I'm looking for your opinion as to what DCC system you feel is really user friendly? Please help me decide the direction I should go in for this new experience. I have a small (3.5'x5.5') 2 loop (with cross overs) & 2 levels N gauge DC layout. Thanks for your time!!! — Mike B.
I started with the NCE Powercab and loved the menu driven tasks that were on the throttle. I also added a longer 6 wire coil cord so I could roam further as the throttle had to stay plugged in and my L shaped layout was 13'X15". I have no experience with the MRC but I thought the directions on the back was a great idea. A friend of mine has the Digitrax Zephyr, but I do not like it. Likely because I am not familiar with it. Seems like one has to have cheat sheets/manual nearby to get through some tasks. It gets easier when you add a 400 series throttle. The can of worms of sorts is with all the systems you have to know the acceptable or effective CV ranges. My vote is for the Powercab.
At present I same to like Digitrax Zephyr because of the test track that they offer with their system and the power pack that I've always had on my layout. How do you speed up or slow down on NCE (push buttons which can take time in case of an emergency shut down needed)? I like the idea of being able to test my settings and maybe not harm the decoder? Although I'm getting many votes for NCE Powercab. Mike B
Mike, Not sure where you get the understanding that the Powercab controls speed with buttons only. I am looking at my cab now and yes there are 2 sets of speed control buttons, one set for fast increase/decrease and the second set for slow inr/decr. Also, in the center of the buttons there is a wheel that controls speed. I have used Zephyr, when they were first produced several years ago and currently use a Digitrax 402D Duplex Equipped on club layout. The manuals for Digitrax products are the worst written garbage in the industry. Only a brainiac that understand jibberish can get anything out of them. The Powercab is on my own home layout and I would echo all of the comments, Powercab hands down. Carl
Oh gosh. We may be opening Pandora's Box here. I have MRC but have no love lost for it. I've operated with Digitrax and NCE DCC power supplies. DCC is not simple as in plug and play althoug it was designed to do so. It's when you get to the CV's and other options that things are over my head. Getting to old to worry about it and I decided to stay with Analog DC. Anyway, my best advice is go to the experts and hear them out. Ask David aka Sharkman he is a bonified electrical guru and can guide you through the worst of it.
Well thanks for the nice compliment Rick! This is the old Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge thing. The best thing to do is to try each unit and see what feels the best or solves your needs the best. As for any of the systems, the best bet is to pick a system is compatible with JMRI. That takes the worry out of the CV values. And one thing that I will say is that one thing I have noticed is that most decoders work best with the controller manufacturer. That does not mean they will not work well with other systems, it is just they have more features using the same brand decoder. As an example, Digitrax decoders have a feature called Transponding that is only supported on Digitrax controllers if memory serves me correctly. I started with Digitrax and then moved to ESU controller system because Digitrax could not expand to meet my needs. I have a lot of ESU decoders in my locomotives, but they never came as alive using the Digitrax system as they did with the ESU ECOS system. That is not to say that decoders from TCS do not run well, they do. But there are some features that are brand specific, and depending on what you want with your system now and in the future, that should be a major decision helper. Again I started with Digitrax and it was because ESU was not around yet. If it was, that is where I would have started. But that is because of my specific needs and reasons. Yours are bound to be different. I hope this helps!
My view is that "simple" depends to a large degree on what capabilities your are looking for. If one is using sound-equipped locos, then I find the "simplest" system is to use JMRI connected to a command station, running Wi-Throttle via a dedicated layout-only router, and using either cell phones (with Engine Driver for Android or Wi-Throttle for Apple) or ESU's Mobile Control II throttle. Why do I say this? The initial setup of this system is anything but "simple." But the key is the throttles - by using cell phone or ESU MC2 throttles, you get a touch screen that has LABELS for function keys. This isn't a big deal for non-sound decoders. For those, mostly you just have to remember that f0 turns on the headlight. But for sound decoders, you have to remember F0 for the headlight, F1 for the bell, F2 for the horn/whistle, F3 for the coupler - maybe, although it may be a "short horn" on some decoders; F4 for something else, F5 for something else, etc. etc. With JMRI, you can set up the function keys with labels that pass through to the throttle application on your phone or MC2. And you can "hide" any function keys that you don't want to use. From the perspective of someone who runs operating sessions every couple of months or so, this is invaluable to my operators, and vastly simplifies their use of the layout. If by "simple" you mean simplest in connecting to the layout and simplest basic throttle design, I'd probably vote for a Digitrax system with a UT4 utility throttle over the Power Cab. Why? The UT4 throttle is simpler in my view than the PowerCab throttle. You set the DCC address with rotary switches; there's a nice big knob for speed; a toggle switch for direction, and direct access to 12 functions via buttons. Can't get much simpler than that. The downside is that this system would not allow you to do any programming or set up consists via the UT4 throttle. If you need that capability, then probably the NCE Power Cab would be the "simplest" even though the Power Cab throttle is heavier, harder to operate with one hand, and more complex in its interface than the UT4. NCE DOES make "UT4"-like utility throttles that are as simple as the UT4, but I'm not sure you can pair them with a PowerCab. And if you want "simplest" for programming purposes, that means running JMRI on a computer connected to a command station and a programming track. And that means a system that has a USB port for a direct connection to a computer, like a Digitrax DCS or ESU ECOS or Cab Control system (or Zimo's system). And if you want "simplest" for attaching and controlling external accessories like switch machine motors, signaling and so forth, Digitrax's Loco Net would get my vote, because of the vast array of both Digitrax and 3d-party accessories available for LocoNet. So . . . in my view, simple isn't simple. It really depends on what capabilities you need/want, and like David said, your best bet is to try out different systems first to see what seems most intuitive, making sure that the system you choose also has the capabilities you want. Finally, I'd just say that if you have a local model railroading community, don't discount the benefits of having the same system as they do. If the vast majority of your local MRR community uses NCE, don't underestimate the benefits of having an NCE system yourself, and being able to draw on the experience of the community for help. No matter what DCC system you end up with, at some point you will need help. If that help is a human being that lives three blocks away, it's a much better option than a telephone call answered by someone in India (or not answered at all). John C.
The neat thing about local net is that it can be used without needing a Digitrax system. Devices can be made to work independent of the DCC controller. For example you can have an occupancy detector that communicates with a DS64 and a signalling unit. There are other possibilities as well. DO not be limited to thinking all devices need to talk to the command station.
I recently started using a Roco Z21 system. Extremely user friendly (imho), using an android device as a throttle. One has also the option of using a more traditional throttle in the form of the new Roco Wifi Maus and use a tablet/phone only for programming etc.
I use the MRC Prodigy Advance 2 and am very happy with it. Very easy to program. Have ran as many as 6 trains at one time.
Hi Mike - Another vote here for the NCE Power Cab. My small layout was originally DC. To change it to DCC, I disconnected the DC power pack, connected the Power Cab in its place, placed a DCC locomotive on the track, and I was off and running with DCC. Total time to "convert" the layout from DC to DCC was less than 5 minutes. With a small layout like yours, switching to DCC should be similarly quick and easy. More complex layouts may require additional steps, but converting a simple layout to DCC is very easy. - Jeff
Recently on "What's Neat This Week" podcast several presenters show off their DCC systems. You might want to check it out. You'll have to do your own research and see what works best for you. Digitrax is the favorite among Bear Valley Model Trains enthusiast. MRC is a close second. But nobody really knows what's new and I'm suggesting you check out the new stuff first.
