Hello [?],
I’m building a brand-new HO layout (retiring my O gauge). Where can I find a good customer review to learn the best DCC control system to buy as a beginner, but progressing on.
From many postings, I see that the Digitrax Zephyr is a good deal, but is this still the latest recommendation?
Many thanks for some guidance,
Ghostcrab
[B)]
I suggest that you read the “DCC For Beginners” items on Tony’s Train Exchange, too, as you decide which system to go with.
http://www.tonystrains.com and then click on the DCC For Beginners link.
Welcome to the forum Ghostcrab!
The Zephyr is an excellent system (I have one) but not neccessarily the right one for you.
Things to consider…
There are other questions, but these are good ones to consider as different DCC systems offer different capabilities.
I chose the Zephr as it was a good relatively low cost starter system that I have been able to grow with the addition of other Digitrax products.
Let us know your thoughts on the above and there will no doubt be many who will chime in with suggestions.
The biggest , highest tech system you can afford.
Don’t worry about getting a “starter” system. There is no difference in track wiring between a MRC and an NCE system. The high end systems are no more complicated to use. The advantage to buying a high end system is that as you increase your proficiency, the system already has the ability to accomodate your improved talents. No extra systems to buy or swap.
Also radio throttles are a way cool thing. They really free up your operation so that you can fully concentrate on the train.
Dave H.
Don’t be too hung up on being a beginner. DCC isn’t that hard. When I went to DCC I bought the NCE Procab R. It has all the bells and whistles (literally) and yet it is very user friendly. I chose it because I wanted wireless radio control and NCE seemed to have the best. My advice is to decide how much money you are willing to invest in a DCC system and then go for the best that is within your budget… If you go for low cost, go also for expandability, because one day you may want to upgrade. Beginner or not, you will be operating like a pro within 15 minutes.
I’m a newbie, and I went for MRC’s Prodigy Advance system. For uninformed lill ole me, it was the best tradeoff between performance and cost.
It can be used to read and program the loco’s CV’s, and that’s important. CV’s are memory addresses whose contents affect particular facets of the loco’s behaviour. Things like intertia, momentum, top speed, different lighting effects, whatever.
So in effect by changing a loco’s CV’s you would be customizing its behaviour.
The absolute most important thing you can do is either visit layouts with different brands or hobby shops that will demo different brands for you. They don’t all operate the same and the controls don’t work the same and you want the system that uses a logic that works the way your mind does and feels comfortable in your hand. Ergonomics are cirtical for long sessions.
I too would NOT recommend a starter system. By the time you learn to use it you will have almost outgrown it. A lot of the smaller systems do not give you the capabilities that the larger DCC systems will. I have used NCE, Digitrax, and I own Lenz. As long as everything is set to NMRA standards, you shouldn’t have any problems. Model Railroader makes a booklet titled: DCC Made Easy. This is where I would start. Read the book, get the concept, and in the back of the book there is a side by side comparison of the different DCC systems available. IF you have a local model railroad club, you may want to use the same system as they are. This way you will have a wealth of informed users at your disposal, AND you can teach them too as you learn.
CHRISTOV is 100% correct. I have a Prodigy, Chief and Super Empire Builder. In other posts you will find out the beginner (Prodigy is only good for 32 2 digit addresses) The SUPER EMPIRE BUILDER can not read CV code and the CHIEF does everything BUT no auto reverse. That is about $1,000.00 in DCC and all are different. If I was redoing it and had the Forum to help I would have bought JUST the NEW SUPER CHIEF then added parts to get what I now have.
In short YOU CAN NOT SPEND TO MUCH TIME ON RESEARCH but you can spend TO MUCH MONEY if you do not. Anymore questions please ask.
The answers you get are not THE LAW they are experience and us trying to KEEP people in the hobby.
George P.
I think a better way to put it is to say don’t buy a starter system that has no expanison capability without first determinig that it meets all your needs, both now and in the future. The Zephyr is a starter system but fully expandable. Many have started with it and built on to it when new features became important to them.
Some more information would be useful before saying just get the biggest system. How big is the proposed layout? How many trains will be run at one time? How many operators will there be? A Super Chief or NCE PH Pro is overkill for a 4x8 layout in most cases.
We had a guy come into out LHS for some help from 3/4 of the way across the state. He was hopelessly lost, his LHS out there sold him a Super Chief for his 4x6 layout that had a mix of brass and nickle-silver track, and he always ran his trains just by himself. A Zephyr woudl have been MORE than adequate. That Super Chief probably cost more than his entire layout, especially if, as I suspect, he paid full MSRP for it.
I have 1 other operator, and we run 2-3 trains on the 8x12 section I have running. All with a Zephyr. I can add a third operatore and 2 more trains, and STILL handle it with the Zephyr. Do I REALLY need a Super Chief? Maybe when I build the section down the long wall of my basement and I can accomodate 4-6 operators. If I had to wait until I could drop $400-$500 on a DCC system, I’d still be waiting, and runnign with DC. If you ALREDY have a basemnet-size layout and want to switch to DCC, by all means, go for the bigger system, you’re going to need it.
I have noticed that those who’s favorite systems don’t have a lower-end option, a ‘starter system’ if you will, are always dead set against ‘starter systems’. I wonder why? Do they all associate ‘starter system’ with MRC Command 2000, original Prodigy, or Bachmann, which truly ARE too limited for more than a basic train set. And I wonder if their tune will change when the NCE PH-Starter comes out.
–Randy
I am thinking about switching to DCC My RR is a double level around the walls point to point. I have an elevator in the room next door. (soon to be replaced with a helix) 99.9% of the time I am the sole operator. Because of the lack of continuos running the most trains I can run at one time would 2. Given all the above I have been leaning towards the Bachmann System. One of the reasons being cost. Here in Canada things are a lot more expensive. I can pickup A Bachmann for $149.00(probably cheaper if I shop around) So I am wondering if this system would do the job for me? I hve 1 BLI loco the rest I will have to put decoders in. Sadly probably not sound. On a fixed income that" just a little too rich.
To I forgot to mention I went on Bachmann’s site & they say thet are releasing A walkaround & panels for same late 2005
I am in the same club as Christov and I agree with what he says. It’s worth considering using what your local club uses if you belong to one. I bought a powerhouse pro 5 amp a few months ago for less than $400. It’s going to be all I need for an 11 x 14 in my garage, but I do like the idea I can expand easily as I get the money and the need. Probably just me and 1 other operator maybe 2 so at least 1 more of some kind of controller is in the works.
You can find decent prices on ebay as well. I purchased my Lenz 100 system there from a licensed dealer, factory new in the box with warranty for $215.00
I noticed that the MRC Prodigy Advanced is not realy mensioned here. Are Any problems to watchout for with the Advanced system?
It is my understaning that although it is a “prodigy” system, not all prodigy systems are compatible. I believe I heard that some of the systems are not upgradable to do things of the better systems. Personally, I have never used MRC and cannot speak from experience, just heresay.
I am not a big fan of Digitrax systems. The different model throttles all have different layouts, the buttons aren’t marked clearly and operating sessions I have attended using them always had some sort of glitch occur. I own NCE and have also used EasyDCC, which a lot of people like. The systems I have operated only had 2 digit addressing (which I would not recommend). Another modeler who is very operations oriented and very picky about reliability (he designed hump yard software applications) swears by Lenz. YMMV
Dave H.
I was thinking of buying a LENZ 100 system but someone told me I should save my money and get an NCE system instead because it has all the bells and whistles.
My question is- What bells and whistles was he talking about? Does the NCE system really offer that much more for all the extra money it cost?
I have a Lenz Set 100 and a LH90 knob throttle they have all the bells and whistles I’ll ever need.
They also have the hardware built in for future things like train detection and signalling.
Ken.
NCE does not yet have a starter set, so the only way you would consider NCE is to accept the “bells and whistles” argument and ignore the so called starter sets. Starter sets fall into 2 catagories. Those that can be built upon and expanded as needs and funds allow. The Lenz and Digitrax Zephyr fall into this group. Then there are those that are very closed and offer little or no expansion. I contend that if you match your current and future needs to a system, it is very possible to get going in DCC in a very satisfying way using one of these starter sets. NCE is expected to release their own starter very soon also. If the Lenz 100 does what you want and can grow with you, go for it.