Thanks for all the input on my previous post!!
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=69449
Ok now the decision has been made. Now the obvious question??? Wich one should I coose? I have a 10X10 room and plan to run at least 3 locos at a time, some with sound and all with light’s. I plan to put decoders in a least 20 Locos and may want wirelessContol. The cost is an issue but Bachman is not an option. Anything you can tell me about necessary options would help. Thank you.
Joey;
#1 thing I would look for in a system is what are the majority of the people in your area using. By going with what they are using, you have a built in knowledge base in the immediate area.
I went with Digitrax for that reason alone. I have a built in base of about 35 people in this area (Birmingham) that I can fall back on with any question.
I personally would recommend the Digitrax systems for you, esp the Zephyr. Its a real good starter system and is fully expandable. It can handle up to ten locos at a time, has two built in throttle ports for adding on “jump” throttles, which are old powerpacks. It also has 2 loconet connections one of which can be used for a true Digitrax handheld throttle, and the other connection can be used for a radio reciever panel.
Digitrax radio panel comes equipped to handle two types of remote wireless. One is true radio, (with 7 channels available, IIRC I’m not using wireless right now), and the other is IR. The majority of Digitrax handheld come with the IR built in. Only the radio creates extra cost in the handheld.
Again before you make your decision, find out whats used the most in your area. I would also go to the Digitrax homepage at http://www.digitrax.com/ . Wes Savage in Huntsville at the hobby shop in the caboose could probably help you some there.
I can tell you that Digitrax is a very dependable system to use, but that is only because I have the Digitrax Zephyr Starter Set. It works great for my application, which is a 6’ x 24’ walkaround rectangle with a double mainline loop and several turnouts. I have a Sound Equipped Athearn SD45-2, an Atlas DCC equipped Dash 8-40CW, and a few DC locomotives (which you can run using the “00” address on the Zephyr). You can run 10 addresses at one time, as well as control 9 functions on each. You can easily expand your Zephyr with Digitrax’s “Loconet” system using cables that run between your different systems. You have the ability to run cables to access panels (mounted on the facia), which you use to plug in additional throttles for multiple operation.
Remember, the choice of which system to use is yours and yours alone, and keep in mind there is no “best” system. Happy Railroading!
-Brandon
Here, go here and READ:
Hey thanks I’ll give Wess a call and see what he can tell me.
Joey,
Here’s a forum thread that you might find helpful:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=49375
Joe is a really knowledgeable DCC guy and has been using it for 12 years now. The thread covers a number of systems.
Tom
[#ditto] to what joeygarner said.
check what the modelers in your area have.
Big Red …
I run hot and cold on Allan’s wiring for DCC web site. It’s got a lot of very technical info on it and a lot of what’s discussed is overkill for beginners.
I’m afraid for most beginners, Allan’s site will just make their eyes glaze over. Once you’ve got some experience with DCC Allan’s site can be helpful in recommending solutions to issues.
But I don’t think newcomers will get anything but scared off by all the unnecessary complexities that Allan covers.
A much better recommendation is Lionel Strang’s DCC made Easy, from Kalmbach. Lots of great pictures, plain english explanations, and practical examples.
Beg, borrow, intrude,perloin, whatever you have to do , to “test drive” as many different systems as you can, to see what feels best to you. After all, you are the one who has to live with the choice…
Tony’s Train Exchange and Bruce of at LitchfeildStation.com are great sites and give quite a bit of info to allow you to compare the current systems.
My personal choice? The NCE PowerCab.
[#ditto] I bought the book when I got started in DCC. Tells you everything you need to know without making it sound like rocket science.
You’re right…you do kinda have to put the boots on, cause it does get kinda deep. It’s a great info site, though. …so is yours.
joey, I tried to reply to the email you sent me and it didn;t like your return address. Here is whatI was sending, it might apply to other people as well:
I have mostly P2K locos, with some Stewarts and others. The decoder I mentioned, the NCE D13SRJ, has 4 functions - that’s enough for a headlight, rear light, and a pait of ditch lights. I model the 1950’s so there are no ditch lights - on a modern loco that might have ditch lights plus headlight plus a strobe or two on the cab roof, they won’t be suitable decoders. The D13SRJ has enough power to handle the newer Athearn locos - if they have the golden motors you should be good. Older Athearns drew too much power for most HO decoders and your best bet would be to replace the motor with a more efficient one. Another good decoder for the Athearns is the TCS T-series (they have different numbers, indicating how many functions they have). They have a motor control feture called ‘dither’ which can make even those Athearn motors run smooth.
I’ve used a couple of the TCS T1 decoders, but have since standardized on the NCE because the NCE is a little less expensive and runs the better quality locos like P2K, P1K, and Stewart very smoothly. I’ve installed the D13SJ in a P1K RDC, a P1K DL109, a P2K SD7, and a couple of P2K E-units. Also a Spectrum E33 electric.
The place I buy from at the price I mentioned is Empire Northern Models, http://www.empirenorthern.com. Tim is the owner and is very knowledgable about DCC. He sells NCE and Digitrax equipment, and also Soundtraxx sound decoders, all at very good prices. If there’s something you’re looking for and don’t see on the web site - email or call him. I forget what I was looking to buy about the time I bought my extra throttle, and the page where I expected to find it was one of his ‘still under construction’ pages. I emailed him and within 15 minutes got a response with the price of the item I was looking for, plus he updated the web page to make it available that way. That’s why I say he gives
I’ve used Empire Northern, Tony’s and Loy’s Toys and been very happy with the response from each, including when there were issues (out of stock, shipped the wrong item, could not get something). Anybody can look good when everything is perfect, but all three of these vendors did everything right when things were not perfect.
I’ve never dealt with Litchfield Station, but from the response of others I would assume the same to be true of them.
As an alternate I recommend MTH DCS for beginners.
Why, you ask?
Well it sure makes the decision process simple!
One choice of engine.
One source only for decoder.
Beginners, keep it simple!
The nice thing about DCC is it’s a standard adopted by the majority of the manufacturers, thanks in part to the NMRA. What this means is I can run any of my engines on any DCC system. I use several decoders all by different manufacturers on the Digitrax Empire Builder system. I’m very happy with it.
As for MTH, well I would say you’ld be limiting yourself.
Fergie
I hope no one took me serious about DCS!
I would disagree with going with what others in your area are using. Pick the system that is right for your situation. The key factors to me are how many locos will your system need to support and what type of throttles do you need (plug-ins, wireless). From what you describe, it sounds like your needs are minimal. I would give MRC Prodigy serious consideration. It’s about as basic as it gets.
My little addition, get something that upgrades to radio. One you walk aroound the layout with a train or two, it is hard to go back. I went with Digitax because veryone arround here seems to know it. I added radio and that is the best toy in the train room. I have the 400r and can follow two trains all over the place. I assume some of the others do as well. I tried IR first and that was more frustration than fun.
You will love what ever you get.
I changed from DC to DCC about a year ago. I chose MRC because of many years of using their DC packs with no problems. I bought the Prodigy system & found out it would not fully operate the sound systems on my locos (Atlas, Athern, Lionel). I e-mailed MRC & they exchanged the Prodigy for a Prodigy Advanced at a very reasonable cost. It has worked very well for me - & the 1 or 2 problems I encountered were answered within 1 business day by e-mail!! I bought a second cab at the National show yesterday (from Tony’s) & can’t wait to get home & get it working. It’s a simple system to use - you dont need an electronic degree to use it - if I had it to do over I wouldnt change!!