Good morning, While I wait for my track to show up, I thought I would continue my research into using DCC. I’ve looked at Digitrax vs NCE vs DCC+. I foresee DCC+ in my future but I’m not set up for that right now. I want a plug and play system that I don’t have to spend weeks learning code. It looks like fun, but my time is limited at the moment. After watching a ton of YouTube videos, I’ve come to the conclusion that both Digitrax and NCE are equally good systems. So that brings me to the Digitrax starter set I bought almost 20 years ago. I never got beyond taking it out of the box. It has a DB150 command station and a DT100 throttle. I’ve always planned on using this system to teach myself DCC. I just didn’t think it would take 20 years to do it. Obviously the DT100 is quite old but I think it would work as a yard throttle if you don’t expect to walk too far. What I am wondering is, what are the limitations on the DB150? What does the DCS210 offer that I cannot get on the DB150? I really like the newer Evolve throttles. Would I have to completely replace my devices or is there some compatibility between the two systems? I appreciate any advice you guys can give. Thanks. FYI, for the foreseeable future I will be modeling an HO scale 5x11 layout with no more than 10 engines. I’m going to use Smail switch machines on my turnouts. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yep. I bought it when I was 25. I meant to build a small switching layout while I went back to college but I ended up getting really sick 6 months later. It wiped me out for a year and I ended up having to put myself through college by working full time. Then marriage, 2 kids, and four houses later, I am finally working with my trains again. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Chapeau.. Yes, the DIGITRAX system is absolutely future-proof and works very well. DIGITRAX is plug and play.
Not saying you should deviate from your present plan but going DCC++EX does not require you to even know what 'code' means. Most anyone that is familiar with a computer and can basically make the connections one would have to make with any DCC system can have it up and running in a very short period of time for under $100 and that includes a full time dedicated train room computer in that cost. https://dcc-ex.com/ A dedicated group of guys have made all of this possible in the past year. Sumner
You will have no issues using your DB150. You might want to replace the DT100 with a more modern one or delegate it's use to a yard throttle. The cheapest way for you to get a throttle going with your DB150 is get a LNWI for around $70 and use your current or a spare cell phone and turn it into a WiFi throttle using JMRI Engine Driver (Android, free) or WiThrottle (Apple, $10). This is the lowest cost "throw away" temporary solution to get you going as it sounds like you'll be going to DCC+ in the future. I don't know much about DCC+ so I don't know if it is compatible with Digitrax. If it is, you can buy a higher cost throttle like DT4xx or the newer DT6xx now to be used with the DB150 and won't be obsoleted when you switch to DCC+.
It looks like I have some more reading to do in the evening when I am too tired to work on the layout. I already have the old Digitrax starter set so I'm not out anything if I use it until I can understand what DCC+ entails. My biggest issue is I don't really have space for a computer at the moment. Thats more of a cleaning issue. I really need to go through my storage room and throw out about half of the stuff in there.
Thanks for the info on the LNWI. I prefer physical knobs but I may have to look into this. It sure would be convenient.
The DCC++EX Command Station is on the left and the computer is on the right. In the picture above they are just above the keyboard for perspective. The computer with JMRI on it will let you easily program your DCC loco's and you don't have to have the keyboard and monitor out to run trains. Just use them when you need to program your DCC loco.... http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/DCC/DCC-Index.html You can run the phone throttle mentioned with it but not your existing hardware so still might not be for you but something anyone else that is considering testing the DCC waters might use, Sumner
If you want something like DCC++, but more compact and plug & play, I recommend you consider a SPROG system, such as the Pi-SPROG 3. This is the system I use, and I am thrilled with it. Whatever route you go, I STRONGLY recommend using free JMRI software to program locomotives. There is no comparison between using JMRI Decoder Pro vs a throttle to program your locomotives. The software can run on a PC/Mac/Linux computer, but you will need a computer interface for Digitrax or NCE. JMRI also provides capabilities to automate your layout, but I have not used them. With a Pi SPROG 3 system, JMRI runs on the Raspberry Pi (just like with DCC++). You can purchase just the Pi SPROG 3 hat, with power supply and all SW on SD card, for $125. You can purchase a turn-key Pi SPROG 3 system, with hat, R-Pi 4b, power supplies, case and SW, for $190.
There are two dedicated WiFi throttle versions from Train Control Systems, with knob(s) for throttle control. But they are expensive. I've read that you can also use ESU's WiFi throttle with Wi-Throttle servers (like JMRI, Digitrax' WiFi interface, and NCE+WiFiTrax), by loading the Engine Driver App onto the throttle (which is an Android device). On the ESU device, Engine Driver can use the big thumbwheel to control the throttle setting. But the ESU Wifi throttle isn't cheap either. Would I prefer a dedicated throttle with knob or thumbwheel? Yes, but I have gotten pretty handy with the touch-screen interface on Engine Driver (it has multiple GUI control widget schemes, for running and switching, dual throttles, etc.)
As noted above, Train Control Systems has two WiFi throttles; one is the UTW-100, out for a couple years now and the other is the UTW-50, due out end of July. I preordered the UTW-50 before the March deadline which got me that throttle at $50 off. Yes, the TCS throttles aren't cheap, but I do not want to run my trains off a touch screen so I ponied up. You might want to take a series look at the UWT-50 unless it's too expensive for you. https://tcsdcc.com/mini-throttle
Thanks James. I believe there could be/will be a large market for a manual wireless hand throttle that would work with DCC++EX. Something along the lines of Dave Bodnar's but with a few more bells and whistles (not the train type). Also one that would use the WiFi capabilities of DCC++EX vs. having a radio in the throttle and the base station like he used. I have the parts to build his but still haven't gotten around to it. There are now a number of phone based throttles for DCC++EX and one other option.... https://dcc-ex.com/throttles/index.html If someone could put a manual wireless throttle for DCC++EX on the market for under $100 I believe as DCC++EX grows, which it is in a big way, they will have their hands full. Put me down for at least one throttle , Sumner
Right now I'm in a similar boat as SDVike, I have a 20+ year old Digitrax system that has only been used once and in storage. I'm planning to get the LWNI to allow the use of the TCS throttles. I did buy a Digitrax DT402D throttle about 6 years ago but have decided to get off the Digitrax merry go round, hence my purchase of the TCS throttles. Actually TCS had a combo deal recently so I could save $50 each on both the current UWT-100 and the upcoming UWT-50. I am not familiar with DCC++EX. Is it a proprietary based system? Some believe WiFi throttles are the wave of the future. That makes sense because it is an open ended technology that can work with many DCC systems, old school and newer.
It is a take off of Gregg's original open source DCC++ that will run on a $20 Arduino. I believe though that it is almost a complete rewrite of Gregg's original code that has taken place over the last year or so with a lot of volunteers headed by FlightRisk who is a member here. They also do have a version using Gregg's original code where they removed some bugs in it. At this point if one is getting into it I'd skip the rewrite of the original version and go with the much more powerful DCC++EX version. It runs best on an Arduino Mega (under $20 for a clone) plus a few other components. You don't have to be a computer or electronics wiz to set it up. Basically connect the same wires that you would use with any command station to the Mega/motor shied combination. They have auto installers for the software part..... https://dcc-ex.com/ They are adding addition features all the time and have some that commercial command stations probably don't have. You can add a $35 Raspberry Pi computer to it and have ... http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/3D-Printer-2/page-52.html ... a DCC command station along with a dedicated computer running JMRI and phone throttles for under $100. The case above is something I designed and put the print files up on thingiverse.com but you don't need it. The only thing I see missing at this point is a commercial handheld wireless throttle with manual controls as an option other than the phone throttles that work with it now. There are a couple options out there but unlike the command station build you do need to do more in the way of electronics and programming to put one together. Sumner
With the Raspberry Pi, the DCC++EX system should also be able to connect to your existing household WiFi network, so should you choose to use a smart phone throttle app, you can keep your phone connected to the internet while you run trains, and other benefits (potential remote access, etc.) Most other systems cannot communicate with WiFi throttles (or smartphone apps) via an existing WiFi network, but rather they create their own WiFi network. When you switch your phone to that network to run a throttle, you phone no longer has access to your home WiFi and it's connection back to the internet. You also need power supplies for the track, the Mega, and the Pi, though the first two could share the same supply. I have a Pi SPROG 3, which is a Pi Hat instead of a separate Arduino Mega, and also works well, but it is proprietary HW & SW. It comes either as a hat w/track p/s, or as a complete, assembled system including an R-Pi 4b, its p/s and (smaller) case.
From reading their literature it appears that both of their throttles should work with DCC++EX if you are also running JMRI with it on a Pi or other computer. Hopefully though one of the DCC++EX guys will weigh-in on this. I have a Pi connected and took the easy way to do this by downloading Steve Todd's Pi SD card image file from his site. https://mstevetodd.com/jmri-raspberrypi-access-point Using it you have to know nothing about a Pi. Put the SD card in the Pi. Turn it on. The Pi will bootup automatically and you end up with JMRI on the screen and you are ready to run loco's with a phone or a JMRI throttle and can also easily program the decoders. It is way easier than taking a computer and putting JMRI onto it, Sumner
