One of the clubs I belong to has finally voted to add DCC to our DC layout (we are wiring the entire layout to toggle between the two). I have done all the research to back up my suggestion on why to use a digitrax system over an MRC system. and the majority wants to go the Digitrax route. However, I did mention that the most compairable DCC system in (IMO) was an NCE system. I now need peoples thoughts on NCE DCC systems, not the decoders.
So, What I am asking is for those of you who have used or are using an NCE system. What do you like about it? What do you not like about it? Have you ever tried a Digitrax system? What did think?
Please respond ONLY if you have used or are using an NCE system and possiblly compared it to digitrax.
Thank you all for your time, thoughts and opinions
I recently went through the same drill for a large HO club layout. We settled on the NCE Wireless PowerPro system over Digitrax because the NCE system delivered more features for less cost than a comparable Digitrax system. NCE offers a special one-time 30% club discount if you purchase a complete system, which lowered the overall cost by $782.
I started out with the digitrax zephyr. It did not work for me. It was very underpowered. It turned out to be defective. The hobby shop I bought if from allowed me to return it , so I picked the system with the most features they had. At the time it was the NCE Power Pro. I have been more then happy with this system. I have also expanded my layout to my garage. The only thing I dislike about it is using the programming track turns off the rest of the layout. I am not sure other manufactures do the same. I am able to “Program on the Main”. I hope this helps.
I used both before I made my purchase, I picked NCE.
I picked NCE becuase I like the main throttle better than Digitrax’s, but that is pretty subjective stuff.
I also picked NCE because I wanted to operate stationary decoders from utility throttles ----- the nice Digitrax utility throttle does not operate them.
I also like NCE’s update feature with a new EPROM.
No problems with the NCE system for 13 months now.
I looked at both the Digitrax Super Chief Radio & the NCE PowerPro Radio Wireless for my home layout and was ready to purchase the Digitrax all based upon what I had read.
I went to my LHS with my son to make the purchase.
Once there I started comparing the two side by side, the NCE won hands down on the physical attributes, however what I liked the best about the NCE was the ease of programming over the Digitrax.
As for decoders I use Digitrax because of their smaller size, I am an N-Scale modeler.
Yes the NCE was more money and in my opinion either unit is good or better than what they advertise and either one will do the job!
Both will run your locomotives.
Best to try each one for programming, then make your decision on which one to purchase.
I’ll let you know if a few days. My NCE PowerCab should be arriving either tomorrow or Tuesday. Even though the PowerCab is technically considered a starter system, it’s still a PowerPro throttle and can be used as an additional throttle on their PowerPro system.
For a novice operator (as most club members will be) I feel the NCE is a bit easier to use. The basic cabs match up pretty well to what they are used to running DC. Forward/reverse and speed knob.
It is possible to get dealers to come to the club and give a demo. See if you can find one for any system you’re considering. Let club members (or committee) see the system in action and go from there.
I enjoy my NCE radio system and so do my ops crew. That’s all that counts.
I dont have either so just so I dont understand…I want to use stationary decoders for turnout control. So if I buy digitrax I have to buy special throttles or only the big expensive that comes with it will operate them?
I’ve done a review of the big 4 in another thread on here: NCE, EasyDCC, Digitrax, and Lenz.
I currently own an EasyDCC system, but I’ve also owned a Lenz system. I’ve used both NCE and Digitrax on large operationally-oriented layouts.
Were I starting out new today, I’d give NCE a serious look. The ease-of-use factor for their system (user-friendliness) is the best of the four. You can read my reviews and judge for yourself if you like.
However, no system is perfect. NCE wireless uses duplex radio (all the other wireless systems use one-way radio or IR), which by law must operate at lower power levels. As a result NCE wireless has been plagued with problems. Recently NCE went to longer antennas (half wave instead of quarter wave) and has completely redesigned their receivers for improved performance. Word is these changes have improved the NCE wireless issues considerably.
Digitrax wireless requires you to plug in to acquire a loco – something which none of the other wireless systems require. This means you need to run a throttle bus around the layout – which is not a requirement for the other wireless systems.
Digitrax, however, does have the advantage that it is the most pervasive of all the DCC systems, which means it has the largest user base and is the most common DCC system you will find in hobby shops. But Digitrax has a reputation of being less-than-user-friendly in it’s interface. You’ll need to keep the manuals handy, since it’s not obvious from the interface how to do things.
I’ve done a review of the big 4 in another thread on here: NCE, EasyDCC, Digitrax, and Lenz.
However, no system is perfect. NCE wireless uses duplex radio (all the other wireless systems use one-way radio or IR), which by law must operate at lower power levels. As a result NCE wireless has been plagued with problems. Recently NCE went to longer antennas (half wave instead of quarter wave) and has completely redesigned their receivers for improved performance. Word is these changes have improved the NCE wireless issues considerably.
Update for you Joe. The new NCE wireless system which includes repeater antennas to fill in any possible dead spots is great. I’ve had up to 20 operators at a session with no problems.
Also as someone mentioned earlier, NCE intermediate throttles can NOT control switches without using Macros or programming the Option button. There is no Accessory function on the Cab04.
Hello Larry. No problem … you have a one stationary decoder (e.g. tunout) macro.
You hit it the macro key (i’ve covered it with tape and put the word “turnout” for little kids), enter the turnout number, and hit the operator key. Pretty simple. I wired signals with LED’s into the circuit, so it operates like an industrial two-way yard.
The Cab04 does have an accessory button, and in a future NCE mail out software upgrade, it will become easily used.
Yes, Repairman87, Digitrax’s UT4 utility throttle will not operate your turnouts, their main DT400 will. You can operate them with NCE’s Cab04 utility throttles. I don’t know about other manufactures’ systems.
I also want to stress that I only operate a small layout, non radio. So, for sure, take the advice of Joe Fugate and others here.
For the most part I really like NCE. The only thing I don’t like is that on a long run the controller will “time out”, with the surprize that if some time after it has timed out you move the throttle there is no response! You have to re-aquire the loco! BAAADDDD!
I don;t want to start this one again, but the UT4 from Digitrax is designed EXACTLY the way people (ie Digitax users) wanted it. This was all conducted on the Digitrax Yahoo group, everyone was invited to contribute what features they wanted to see in a new simple utility throttle, and Digitrax responded and made the UT4.
Personally, I don;t liek ANY system’s method of operating turnouts from the throttle. You’re supposed to be running trains, not selecting turnout addresses (and how do you remember them, anyway? How do I know the South switch at the Granger passing siding is address 204?). Having stationary decoders makes it easy to interface a computer and use a program like JMRI to operate them - that’s cool. I built a small CTC panel in JMRI and set it up to control one of my crossovers using the NCE Switch-It I picked up to test out - but other thant he computer, control will be by pushbuttons on a local panel, not via my throttle.
Even so, I doubt I will own a UT4. After using my DT400, I just do not like less than 1 turn potentiometer controls anymore. I find the encoder-type controls give much smoother control. ANd with ballastic tracking it’s not hard to to an emergency stop.
If I had NCE instead of Digitrax I’d use the Cab04e, not the Cab04p.
My other consideration is signalling. I can easily put my throttles, detection, and signalling system all on the Digitrax Loconet without causing response time problems with the throttles and boosters. I’m just curious what would happen using the NCE AUI’s and so forth for 20 blocks’ worth of detectors and signal heads, with say 5 operator cabs in use. This is where polled systems fall on their face. Sure there’s alternative signal systems like C/MRI, but compared to the various option available that interface to Loconet - it’s expensive! Plus I can run one telephone wire around my layout and I’ve covered both my throttle bus AND my signals and detection.
I’m totally with Randy on this point. To me throwing turnouts from your throttle is just Star Trek gadget stuff, not railroading. Real railroaders do not push a button on their cab panel to throw turnouts. Either the CTC dispatcher throws the turnout, or the railroader goes over to the turnout and throws it.
So either build a CTC panel in JMRI (free software) or put some control on the fascia right by the turnout. Anything else is not how the railroads do it and just feels like technology gone to seed, to me.
Of course, the DCC system makers want to sell you more stuff, so you’ll never hear them say this. [swg]
Do you own stock in Digitrax? [:)] No need to defend their business decisions. We’re just stating some differences in the systems.
Sorry, I didn’t get my official model railroading rule book, yet. [:)]
The railroads walk over to the side of the layout and push a toggle switch or pull on a choke cable knob? Or use their finger tip to move the switch points? Or make a couple of key strokes on a laptop sitting next to them on an old cable reel in their basement?
I guess there is different ways of looking at things. How deeply one wants to immerse themselves into it. What makes sense to different people. Maybe even … what makes it fun for you
I think there is room in this hobby for Repairman and I to operate our turnouts from the throttle. Their may even be a few more poeple that enjoy operating their layouts in a “hands off” approach. No “hand of God” as some people put have put it here.
And I think that the way I identify and electrically signal the turnouts on my little switching layout is pretty cool, if I say so myself.
cacole, chateauricher, jrbernier, Darick, YardGoat18, johncolley, repairman87, rrinker, clinchvalley, and of course you, Joe Fugate-
Thank you all for your input, it will be very useful, it will come in handy when talking about it to the club, Joe, Thanks for your clinic on this site and your other site they both were and will continue to be very handy as well.
I think everyone at the club will get an education about all the DCC systems out there (more than they barganed for). Most likely they will go the digitrax route since they were headed that way currently but wanted outside thoughts and feedback about NCE products. And yes Joe I did remind them 2 weeks ago that they will want to set aside some money to have dups made of the digitrax manuals. I’ve used DCC for 3 years and I still look in the decoder manual for reference.
Our club (Four County Society of Model Engineers) (www.fcsme.org) went through this same debate in 1998. For a lot of reasons, mainly being the user friendly arguement, we went with NCE.
Since then, we have been nothing but impressed with the tech support we have recieved from Jim Scorse and the gang at NCE. A few dropped throttles were fixed, and some tech questions regarding wiring a 60x100 portable layout were all answered promptly. Last year we got the eprom updates and YES, you can do them yourself! Many of our members have purchased thier own NCE systems (me included) and would have no other.
I have even been involved with switching a large layout from Digitrax to NCE , again NCE was there with answers to questions and support.
As one fellow hobbiest said to me. " I’ve seen people switch from Digitrax to NCE, but I’ve never heard of anyone switching from NCE to Digitrax, how come??"
Nuff said,