Looking to buy a new Dcc system. Been looking at nce. What would you buy?
If I did it all over again I’d still buy my Digitrax.
–Randy
Been using the NCE Power Cab for nearly 12 years now and have been very happy with it. I’ve also used Digitrax but still prefer NCE for intuitiveness. Either company would be a good choice and both have their pluses.
Tom
This will be the Chevy/Ford/Dodge thing. They’re all good and everyone has their preferences, mine happens to be MRC Prodigy. My Prodigy has run perfectly since 2006. As for decoders I have bought 5 different manufacturers decoders and all work great.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Hi John:
My personal preference is NCE. I have used both Digitrax and NCE and I find The NCE system to be far more intuitive to use.
Some Digitrax throttles have screens that are hard to read. NCE is easy to read.
Digitrax has a whole bunch of buttons that look exactly the same. NCE has differentiated the more commonly used buttons.
Programming with NCE is a breeze. The system tells you exactly what you are doing. I haven’t attempted to program with a Digitrax system.
An added advantage is that the NCE system will program any and all decoders. Digitrax requires a booster to program some decoders.
Digitrax does have the Loconet system that provides feedback from various sources. Some people who are using systems other than Digitrax will use the Loconet system to control certain functions on their layouts.
I have heard of many clubs that have switched from Digitrax to NCE and have been happy with the move. I have never heard of a club that has switched from NCE to Digitrax.
Bottom line is that both systems work pretty well. The smart thing to do would be to find somewhere where you can operate both systems. Maybe your local hobby store or club. You will figure out pretty quickly which one you prefer.
Somebody mentioned MRC. MRC offers a workable but limited system. The biggest limitation has to do with programming restrictions. If you really want to get ‘in’ to DCC stick with NCE or Digitrax.
[2c]
Dave
The new DCS240 has fixed this issue.
Me too.
A lot of people post here over the past 12-14 years saying Digitrax confuses them. They hate it, don’t like the manual, and don’t like the throttles. They quite rightly moved on and became happier. That’s what a reasonably well-motivated person should do, and not just with train throttles.
I didn’t know any better. My local hobby shop only offered the EZ-Command from Bachmann, but he would order Digitrax components if I wanted what he used himself. So, long story short, and with some perseverance and several reads of the manual, I find myself loving my very reliable and capable Digitrax Super Empire Builder. I purchased a second DT400 throttle which allows four trains to run at the same time with two operators (two encoder knobs per throttle, so each one can run two trains simultaneously). I haven’t met a decoder that my DB150 can’t programme or reset if I need to do that. Probably the Tsunami variants have been the most problematic, but I eventually get them converted to playing happily with my DB150.
I would urge you to get to know well, and to enjoy, whichever system meets your power and control needs. If you were to pick Tom’s NCE, you’d be off to the races and fully contented, maybe after some fiddling and learning. Same for MRC…pick the right fit for your operating requirements, play with it for a few hours to get familiar with it, and then enjoy what it allows you to do. Digitrax has been no different for me, and I’m the furthest thing from a techie/geek/electronics guru/engineer/programmer that you could find. The people who brought us the Loconet can’t have gotten much wrong IMO.
As to throttles, its like a tv remote, at first a new one is confusing, but after using it for a while you get used to it.
I don’t use DCC, but having used a number of systems, I would choose this if I ever wanted DCC:
http://www.cvpusa.com/easydcc_system.php
Sheldon
I have MRC and really, really like it. Easy to use.
I have the wireless NCE PH-Pro system and like it very much. Maybe because I’m used to it now the other systems look confusing but I must say I have never tried them.
Here is a system comparison https://tonystrains.com/comparison-dcc-systems/
The best advice so far in this thread is “Try them yourself”.
NCE PowerCab may not need a program track booster (Neither does the Digitrax Zephyr), byt the PowerPro does, just like the same vintage Digitrax systems. The DB150 has never needed a booster, but it also doesn’t read back. “Need” is also not really the right word, it all depends on what decoders you are using. I’ve actually never had to use the extra power “blast” mode available on my Zephyr which uses higher power like adding a program track booster for anything, but I only have one QSI decoder, and only ever had one Tsunami, since traded away. I’ve absolutely never had an issue with plain motor decoders from NCE or TCS, and neither should ANY DCC system.
–Randy
I’ve been watching since around 2011 and consistently find that Digitrax and NCE are the top two preferred, with others also worth considering (no complaints) but chosen by fewer.
Decide what amperage you might need initially, and later, and ensure you understand the expansion differences (how done, additional cost) for your choices.
I narrowed it down to Digitrax or NCE initially because of the extent these tended to be preferred as the top brands. I wanted 5A capability from the outset, so I did not need to consider expansion details. I liked the fact that Digitrax had lots of supplemental (to the main command station & throttle) components, such as downstream reversers, but discovered that was not a deal breaker as compatibility standards allow choices of different brand supplemental components. So I chose the NCE 5A PowerPro mainly because I like the throttle (I didn’t like the style of the Digitrax buttons).
I did not do the adviseable hands on test as I recall. Perhaps find a shop that can demo both. Select and run a loco, change its address, ask how to change the volume CV and/o create a consist to give you a feel.
I found discussing with someone (in my case Tonys trains) who sells several systems helpful with my final decision, as well as choosing the supplemental components you may want to install.
Another way to look at it, what are you going to ‘control’?
Locomotives, switches, lighting on the layout or even sensors that feed back where locomotives are on the layout?
The decoders for locomotives are getting smaller and able to fit in older and newer ‘DCC ready’ locomotives.
Like computers some decoders have a ‘mother board’ and builtin ‘keep alive’ or ‘no stall’ capacitors as well as SOUND!
I am new at this and went with NCE. I have punished my NCE decoders with rookie mistakes. The decoders still work fine.
I talked to an guy who has been model railroading for ever and he was very convincing that digitrak was the way to go.
He likes the customer service and has helped a couple clubs go digitrak.
If you are new to DCC see if you can find someone that already is fluent in DCC. It takes alot of the frustration and mistakes out of the process.
Thomas
I was a club member for a year that had a NCE system. Pretty intuitive. But the throttle seemed top heavy in my hand; felt like a cast iron skille to me. But that’s me. My home layout utilizes a Digitrax Super Chief. To me, after a few hours of using and familiarizing myself with the Digitrax I found it very easy to use and negotiate. I much prefer the Digitrax thottle hands down (no pun)
Wow, you mean Tony’s (who at one time apparently had a manufacturing/marketing agreement with NCE) is still pushing that outdated old chart!!??
The one that talks about the DT100, which was discontinued in 2000, but doesn’t bother to even mention the DT402 (now also retired) or the DT500?
And that’s missing the DCS240 comand station and the DCS210-based Evolution starter sets and the DB210/DB220 line of boosters?
And the WiFi throttle ability (without JMRI) that the LNWI provides?
Sorry, but IMHO that “comparison” is either absurdly out of date or intentionally misleading.
You mean maybe the Lenz representatives? Or maybe at different times they’ve been both. Anyway, even ignoring the outdated part of that chart, there are errors for more than just the Digitrax items. Also items with no context - like the Recall Stack. Not all DCC systems work the same way - there IS a selectable recall stack with Digitrax however it does not have the same meaning as the recall stack in NCE.
–Randy
I use the Lenz DCC system. I tried it, I liked it and I stuck by it.
It seems that the main reason people choose NCE over Digitrax is all in the throttles, even to the extent of passing on the loconet functionality. Is there a reason Digitrax (or a third party) does not offer a better designed throttle? From what I read they would win the DCC wars if only that.
With a career of working on user interfaces, a couple of weeks with Digitrax had me going back to DC. It’s that bad.
The guys from the NC Sippin and Switchin group suggested I try NCE. I did and there’s no going back.
See if you can find some locals to let you try the different systems. I know a lot of people that are happy with Digitrax, but it’s not for me.
Don