. Some of the systems operated reliably.
I own an NCE system. All have 4 digit addressing. programming and consisting can be done on the main or program track. The command bus is a 6 conductor phone line. The NCE wireless is a little pickier than the other two (it has a two way transmitter so has a lower power output). One its tweaked it works well. The throttles are easy to use and intuitive. The systems operate reliably.
Both Digitrax and Easy-DCC owners have had discussions about problems if you have more than 8 radio throttles going at one time, I haven’t heard of similar problems form NCE owners.
My personal feeling is to buy the highest level system you can. Get a wireless system if you can. Buy one with 4 digit addressing. I personally would not buy Digitrax because I don’t like the throttles and haven’t been that impressed with it on the layouts I’ve operated on. If you don’t mind the throttles then its not a problem for you. I didn’t choose Easy-DCC because at the time they only had 2 digit addressing and I coax cable.
Another system that desn’t get much press but I’ve hear
Easy DCC has changed drastically since the older 2-digit address model that Dave H. is talking about. I use both Easy DCC for HO scale and their new AirWire 900 wireless DCC system for G-scale, and they both perform very well. I don’t use a wireless throttle with my Easy DCC, and a friend of mine who uses it has only one throttle, so I can’t vouch for the wireless controller problem. Even on a large club layout, how often would you need to run more than 8 throttles at once? One way to find out about the different systems is to get on their Web sites and download their manuals and read through them. I know that NCE, Digitrax, and CVP Products manuals are available online because I have downloaded them all. Lenz may also now be available online.
I own Easy DCC Wireless and have used Easy DCC in sessions with 8 throttles going and no problems. Every system will get weird glitches once in a while and need to be reset (or whatever). The question is how often. Sometimes it can be the way a certain system is set up or some sort of associated gremlin.
As for problems with more than eight throttles being soley the domain of digitraxx and Easy DCC: the worst problems I have encountered have been with NCE wireless. Not to say the NCE makes bad stuff, they don’t. My point is that it is hard to make sweeping statements, I think it was the specifics of these particular set ups.
I chose Easy DCC because of the simplicty and reliability of the wireless and because the system lives up to its name: it really is easy.
I know everyone says this but I still think it is good advice: Go try the various systems yourself and then decide based on what you like.
gnnpry,
Thank’s for posting this. I, too, am musing about which DCC system to go with and the Digitrax Zephyr and Easy-DCC are the two front runners for me, at the moment.
As has already been mentioned, simplicity is one of the real pluses of the Easy-DCC system. I’ve also heard that they really do stand behind their work. Cooresponding with them directly has been a very pleasant experience.
gnnpry, jfugate would be a good source for inquiring more about the Easy-DCC system. He runs it on his famous Siskiyou Line at home and enjoys it immensely. He’ll probably respond before too long, once he reads the title of the post.
By the way, welcome aboard! [:)]
Tom
Thanks for the good input from all. It reconfirms my preliminary conclusions that “Easy Dcc” is easy and the 4 address problem has been solved by the latest edition of Easy Dcc. I will defintely want radio control cabs and will never need more than 8 and the problems that I, and others, have experienced with the handhelds from digitrax (inadvertant pushing of buttons that changes something, etc)…I really think the “Easy dcc” appears to have a few more things going for it, not the least of which is a more gradual learning curve!!
Again thanks for the input (and the welcome! , Tom)
Now how about the three contenders (cadrail, 3drr, and 3rd planet) for track planning software…didn’t use any software for my 9 x19 15 years ago but looking at it for the new 18 x 12…have down loaded and used demos.
michael[:)]
I think Ted York would have something to say about the supposed ‘problem’ of too many radio throttle on a Digitrax system - as he reported to the Digitrax list, he recently hosted an op session with 22 radio throttles in operation on one receiver with ZERO problems.
Plus you can always add additional receivers for better coverage - something you can’t do presently with some of the other systems.
–Randy
Hey guys, I cheated and went with the EZ system by bachmann. Extremely simple, no fuss and no muss. It will run 3- 4 locos which for now is all I need. It will expand in the future, but if not, I got a loco and the controller for $85. I figure that comes out to about $45 for the controller. While it is limited for some, it does what I need it to do for now, and at the price, it can’t be beat.
Tim
Something I never read nor hear discussed is the age of the company owner(s). Since many/most of these “manufacturers” are one man “cottage industries”, as are so many (most?) model rr vendors, basically, what happens to the company and product support if an older owner develops a serious health problem, retires or passes away?
Not being insensitve, just realistic, IMO, as I see this as a valid issue considering the relatively large “investment” one needs to join the “DCC club”. We’re not talking small potatoes here, like a simple kit, etc., costing a ten-spot or two.
gnnpry,
since ZIMO is not usually covered in most commercial comparisons, you may want to get the Model Railroader Magazine’s opinion: www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/005/646frhoi.asp
Regards,
Art
Zimo Agency of North America
http://www.mrsonline.net/
Hi Gnnpry
The Zephyr could not be easier to use. My 6 year old runs it without any problem. You can add a radio reciever panel for about $120 and the new very easy to use UT4r radio throttle for about $100.00. My local club runs Digitrax and regularly has 15 to 20 wireless throttles on the go at one time. It would be worth your time to look in detail at the latest offerings from each company before making a fully informed decision.
Depends on the company in question. Some get sold (i.e., Athearn, Stewart), others are run by family members until the remaining stock is sold out (i.e., Champ’s Decals), and others just fade away. With something like DCC, I’d be surprised if any of the existing companies weren’t bought by someone else under those circumstances. All of the ‘Big 4’ (Digitrax, Lenz, NCE and CVP) has decent size customer bases that another company would probably love to jump on.
Here’s the scoop! Digitrax when it first came out had a throttle (which I still own) called the DT100. This throttle was a unit designed for geeks, geeks designed it for geeks. Needless to say, geeks loved it; non-geeks not so much - want to guess which one I was? So many of the non-geeks complained to Digitrax and Digi smelling the revenue of new throttles came out with much simplified throttles. So if you are using the throttles that Digi sells today, your learning curve will be much gentler than in the past.
IF you really want to reduce the learning curve - down load decoder pro, its a free software package for programming decoders and its make life much much easier. So get that laptop into your train room.
Digitrax is one of the best systems for wireless. I have been a Digitrax user and hanger out in many DCC forums and the 8 throttle problem is greatly exagerated - its the first time I have heard of it here and I have been in dcc forums for about 4 or 5 years now.
IF the guys in your area are predominantly Digitrax go with that, I guarantee you eventually you’ll need some advice from some one, and it helps big time if they have the same system as you. Never be the first guy in your block with the new DCC system company. In this field, better to be conservative.
To be fair, if you use Lenz or NCE or EasyDCC you can ALSO use DecoderPro.
But, I still think Digitrax is the way to go. There are at least THREE third party companies making Loconet accessories, so it’s not all a one-company show. Plus a bunch of peopel on the Loconet-Hackers Yahoo group wh make up theri own things - in particular a nifty one is the IR throttle interface that lets you use a regular TV remote as the throttle - shaeds of the Lenz cordless phone adapter. And it allows you to select a loco from the IR remote! He has boards avialable to build one for yourself.
–Randy
Wait until you see what’s coming in the next few months from NCE. They let the cat out of the bag at the big train show up north.
Yes, finally a starter system so you don’t have to spring big bucks for the Pro. But it’s not ready for production yet, and no price has been announced. And the ‘expandability’ of it is that you cease to use the booster capability built in to the unit and instead it becomes a regular Procab.
–Randy