Well I’ve visited Tony’s Train House and read a whole bunch of pdf’s and other material they have on their web site and now I’m more confused then ever in trying to pick out a DCC system for a small to medium size layout.
I’m a newbie at DCC and would appreciate some suggestions on how and what products would be best for me.
I would like a system that could address 9999 locomotve, consisting (MU) and auto reversing, easy to set up and with PC programming capabilities.
I am looking at the Digitrax Zephyr and the Lenz Set 90. Both seem like great buys, and I vouch for both brands after experiencing operating them on other layouts.
Nothing you have listed as a need really shortens the list of options by very much other than I would avoid the really entry level sets like the Bachmann and the MRC (no PC interface for PC programming).
None of the systems have auto reverse built into the base unit as standard, but there are many auto reverse modules that can be added to any of the systems to accompli***his.
Here are some questions for you consider as these may impact the choice,
How many operators do you want to be able to run trains on your layout at once?
Is a walk around throttle a need?
If walk around is a need, do you want wireless throttle, or is a tethered throttle acceptable to you?
How many locomotives would you anticipate running simulaneously in consits or otherwise?
Do you have any expansion plans for the future?
These sorts of questions will determine the capacity of the system that will meet your needs.
The Digitrax Zephyr may well be a good choice (I have one and love it), but there are several other companies out there, NCE, Lenz, EasyDCC that might be better suited to your layout.
Anyway, there will be no shortage of opinions here once we have a clearer idea of what you want.
Well…Good news! With the list of particulars you have there, you’ve at least ruled out the Bachmann E-Z Command. Hey, that’s a start. [:)] And, it’s also good that you took the initiative to read through the DCC For Beginners on the TTE website - even if you didn’t grasp as much as you would have liked to.
Now all you have left to figure out is CVP, Digitrax, Lenz, MRC, NCE and Zimo. (Unless you have a Brinks truck idling in your driveway, you can forget the Zimo. Too expensive.)
Howard, here’s a thought. If you can find a local train club in your area that runs DCC, and ask them if you can visit sometime to see their particular DCC system in action, that would give you the opportunity to see one first hand and ask questions on why they decided on the unit that they did.
Reading about DCC is one thing. But actually seeing it for yourself “in person” and talking to the operator of the DCC system will help give you a clearer perspective which direction you should go.
Thanks every one for answering so quickly. I because I don’t have a money truck in the driveway…to bad ha, and want to start small I would need the system to run both DCC and DC. Sounds like theDigitrax Zephyr system might ba a good choice to start with as a number of you have mentioned that system. And visiting a club that does DCC is a very good idea. Thanks again.
BTW any on who has that fourm URL above, can you just drop in in here.
Train shows are also a great place to check out DCC systems. I get more questions about our DCC system and how it works then I do about anything else on our club layout. Most guys, if they are like me don’t mind showing someone at a show how it works and I even let people run my trains once in awhile.
If you plan to do more like sound and such, maybe you should spend the exta $100 and go for the intermediate system. more power for everything. If you set a standard for track and equipment why short yourself on the control system.
Also TA462, please tell me what shows you attend as I am in southern California and have attended many shows with very few dcc vendors. What layouts are running are all dc. It would be great to see the layouts at the shows all have dcc and a representative at the layout.I dont have to run the trains but it would be nice to see what can be done in dcc.
Spidge, I live in Port Hope, Ontario Canada so if you want to make the trip up here let me know. I find that all the shows my club attends its usually a 50-50 split between DC and DCC layouts. If you ask one of the members of one of the club layouts at a show I’m sure they will tell you who has what. I always check out the layouts before the doors open up as do most members from other clubs. I really think DCC is about to really get huge up here. Our club layout is very impressive and we take great pride in our craftsmanship and fine detail but when someone asks how DCC works instead of how did you build a certain part of scenery thats got to say something about DCC’s future. We have a Digitrax Radio system and it just blows people away that we can run trains with a wireless throttle.
One advantage that Digitrax has & is not emphasized enough is that you can run two trains at one time without having to constantly change addresses. If you get a second throttle that goes up to four trains. I think this is the biggest difference in the systems. They all will do everything you want, except The Bachman system. Jerry