which is the best system and what makes it better then the other.
and which model. (please keep in mind that i’ll favor the one lowset in price)
((13 year olds don’t have infinant income[sigh]))
I’m trying to decide on which DCC system to go with.
It’s probably a toss up. I use Digitrax & use the 400 controller. Some of the lesser expensive ones are harder to use when it comes to programing. For low cost & simple operation you couldn’t go wrong with MRC…with the Digitrax Zephyr a close second. You can use any brand decoder with either of these systems…
I’m gonna go with Digitrax. Mainly because I have one, and that’s the only experience I have. I also like the fact that they have the LocoNet system, meaning most of their equipment works together, and you can easily build your system as your layout and needs grow.
Greg
Digitrax zepyr is the way to go. It costs about $150 online. If you have a small layout you can just use the throttle on the system itself and not buy a controller. I have used the zephyr for 2 years, I had a problem., but digitrax fixed it up for free.
I have also used MRC, both prodigy and prodigy advanced. The PA is more expensive than digitrax, and generally doesnt work like it should. The prodigy is a very simple system, not very capable at all.
So Digitrax is the way to go of the two, and my personal favorite. But you might check out Lenz and NCE PowerCab.
N_trains,
Between the two, Digitrax wins. N_, even if you are only 13 years old, don’t base ALL your purchases solely on price alone. You must also look at the long term - i.e. quality, longevity and upgradability. A Digitrax system is going to give you all that and be better than the MRC system.
N_ , you might also want to look at the NCE PowerCab. At discount, it’s cheaper than the Digitrax Zephyr and is fully functional. Tony’s Train Exchange gave it a very glowing review on their web site:
http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/powercab.htm
I’ll leave you with some advice that my dear aunt gave to me one time: “When purchasing anything, buy the best you can afford.” I tried to stick to that philosophy and have rarely been disappointed because of it.
Tom
personally i went with the digitrax zephyr because it has the option of adding a computer interface for decoder programming and possible eventual computer control of one of more trains . if neither of those features matter to you then the MRC Prodigy Express might be worth a look . please note the price listed is the suggested list price and considerable discounts can be found online
NCE Power Cab.
I was actually leaning towards the MRC prodigy express ( or atleast my dad was/is) untill i found out it can’t handel accessory decoders!!
But now i’m leaning back towards the Advanced.
What is it about the Digitrx that you like so much???
Digitrax is fully expandable (you can take the zephyr and add components) plus it is forwards and backwards compatible with all Digitrax equiptment. You can connect it to a computer, which is great for programming, some even run trains from the computer, but im not into that. Also, you probably dont want to mess with MRC wherever DCC is concerned. I have had too many bad experiences with MRC DCC gear.
EDIT: You say budget is a concern, even though the zephyr is cheaper, it comes from the box with more capability than the PA. Plus you can add all sorts of Digitrax accessories. With the PA, you get what you get.
If budget is an issue you probalby shouldn’t be worrying about accessory decoders.
N Trains,
It’s up to you, but do your research. You made a great start by asking on this forum and asking people who own or have used the products.
My only 2 cents to add is I’m going with Digitrax hands down. I’ve seen it in action, got to try one, and after reading the manual it is easy to understand. The company reps are friendly over the phone and make an effort to satisfy customers with questions or problems.
All right, you guys have almost compleatly convinced me into the Digitrk, or atleast in to doing a lot more research into it!
Love my MRC PE. Inexpensive, expandable (although not to the extent of others) and I got a walkaround system for about 100 bucks.
if being able to use accessory decoders is the thing holding you back from buying the PE system you should be aware that you can expand the PE system by buying a PA throttle . you will have to do the research (probably by emailing MRC) to find out if adding a PA throttle will give you the ability to address accessory decoders (and if you can only address them from the PA throttle… which is my guess)
this would mean you could buy the PE now , at a nice low price , and later get PA throttles as money becomes available and your layout progresses to the point where you actually have the accessory decoders
many people have a problrem with MRC as a DCC supplier because of their history of producing DCC systems that aren’t compatible or upgradable from one system to another . if memory serves me they’ve made Command 2000 , Prodigy , Prodigy Advance and now Prodigy Express . command 2000 and prodigy aren’t upgradable or compatible with anything else (other than the basic NMRA DCC standard) . PA and PE seem to be fairly interchangable the way a DCC “system” should be , hopefuly MRC management has finally figured out how to do compatibility/upgradability stuff . that’s what you’re betting on when you buy their system . Digitrax on the other hand figured this out almost from the start and every new product works with older products and whatever is coming next
If I was just starting out, looking for an economical starter system that could grow with me, I’d chose the NCE Powercab.
And they’re now shipping, so get in line! It should give Digitrax a run for their money, but MRC’s not even in the same league as NCE or Digitrax if you ask me.
For more on the NCE Powercab, see:
http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/powercab.htm
$139.95 from Tony’s.
That’s a lot of system for the money, and it’s fully expandable into a club-sized system later, and the “starter” cab looks just like the full system cab, so no dead ends with this one. [swg]
Thank’s i’ll check 'em out. that’s deffanatly in my price range! (or atleast sometime soon, (like when the grass grows!))
yeah that’s a really nice system . i wonder if we’ll see a price drop on the zephyr now that there’s some very serious competition .
only thing i don’t like about the Powercab is no knob to twist for the throttle . i know that’s really getting into personal preferences and picking nits
I don’t consider that picking nits. Way back when I made a walkaround cab for the DC system that worked with a slider. Never felt comfortable to me. The MRC PA/PE knob just feels right.
If one is wondering what adding the PA throttle to the PE system will do, check out the manuals which are available online: http://www.modelrectifier.com/resources/resourcesTrainControls.asp
Since it’s been mentioned…
I like the feeling of the Digitrax Zephyr’s Throttle Knob/Lever.
At the club I joined, NCE is the system used but I do not like that TV/VCR style controller at all where I scroll the little wheel forward or backward with my thumb to control speed. With the Zephyr’s lever, at least I feel a little bit more like an engineer. Just my preference.
Not to show my age . . . but the best feeling throttle in my book is MRC’s Trottlemaster knob.