I’m getting ready to get a Bachmann DCC EZ Command. What should I know about it’s operation? How do I program it?
Jeffrey, I comes with a video that explains everthing. It really isn’t too hard from what the DVD says. I’ve even heard from the guys here saying that your engines can just about have any decoder and the EZ-Command will run them.
May I ask why you have honed in on the EZ-Command?
:finger:
Hey it’s cheap and it will a lot. it is realy simple. the dvd and the book tell you all you need to know. it is good for first time dcc. trust me i still have it for my freinds. less complicated than the big stuff. there is some stuff you can get for it like walk around, decoders, bigger power pack stuff like that i like it.
Ben
First and foremost; IT’S JUNK!!!
THAT’S WHY IT IS CHEAP!!!
“You get what you pay for.”
I was thinking about buying one. But I learned it is not very advanced and is junk. I decided on an MRC prodigy Advance. The PA is very easy to use, understandable and can support numerous locomotives including sound at one time. It is awsome. The Bachmann system can only run one nonsound loco, mabe 2 if you are lucky. My advice, Don’t buy the Bachmann system. Also Bachmann is not top of the line and their quality in general is not very good. If you buy the Bachmann system you will regret your decesion. Bachmann DCC is a[xx(]
Make sure what you get is the same as some of the people you know and can talk to, because there will be questions that a video will not answer, and it is nice to have real people you can talk to. I have also heard that the EZ command is a toy setup. I waited until I could afford Digitrax, because I knew people who had it and that it worked.
I see your back giving your VALUEABLE advise again!! NOT
The Bachmann is made by Lenz and I believe I have read somewhere you can expand it with Lenz or Atlas throttles etc.
Bachmann have announced their own expansion with 5 Amp booster.
I think it’s a good starter system.
Ken.
The Bachmann EZ Command system is aimed at beginners that do not want to spend a lot of cash only to discover that DCC is not for them. I know of three individuals that have purchaed the Bachmann EZ command system and they are all very satisfied with them. Everyone seems to have heard a lot of bad things, but very few appear to have used Bachmann products recently. There seems to be a bit of arrogance and bigotry from the naysayers.
I will not address your comment about bigots and naysayers, but I would like to respond to your first statement. I add that I used the EZ-Command as my first foray into DCC, and came to regret it. So, I speak from experience.
The EZ-Command was, simply, a mistake…for me. I had read about what DCC offered, as a “system” of standardized architecture. It seemed very alluring, and since I was new to the hobby and had a full head of steam, I was in for the pound, not the penny. Unfortunately, I did try to save some pennies by going “inexpensive”, only to learn what we all learn soon enough in this hobby…ya gets what ya pays for.
My chief complaint is that I could not program my QSI-equipped locomotives; I could not alter any of the CV’s that enable more realistic behaviour from the locomotives so equipped. Fat lot of good the EZ-Command was to me then!
In any event, I must take issue with your first statement. I feel that many newcomers to DCC get turned off because they feel ripped off when they find the limitations of the EZ-Command, not because DCC has nothing to offer them. Had they purchased another system, they might have had a more positive and comprehensive introduction to DCC.
-Crandell
Is the new NCE power cab system complicated??? Or is it’s $139 big money for someone starting out in the hobby??? I know this touches off a debate everytime someone mentions these low cost DCC systems. Why isn’t the new NCE system ever suggested as a viable alternative. If anything expansion is possible.
How much does a Bachmann system cost?
Selector;
Three reasons.
1: I’m new to DCC. I want to try a low cost system to see if DCC is for me. I’m only going to be running two trains at once, maybe three.
2: I have freinds who have EZ Command or have used it and know it’s pro’s and cons.
3: It is readily available. It’s the only one the LHS carries all the time. Before I buy a more expensive system, I want to get the feeling of DCC first. I know people who have tried the NCE and Digitrax systems and went right back to analog operation. I don’t intend on the EZ Command being a long term thing. Just a couple of months. If I’m happy with DCC I’ll get a bigger system.
That’s my three reasons. A fourth one is that if I’m not happy with it, I didn’t waste a lot of money. I only have about $10 to $20 a week to use for this hobby. Social Security don’t pay a lot.
That’s all for now.[:D][:D][:D]
Thanks for your reply, Jeffery. ?
As stated by others, the CD/DVD that comes with it is quite informative. You could also rely on these same friends to steer you true on the system’s characteristics.
In my case, I used it for a single evening, and called the LHS the next morning to tell him that it was coming back. I ordered a Digitrax system at the same time, and returned the first unit when my order came in. I had packed it up before I called, and not once ventured to give it another try during the interim.
-Crandell
Whay are some of the people so d-- hatefull in here,its junk blaw,blaw.I have one and it works for me,I just finished installing an Soundtraxx in one of my steamers,and it works fine,bell,whistle,air ect,ect.Right you can’t do the CV on it,but for me I would not try that right now any way.I’ve got four locomotives programed right now.they work fine.I’am on fixed income so right now can’t afford any thing bigger.Thats my [2c]
JIM
Jeff, If you have friends that use it and the LHS sells it, that makes it a much better deal.
gtirr,
Can you answer me one question? Do you have ANY personal experience using the E-Z Command DCC system, or is that just your pat answer for Bachmann in general? I have my own suspicions. I’d just like to hear it from you directly.
Sorry, BigBlue. I gotta disagree with you. Like gtirr, I assume you’ve never used the E-Z Command either.
I bought and used one for a year before switching to the NCE Power Cab. My main reason for switching was that the Power Cab could access the CVs and program. With that said, I still enjoyed the E-Z Command during that time.
When I originally bought the E-Z Command, I knew full well what I was getting: A inexpensive, no-frills, limited DCC system that I could afford at the time. I think that’s the important thing when purchasing any DCC system. [u]You need to do your homework, know (at least generally) what that particular system can and can not do, and then ask yourself, “Can I live with that?”. Disappoint with purchases is largely due to not taking the time to investigate the information available on that product.
Just because the E-Z Command is a “limited” DCC system and not “top of the line”, doesn’t automatically classify it as “junk”. If that were true, then all of us who don’t have a Zimo might as well just view our Digitrax, NCE, Lenz, MRC, EasyDCC systems as “Yugos”.
And, just because it only has 1-amp m
The trouble with Bachmann is that there is so much of their cheap toy train level product on the market, especially used at train shows. Before I know any better I got several of these cars and locos and was very dissapointed with them. For the next 2 years I would not go near any Bachmann product. In my view they were “junk” and that was the end of it. About 3 months ago I relented and got a Spectrum Shay. What a wonderful little loco it is. Good detail and runs great. It just exudes quality. I feel that I somehow missed out on some great product by ignoring Bachmann for so long. I really do beleive that they have a serious market perception problem and this is illustrated by some of the comments earlier in the thread.
Jeffrey,
As others have said, the DVD that comes with the E-Z Command, as well as the manual, will cover pretty much everything you need. Programming was/is fairly straightforward.
Word of advice: Make sure you create a separate or isolated programming track to program your locomotives. Otherwise, every time you want to assign an address to a particular locomotive, you must remove ALL the other locomotives off the layout. If you don’t, you’ll program ALL the locomotives to the same address.
Tom
I bought the EZ-DCC and heres my reasons.
My only DCC engine for now is my N&W 2-6-6-4, so I bought it to check out its features. Plus I knew that the EZ-DCC will have its limitations. The EZ-DCC will end up on a test track for testing and servicing. The real layout will end up with a full featured DCC system. I havent decided which but Digitrax has me leaning their way.
For the small layouts and basic DCC features its fine. I think tho its limited in its addressing.
For real however, its more than a DC throttle and you can flip lights on, sound the horn/whistle and be able to run more than one train on one throttle and maybe hook more throttles to it.
Since some economy locos will have DCC in them it suits it fine.
For the serious modeler, nopers.