I need your help. I’m 50+ and have been a model railroader for most of those years. I am currently building a new layout after a ten year hiatus. Because of a divorce I have lost most of my old stuff. I have cars, track and a few DC locos. I don’t have a power pack. So it is obvious that I should move straight into DCC. I have wired the new layout for DCC, several isolated electrical sections, main busses (14 guage), all rail has feeders, etc.
I’ve read all the comparisons in the mags, the manufacturers websites and reviews but sometimes the info seems conflicting. I can solder and drop recievers in my older Athearn and Atlas locos. But what is a good starter controller.
My wants are simple: Inexpensive, program on the main, expandable.
What are you using and would you start with that brand again if you were starting from zero today?
With the depth and breadth of this audience I’m sure you can help me. You’ve been there, right?
My choice was the MRC Prodigy Advance 2. It is a full featured DCC system that is more user friendly and more reasonably priced than most other systems. It also easily upgrades to wireless. Plus the wireless cab does everything the wired cabs do including programming, and, you dont have to plug the cab in to switch which loco your controlling. This system is definatly worth a look. I even bought a Prodigy Express system for my work bench.
For decoders themselves MRC decoders are okay but my personal preference are Digitrax decoders. They just seemed a little more refined than the MRC (if that makes any sense). Thanks to the NMRA standards most of the manufacturers equipment are all compatible.
In the end though it comes down to personal preferences. All systems nowadays, MRC, Digitrax, NCE etc. are solid and reliable. I have even heard good things about the Bachman Dynamis system, but their decoders are very limited. Go down to your local hobby shop and talk to folks there, both staff and customers. They will be a wealth of knowledge, and a some may even allow you to try out their systems on their home or club layouts.
I also have MRC Prodigy Advance. I have added an extra throttle so both grandsons can run trains and plan to add the wireless also. The system is one of the best IMHO. HOWEVER, you will get the same opinions for Digitrax, NCE, and others [:D]
With your age and experience, I don’t get the ‘expendable’ part for buying a DCC system. I was about your age when I bought my DCC system. (I am now 65 and a model RR’er for most of those years as well.) I bought an NCE Power Pro and have not regretted it in any way shape or form. I bought that one because it would grow with me and any railroads that I built. I am now working on my second RR using the same system.
EDIT: Remember, you get what you pay for both in function and quality.
2nd EDIT: Well, I guess I blew the expendable part. Next time I will look closer to the word that was “expandable”.
I am a very satisfied NCE user. But, I believe there are two very important considerations for each of us to consider.
What systems do your friends and/or local clubs use? These folks are your local support group. Also, they can bring their controllers to your layout and you can take your controller to their layouts.
How does the controller feel in your hand? Is the speed wheel/nob/button in the right place for you? Is its use intuitive for you?
I chose NCE after giving those considerations some thought. It has worked very well for me. The entry level PowerCab system is moderately priced and expandable. And it supports programming on the main.
You want it to be expandable, but in what way? What expansions do you think you might want?
Things that you might consider expansions are:
Adding additional throttles, if so how many?
Wireless?
PC interface for decoder programming and PC control of the layout?
Additional boosters?
Signalling?
Some systems are not nearly as expandable as others. Some systems are very costly to add basic expansions. It would be a good idea for you to think about what you might want to do as this alone might eliminate a particular brand from consideration.
Myself, I am a Digitrax user. Starting with a basic Zephyr system I have expanded with additional throttles, a booster, PC interface and Decoder Pro software running on an old PC and I soon plan to add radio to the system. I also plan to add integrated signalling during 2009 using the Digitrax signalling system. I find the system very easy to use and would not change it for any other brand. Oh, it programs on the main. I have just spent an enjoyable hour playing around with speed curve matching of a trio of locos using POM from the Decoder Pro application.
Bottom line is that all of the systems are good in their own way. You just need to find the one that meets your needs today and your anticipated needs in the future.
Are your hands used to fine work and still supple after all these years? They’re not tired mitts with fingers that don’t quite straighten any longer? Finding and pushing smallish buttons or lots of them won’t be a chore for you?
How’re the eyes? Will you have to hold the throttle a few inches away so that you can actually see the display clearly? How big should the symbols and numbers on the display be?
If you were to find photos of each of the throttles available, you might be able to judge how easily you will find enjoyment and train control with them.
Just a thought…if you can’t actually find some locally to try for 10 minutes.
I’ve got a Lenz System 100. I like the big buttons, as Crandall suggested. The Lenz hand-held throttle unit just felt right to me. That, and the 5-amp capacity of the system.
Some of this depends on the size of your layout, and the number of engines you’ll be running. For the average room-sized layout with 3 or 4 engines running together, you only need something like 2.5 amps, which I believe translates nicely to a Digitrax Zephyr. If you’re planning an empire, though, with a dozen engines and hundreds of feet of track, then you might want to look at larger systems.
There are still a few non-expandable units on the market, and these should be avoided. Other than that, most system are very good. The NMRA standards guarantee that you can run any DCC locomotive from any DCC system. Digitrax, Lenz, MRC and NCE all make good systems, and if I’ve left anyone out, it’s my fault, not theirs.
GD19, the word was ‘expandable’. Had to go back and read my own submission to make sure I didn’t misspell.
To everyone who posted so far, thanks.
No major clubs out here. No decent hobby shop for trains. So I’m ordering online and teaching my non model railroader buddies about the hobby. (Most of them seem pretty interested in learning to ‘operate’ after I’ve explained the basic concept to them.)
My layout is 25’ long around two walls, so only 3 or 4 locos tops - NOW. I do want to use this DCC equipment for quite some time. So expandability is important. The MRC units look to fit the bill at this time. But do they program on the track or do I need a dedicated, isolated siding? And yeah, I’d like to go wireless with throttles 2 and 3. And yes, I’ll hook it up to the computer.
I am a satisfied Digitrax user for ten years. There are a lot of good DCC systems on the market, however a PC interface is a must. With a computer interface you can use JMRI Decoder Pro software to program your decoders. Decoder pro is free and always improving. You can also use your computer with Decoder Pro as an extra throttle.
One very good reason to give some serious thought as to the suitability of the MRC offering. PC interface has only just been announced. It is an expensive option ($200 odd I read somewhere) and is advertised as using its own proprietary software. It is not at all clear if it can use the free and excellent Decoder Pro application. For me this would be a deal breaker and a good reason to look at one of the other manufacturers,
I chose NCE over the Digitrax, looked at both and found the NCE more used friendly from a programing stand point and the buttons seemed more robust.
I do like the plug in feature that the MRC upper end unit has, however I still favor the NCE.
As to decoders, I prefer Digitrax (their hard wire decoders have wire that is more flexible than the others on the market) as I model in N-scale and room is almost non existent in those small locos that are only DCC friendly and non friendly (older ones)
I think that any one of the above units are a good choice for the money and all have very good tech service should one have a problem or need help.
There have been several comments here that the MRC computer interface requires their proprietary software and is not compatible with Decoder Pro.
If you think radio throttles and a computer interface might be nice to have, then look at the North Coast Engineering PowerPro Radio system, which has a computer serial port built in.
You can download the manuals for all of the various systems from each manufacturer’s web site and see pictures of what you get, including the different throttles that are available. That would probably be the best way to decide which you think would fit your hand better and be the easiest to use.
You did not mention whether you were interested in running DCC sound equipped engines. If you are then you might take into consideration how many functions the DCC system can control. Some of the new sound equipped engines have as many or more than 28 functions. I have the a Digitrax Zypher system I and was well pleased with it, but I don’t think that Digitrax is planning on expanding their system to handle more functions. Although most of the new functions out now are not something I would use all the time maybe in the future this might change. I’m thinking about upgrading to the Lentz system which has been upgraded to more functions. It just seems some systems are limited and some are more upgrade friendly for future expansion.
These are just my thoughts as their are many people on this forum that are far more informed than I will ever be. Hope this helps!
Jim, the new DT throttle that is coming out with the 2 way radio has F28 support. You will be able to use it with the Zephyr to get the 28 functions if that is something you want. According to David Bedard this is coming to market in April. It has been in the works for some time and was supposed to be released in 2008.
Personally, I would not be concerned about the number of functions beyond the first 8 or so. Sure, some decoders may have more than 28 sound effects available, but how many of them would you really use. The NCE PowerPro supports 28 functions, but I hardly ever use anything beyond the first 9 – and not all sound decoders even use that many yet. From what I have read, all of those extra sounds are things I would never use even if I could control them. Chickens? Cows? Horses? A blacksmith shop? I don’t run my train through the middle of a farm.
Chuck, I think you’re fibbing. I have it on good authority that you enjoy F24, the one of the plugged biffy in the dining car flushing, overflowing, and splashing on the deck. I agree, it is realistic sounding, though. Especially the woman’s voice that goes, “Eeewwww!”
F25 is the porter knocking on the door and asking if everything is alright in there.