I went with the zephyr xtra since it has the best upgrade path, in my opinion. Loconet is easy, with lots of options. You can add boosters to the zephyr or turn it into a 3 amp booster for another command station. I have a DC throttle that was easy to plug in for a jump throttle. 3 amps is plenty for running 5 locos + sound on my small layout. Ease of use cou
Ease of use couple with great functionality and upgrade options are why I chose the zephyr extra. (Sorry about the above post, typing on my phone. )
You are not taking away the command station. The only thing you lose in pro cab mode is track power from the power cab. If this was true you could simply use an SB5 and an engineers throttle like an 04P and have a running system? The smart booster just repeats the last command to the track power and can not be used full function without a Power Cab. If you have one try it. Unplug the power cab and see if you can enter an address that is not in recall on an engineers throttle and see if it can be controlled without the power cab knowing.
I apologize to the OP for hijacking the thread and being a little terse earlier.
Pete
Sorry, but you are incorrect here. The SB3/5 DOES take over as the command station. Perhaps you are thinking of the DB3 or DB5? They are simply boosters (DB = Dumb booster or booster only, SB = Smart Booster or booster and commmand station). If the SB does not take over as the command station, then explain the cab limit going from two (without the most recent updates) to four when used with an SB3. Also, if you update the Power Cab to the most recent version you get a six cab limit, but that falls back to four again when used with the SB3. Additionally, when going from the Power Cab to the SB, you lose any command station settings you may have changed and any macros that you may have set up. The simple fact is, the SB DOES take over as the command station.