A new upgrade has just made the Lenz Set 90 an even more attractive starter set. And for existing users the upgrade is free (except for shipping cost).
Version 3.5 now allows functions F0-F13 and quicker access to the most often used menus. For all of the features see http://lenz.com/news/index.htm.
I’ve already sent my LH90 throttle in for upgrade and hope to get it back soon. I’ve always felt that the LH100 throttle was superior because of its ease of use. But now I think this will open the door to a very easy to use 5 amp starter set for about $270.
Don’t mean for this to be a Lenz commercial as I’m just a user but wanted all other Lenz owners to be aware of this free upgrade in case they hadn’t heard about it.
Where did you send it? The web site doesn’t specify anyplace to send them, just something about “your Lenz distributer.”
I agree with you about the Lenz-100 and how much easier it is to use than the 90, but if I can upgrade and get a bit more capability out of the 90, I might use it more. Since I use the 100 almost all the time, when I do use the 90 I find I’ve forgotten the keystroke sequences.
I have a 100, and I agree that for programming it is much easier. Still, there is something about a knob control…that is just…I don’t know, more natural? With the improvement, I’ll be more interested in a second throttle as a 90.
MisterBeasly, lucky for us, the North American headquarters of Lenz are right up the road in Chelmsford. I’d presume they’d want it sent there, but I’m indeed making a presumption versus what they have actually said.
The Chelmsford address on the web site is a Post Office box number, but I assume they’ve got some kind of brick-and-mortar building there, too. I’ll try contacting them, and see if I can just hand-carry the throttle to them. On a nice day, that will be a pleasant bicycle ride from my house.
It might be best to give them a call first as they may want to schedule your upgrade for a particular time. That way you won’t be without it any longer than necessary.
As a former Lenz user/owner I am glad to hear they have upgraded the 90. I had the set 100 and it came with the LH100 so I never bought or used the LH90 and it is because of the limited abilities it had. I recently changed systems over to Digitrax and I can honestly say that I am much more happy with Digitrax now.
I’m kind of a fan of all DCC systems. There are several very good ones now. I’m curious, and for the benefit of others, can you tell us what you like better about Digitrax, and which set did you get?
Yes I can get into detail. Unlike alot of people here they have USED a few systems here and there and then rate which is the best. In my case I owned and operated Lenz Set 100 and now have the Digitrax Super Chief system so my rating of which is better is on actual ownership useage of each. I am not downing anyone who has given tehir opinion in any way. That is all fine.
I started out with Lenz set 100 which I owned and used fro more than 2 years. I loved it alot, I did. I asked the similar questions about what is a good systems as many do and I chose the Lenz mainly because it had wireless capabilities by adding a little unit for $45 more. I bought that unit and I thought it was great at first but realized within the years of owning it I never ever used the cordless phone control because it was not what I expected. It was not bad but it was not great either. Now since these DCC systems cost between $260-350 for better systems I was not just going to switch systems one day. I was satisfied with Lenz. I had about 6 express panels around the layout too. Then one day I was given the opprotunity to get a Digitrax Chief system for little to no cost. It had three extra controlers and 5 plug in panels with it. It was not going to cost me any money to switch over. So I decided to make the switch.
Since it was a new system I was overwhelmed about using it but to be honest I got used to it very fast and I didnt even have a manual at first. It is just as easy to MU engines and even program engines too. I like the double knobs on each side of the throttle for easier control of two locos. Using Lenz you have to press ESC key to operate the other loco. I guess after using Digitrax after 6 months now I am much more pleased with this system than Lenz. If I could have done it all over again I would have started out with Digitrax in the beginning.
I just heard from Debbie at Lenz. They are, in fact, at the address above, and they’ll let me bring the throttle in. They did ask that I call first to make sure they’d be there at that time. I did a Mapquest aerial photo of the address, and it’s in a residential area, so I guess they work from home. Gee, I wish I could do that…
If you go to the Lenz site from the original post and click on Support, they’ve got a listing for Australia. Much less water to cross. Maybe you could jump over it with your bike and ride the rest of the way?
Better yet, get some styrene and scratch-build a bridge.
Just got my updated LH90. Very quick turnaround from Lenz.
I read the new manual and then started running trains, throwing DCC controlled turnouts, made and broke up consists, changed some speed steps, etc. I have to say that I really like this new version.
It only took a few minutes of use until I quickly got the hang of the new shortcuts. The more you use it the easier it gets. The loco stack (up to 8 locos) works very well and allows very quick call up of locos, or you can easily dial in a new one. The shortcuts are great. Just a few quick key strokes and you get where you want to go. And in entering numbers in the LED display, I like the way you can either go forward or backward in selecting numbers. The same is true for the loco stack.
I haven’t done any progamming yet but it looks pretty straight forward. All in all this is an excellent engineer’s throttle, and more. The large speed dial gives very precise speed control (pontentiometer) and the procedure allows picking up the speed of another running loco very smoothly.
I used to think that it was best to start with a Lenz Set 100 (with the LH100 throttle) and then add the LH90 if desired. Now it’s clear that if one is on a tighter budget, they can now get the 5 amp Set 90 for around $270, including power supply. I like this LH90 so much I’m inclined to think that I’m going to tend to want to use it more than my wireless throttle (CVP) and that surprises me very much.
I always thought it was quaint the way the manual for Lenz uses English words mixed with German syntax… It makes their system almost as bewildering as Digitrax!
Lee
(A perfectly satisfied MRC Prodigy Advance devotee)
I guess I’m not following your thinking here as I have several Lenz manuals and find them clear and easy to follow and not bewildering to me. And this is true for Digitrax manuals as well. I’ve read both the current Zephyr and Chief manuals and find them to be clear although in their cases I didn’t have the product in hand to use as I read the manuals.
We have an older system (more than 12 years old) at the club I belong to. The book for that was enough to make you want to take up stamp collecting.
I guess they’ve learned their lessons over the years.
Regardless of how well written the manuals are, I still think the user interface on the MRC is head and shoulders above the rest. The MRC manual is very compact, and the only time I’ve looked at it for any length of time was the night I was installing it. Actually operating the system is very intuitive, and most questions you might have are answered immediately on the throttle itself.
I’d presume they’d want it sent there, but I’m indeed making a presumption versus what they have actually said.