This is some interesting info I got from NCE a couple of days ago:
“We hope to have another radio system available within the next year that will be able to be used in Europe. The first cabs to be equipped will be the Cab02 and 03. We will probably be able to install this new radio system in the Pro Cab as well.”
I will be the first to buy it…
Electro,
Thanks for reporting back on that particular issue. That must be encouraging for you. Hopefully, it will take NCE less time than that to get it done…[:)]
Tom
Yes it’s very encouraging. I can finally see the light at the end of the (Moffat) tunnel [:D]
As the owner of an NCE Radio system, I can say that it will certainly be worth the wait… but so would an EasyDCC Wireless system if they are working on the same technology.
Thanks for telling me that you like it, that feels great!
I also asked the manufacturer of EasyDCC if they will do something like this in the future. But the only answer I got was, you never know. So it feels more interesting with the answer from NCE, even if I must wait for it. But to be honest, it will take a while to build my layout so I have time to wait [:D]
One solution is to buy a simpler system so I can testrun my locos when I’m building my layout. And buy the radio system when it’s on the market.
If they’re estimating a year, it will probably take that long. Product development is always a process. Even after NCE gets things finalized, they will still need to submit it to whoever handles radio spectrum approval and usage authorization in Europe and/or Sweden. In the US, that’s the FCC and, like all bureaucracies, that is where most of the time before it hits the market will probably be spent., waiting to get the approval paperwork.
But I’m glad to hear that a solution is in sight. Your layout sounds like an exciting project.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
If the radio frequency is the only concern with NCE, you can purchase a basic wired system now for testing and decoder programming, and add radio later. Adding radio throttles is simply a matter of plugging the radio receiver into the throttle bus connection on the command station and setting the radio throttle’s channel number. Whatever NCE is doing to make their radio throttle work in Europe should not affect the basic command station in any way but only the hand throttle and receiver.
Yes it’s very exciting. I have lots of things to solve before I can start on the benchwork. I really look forward to begin building this layout.
Yep, NCE is not only one of the more user friendly DCC systems out there, they are moving to address the issues with their system in a way that is encouraging.
In fact, I’m now hitting the 8-throttle wireless limit* on my EasyDCC system and am thinking of moving to NCE by first getting a Powercab system and using it offline to program with (as soon as they get the USB computer interface out). This is stage 1 of the conversion to NCE.
Since you can get an NCE receiver from CVP that lets you use CVP throttles, I could then just get the NCE command station and NCE receiver from CVP and use my current CVP throttles. This is stage 2 of the conversion to NCE.
Finally, I can add NCE wireless to the system and add still more wireless throttles using native NCE wireless, which is now much improved over it’s original introduction. This is stage 3 of the conversion to NCE.
This is only something I’m toying with at the moment, but it is true that were I starting over and just getting into DCC, I’d start with an NCE Powercab and then could have lots of growth options at my fingertips, and have a nice user friendly system to boot.
No system, however is perfect, and all biggies (Digitrax, Lenz, EasyDCC, NCE) will serve you well. And if you can afford it, Zimo is a nice option, since it’s esentially a PC that has been designed with DCC as its main function (infinitely expandable).
But to hear NCE is moving to address the overseas wireless issue head on is encouraging news, indeed.
*NOTE: EasyDCC will actually support up to 56 throttles but once you get past 8 throttles, they have to start sharing frequencies and throttle response degrades noticeably. With sound units or switching that can become an issue, since the delay makes it difficult to play the whistle or stop on a dime while shuffling cars.
It sounds good, BUT, even though I havn’t switched yet to radio, but several of the club members have, I would hope that the 2 radio systems are interoperable with each other. Otherwise, its of little use to me.