I am about to build a layout. I want to operated it as a DCC controlled layout. The equipment I have is all Bachmann. I was at a train show in Lacrosse today and talked to a club, which is run with DCC control. The member tells me That I should use "Digitrax" equipment, that it is the best and will allways work with old equipment as they upgrade their equipment. How do you all feal about this? I plan to have about 20-25 loco's which I would run at the most 4 at a time. I don't think that I need an costly system. Thoughts?
Everyone will have a different opinion on DCC systems. You should read up on all the systems availble and decide which one fits waht you want to do the best. But one factor would be what system your local club uses or what your friend or someone else nearby uses.
look into the digitrax zephyr, an entry level system. i bought mine in 2004, and it is still going strong. there is an updated zephyr which can run 20 locomotives, msrp $225. my older version could only run 10...... you can often find these retailed for about $150 or so. they also have the added advantage of being able to use 2 dc power packs as extra throttles.
dcc is an investment. do some research, and make sure you don't buy a dead-end system.
Digitrax equipment will allow you to do much more with your decoders than Bachmann's E-Z Command will allow. So will Bachmann's Dynamis command control. However, the more a system can do the more you have to learn in order to make it do it.
Jim
John-
As ACY said, you will accumulate a variety of opinions about which system is good, which is not, which has the most features, which is the most or least user friendly, and so on. Like all opinions, they are merely that. I suggest that you determine what you need/want from a DCC system and then explore which system or systems best meets your criteria. By all means use this Board for information about specifics but always remember that you are the expert on what system will work best for you.
In determining your needs, think about how many locos you'll want to run at one time, whether you'll be consisting locos often, rarely or not at all, whether you'll be running passenger lights from your track, whether you'll be running DCC turnouts from track power, whether you'll want to line series of turnouts or just single turnouts, whether you anticipate expansion in the future, whether you'll want wireless operation, whether infrared or radio will work best for your setup, and, of course, your budget. This will steer you to a (or more than one) unit with the power output, versatility, control and, ideally, price point you want.
Good luck with this process and with your layout. I look forward to more posts from you.
-- D
Quote from: John Honeck Sr on March 20, 2011, 07:09:42 PM
I am about to build a layout. I want to operated it as a DCC controlled layout. The equipment I have is all Bachmann. I was at a train show in Lacrosse today and talked to a club, which is run with DCC control. The member tells me That I should use "Digitrax" equipment, that it is the best and will allways work with old equipment as they upgrade their equipment. How do you all feal about this? I plan to have about 20-25 loco's which I would run at the most 4 at a time. I don't think that I need an costly system. Thoughts?
If it were me, I would make the following list:
What I can spend.
.
What I need.
What I want
That is, the number of locos I plan to operate at a time, DDC switches, signals,etc.
programing ability.
Automation
Do I desire maximum flexability or simplicity of operation(very important)
Then obtain as much information as I can about as many DCC systems as I can.
DON"T rush into things. That is how mistakes are made. And correcting the mistakes can be expensive.
Will
Thank You for the info. I have inventoried my Bachmann equipment. I have the following: 1-#44902 E-Z Command Control System, !-#36507 E-Z Command DYNAMIS Wireless Handset, 1- #44912 E-Z-Command 5 Amp Reverse Loop Module, and 1- #44910 E-Z Command 5 Amp Power Booster. As I said earlyer I plan to have at least 20 Loco's with me controlling 3 or 4 at a time. I do not plan to get any bigger in the future. Do I have enough equipment and/or would Digitrax equipment work better? I would attach my layout, that I laid out on RR-Track Software, but I do not know how to attach.
Thanks again for comments
Quote from: John Honeck Sr on March 23, 2011, 03:51:26 PM
Thank You for the info. I have inventoried my Bachmann equipment. I have the following: 1-#44902 E-Z Command Control System, !-#36507 E-Z Command DYNAMIS Wireless Handset, 1- #44912 E-Z-Command 5 Amp Reverse Loop Module, and 1- #44910 E-Z Command 5 Amp Power Booster. As I said earlyer I plan to have at least 20 Loco's with me controlling 3 or 4 at a time. I do not plan to get any bigger in the future.
I see an issue, item # 36507 requires the Dynamis wireless system, all you have is an extra handset, but no base system to use it with. You cannot use this with the E-Z Command system, the E-Z Command and Dynamis systems are not inter-compatible.
Quote from: John Honeck Sr on March 20, 2011, 07:09:42 PM
... talked to a club, which is run with DCC control. The member tells me That I should use "Digitrax" equipment, that it is the best and will allways work with old equipment as they upgrade their equipment. How do you all feal about this?
I feel quite strongly about up-gradability. I started off in DCC with an MRC Command 2000 which, like the E-Z Command, was a starter set of limited capabilities. I was disappointed when they quit making it. I was shocked when I sent my command station in for repair, only to be told they could not repair it. The worst was that I was left with a drawer full of throttles, power supplies, connector cords etc. but I had no command station to use them with and they had no compatibility with MRC's new system. This had a major impact of my decision to switch to Digitrax. I started off with a Zephyr, upgraded to a Radio Super Chief and later added a Super Empire Builder as a booster. Along the way, I added several more throttles, both radio and non-radio, a second radio receiver, a power manager, some auto reversers and a mess of interconnection cables and throttle stations. The beauty of all this is that ALL the pieces work together. I can connect them up is a variety to configurations depending on what I want to do. And based on the company's past history, I can be confident that new pieces I buy tomorrow will work fine with everything I have today. I have what is, for me, a large investment in command control equipment (and drive a 20 year old car because of it!) The last thing I want is to have to replace it all because of lack of up-gradability.
Jim
I read several reviews on Digitrax and NCE entry level
I went with DCE Power CAB
I am more than satisfied
jim's experience is why i had said earlier to avoid a dead end system.
if i am not mistaken, autoreversers and decoders can be used with any system, as the NMRA sets common standards for these. throttles, handsets and boosters are proprietary to that particular system, and can't be used with other brands.
even if you don't intend on getting into dcc too deeply, a starter system that is a full featured command station like the nce power cab and the digitrax zephyr offer a couple of advantages. first, you control what address your locomotives respond to. you are not restricted to using one or two digit addresses and trying to remember what address controls which locomotive. you can program the locomotive to respond to the number painted on its side. the second advantage is that you can control the top speed of each locomotive and set a benchmark standard so that all locomotives will run the same. when you need more than one locomotive on the train, you can be sure that whatever locomotives you choose to run together won't fight each other.
John, I am new also to this and I went with all Bachmann and have no problems. Like you I plan on running 3 to 4 trains on my layout that is medium sized U-shaped 12 x 12 x 12 I don' plan on at this time running big expensive complex engines. I do recommend purchasing the 5 amp booster it does help. Like you I cannot figure out how to download my layout. I will tell you this board has some great people to help you out (Joe,Sid,Acey,etc). Haven't had to ask anyone yet because if you scroll thru and read other posts it usually answers your question before you post it. Thanks to all on this board for making HO as easy as possible. Jerry
John-
Your booster should work with your NCE Power Cab so you'll have plenty of power for several trains, on board passenger or caboose lights, DCC turnouts, etc. The only way you are likely to exceed your available power is if those three to four trains each have consisted locos and you have lots of sound decoders. In short, five amps is plenty for almost any home layout which isn't a giant. However, you might want to consider breaking your layout into power districts -- not hard to do -- so you'll be able to investigate and correct electrical problems more efficiently. You'll also probably need additional throttles which NCE makes in a couple of formats. I pronounce your choice a good one, for what little my opinion is worth.
-- D
Quote from: uncbob on March 23, 2011, 06:28:55 PM
I read several reviews on Digitrax and NCE entry level
I went with DCE Power CAB
I am more than satisfied
I should add I have a 2 track oval and only run 2 trains at a time --one on each oval
I really like the NCE stuff. The NCE Powercab, which is the NCE starter set, can run 3 locos at once, but they do make a 5 amp booster. One of the upsides of it is that it has a handheld walkaround throttle. It can also control all 28 functions.
I have both the Bachmann Dynamis and the NCE Power Cab.
I am happy with both
The Dynamis has the advantage of having a wireless handheld throttle, while the Power Cab is tethered. The Dynamis will store a lot more locomotives at a time than the Power Cab. I have operated two sound locomotives at a time with both units(no problems).
The basic Power Cab has the advantage of offering full programing(ie, read and write CVs). While the basic Dynamis will only write CVs and requires a very expensive upgrade to read CVs.
The Power Cab also offers more options to expand at more reasonable prices. The Dynamis is limited in expandability and expensive to expand.
I guess it comes down to, you must make your choice as to which is the most important to you.
John-
I was just rereading these posts and I noticed that I somehow thought you have an NCE unit but you don't, so let me revise my comments.
The Bachmann Dynamis is a full featured control system (except for reading CVs) for which you already have a radio throttle and a five amp booster. I suggest you stay with Bachmann since the Dynamis will be cheaper than NCE or Digitrax and you already have several compatible components. NCE and Digitrax are fine products but you already have a good Bachmann inventory. Also, you can use your booster with the EZ Command controller for now, giving you lots of power, so you can wait to buy the Dynamis until it fits into your budget or you find a great deal at your LHS, online or at ebay.
-- D
Quote from: Doneldon on April 02, 2011, 06:19:06 PM
John-
I was just rereading these posts and I noticed that I somehow thought you have an NCE unit but you don't, so let me revise my comments.
The Bachmann Dynamis is a full featured control system (except for reading CVs) for which you already have a radio throttle and a five amp booster. I suggest you stay with Bachmann since the Dynamis will be cheaper than NCE or Digitrax and you already have several compatible components. NCE and Digitrax are fine products but you already have a good Bachmann inventory. Also, you can use your booster with the EZ Command controller for now, giving you lots of power, so you can wait to buy the Dynamis until it fits into your budget or you find a great deal at your LHS, online or at ebay.
-- D
As previously posted the EZ Command and Dynamis components are not interchangable. So, it appears that to get your Dynamis up to the power level of your EZ Command would require, not only the purchase of a Dynamis System, but the additon of the Dynamis Pro Box.
Someone check me on that.
HI HO-
The booster will work with any DCC system, including Dynamis. You are right that the wireless doesn't work with the EZ Command. That's why I suggested getting the Dynamis.
-- D
Quote from: Doneldon on April 02, 2011, 09:24:35 PM
HI HO-
The booster will work with any DCC system, including Dynamis. You are right that the wireless doesn't work with the EZ Command. That's why I suggested getting the Dynamis.
-- D
You, of course, are correct. After I posted, I dug out my Dynamis manual and there it was.
As the old saying goes, If all else fails, read the manual.
Thank you for all the info. I do have one more question and I know this a Bachmann forum. I have the Bachman 5 amp booster and a Bachmann reverse loop module. I'm thinking of buying a Digitrax Zephyr Xtra Starter set controller. My question is will my Bachmann stuff work with the Digitrax system? I have asked Digitrax support people and did not receive a answer, because they did not know about the Bachmann systems, but was told they think they will work. Is it compatible?
If your Digitrax system is NMRA compliant the Bachmann products will work.
Your Bachmann equipment will work just fine with a Zephyr Xtra. The only known problem with the original Digitrax Zephyr was difficulty programming Bachmann and other decoders made by Lenz. The problem was solved by connecting a 1000 ohm resistor across the rails of the programming track while programming. The Xtra overcomes this by using "blast mode" programming if you don't like fiddling with resistors.
The Zephyr has a lot of other goof things going for it as well. As a starter set, it combines a throttle, a command station and a booster all in one box. Normally the three parts work together to form a complete system. But as your railroad grows, you can use the parts separately and combine them in various ways with other Digitrax and non-Digitrax equipment. You asked specifically about using it with the Bachmann 5 amp booster. You can do this two ways. One way is to connect the booster input to the track output of the Zephyr. The other is connect the booster input to the LocoNet, the bus that connects Digitrax throttles and other pieces to one another. With the latter connection, you can use the Bachmann booster and the Zephyr's built in booster both at once to power two different areas of you layout. And that is just the start. List goes on.
Jim