I do not own a dcc system but i have a friend that is NCe and it simply is a very awesoem system!!
ANything Digitrax!
I don’t have a system yet but I have been looking at them since I got back into model railroading last January. Based on features and price I will be going with eather Digitrax Zephyr or The new starter system from NEC. At this time the NEC system is slightly more likely to be the one I go with because I prefer their controller.
I Have and like the Zephyr
Ray
I have a Lenz system, Set 100 and LH 90 cab, I also have a Compact which I’m not currently using. Has all the bells and whistles.
Ken.
I was pleased with my MRC Prodigy system until BLI. I was very unhappy that MRC for the second time abandoned it’s established customer base and especially with the tone of their response to enquires about compatability with the, at that time just announced Advanced system. To get the promramming capability that I needed I purchased a Zephyr from Tony’s and have been very happy with it for the last two years. At this stage should I exceed the capabilitites (I can run five BLI C-16s simultaneously with no problem) I would simply add another Zephyr at this point. With two regular power packs I can run three trains independently and more though the Loconet bus or even via IR or radio linkage. I have yet to regret buying my Zephyr which is more than can be said for my MRC and Atlas purchases both of which I now consider to have been a waste of money.
[%-)] I don’t have a preference–yet.
I have been researching DCC systems, even though my layout is only planned, and I have just started on the benchwork. I want to try to make a decision, or at least limit a decision, in order to plan for the various types of wiring I may need.
I appreciate the advice that there is no “best” system–only one that is “best” for me. With that in mind, I would like to solicit opinions based on MY preferences.
[?] I anticipate running about 4-8 trains/locomotives at once.
[?] I will need to be able to access CV’s on the fly (ops mode reads) and will want to program decoders with a computer program (e.g. Decoder Pro).
[?] I would ultimately like to simply “drive” a through train, with a computer controlling the turnouts and some indication on the throttle telling me to slow down, and the computer stopping the train before it runs the wrong way through a switch. (Computer routing via software.) I would control turnouts in a yard where switching would be required.
[?] I might add signalling.
[?] I might want to control other devices by the computer: timing traffic and street lights, building lights, etc.
[?] I want the wiring to be as simple as possible (not that I’m an electrophobe). This would mean multiple wiring buses (power, throttle, etc.) with limited point to point wiring (e.g. individual wiring for a building light from power source to control panel switch to lamp).
Okay, all you experienced experts out there: Which DCC system is “right” for me?
P.S. I am a computer professional, and I understand electrical circuits, so software and hardware is not an issue.
(I may post this on another thread as well).