I've yet to see anything in-depth on this system besides the marketing hype "Oh, boy! You're gonna love it!" With a street price < $70 it might be just the thing for somebody who wants to dip a toe in the DCC waters. For that sort of money, even if it has no expansion path within it's own product line, it's cheap enough that it could be readily passed along to another curious neophyte when one decided to "move up". I'm curious to learn more and see if it might have enough "traction" in the marketplace to really kick DCC off into the mainstream.
I Googled "Bachmann EZ-Command" and got some decent results. One page showing the pic and a brief description of how it works. http://www.bachmann.co.uk/ezc.php4 I was discussing this with Rossford Yard just yesterday, how it could be the catalyst to springboard DCC into "every home". (note, I didn't say "cramming DCC down everyone's throat, lest you are a diehard DC guy looking for a fight) The significance being, of course, higher volume/lower pricing of DCC components. Personally I don't think the cost of the DCC command units themselves are out of line. And that says a lot coming from a miserly person such as myself. (see the M-T September releases topic) But I think the decoders must drop into the $10-20 range (discounted) before things really take off. Especially the turnout decoders need to be cheaper...some are more than $20 per turnout and this just won't fly for most. So I'm excited and curious myself to see how this little guy works out.
Wow.... That looks pretty darn good. Its gonna run about $150 here in Aus and for a small layout with 1 operator, its perfect (cant run more than 2 trains anyway!). I think something like this will certainly give people an affordable entry level and show them just what can be done with DCC v DC. Gonna go sweet talk the wife (our anniversary today, so there IS hope!).
As far as prices go for decoders and stationary decoders, they have already broken the barriers you are talking about. Most of the major companies (Digitrax, NCE, TCS, etc) offer an HO decoder for right at $16 discounted. They are even less if you buy 4 or more. Stationary decoders are still a little pricey but they have come down. CVP (EasyDCC) offers their AD4LC for $25. This unit controls 4 Tortoise type switch machines so that works out to $6.25 per unit. If you buy 6 or more the price drops to $21 or $5.25 per unit. That is pretty cheap. Digitrax offers their SE8C which is really a signal controller but it also includes 8 turnout decoders. It goes for around $100 discounted. That is about $12.50 per switch machine but it also will drive 32 signal heads. If you plan on having signals anyway, it works out to a great deal. David
True, but Brett and I are in N-scale, where the prices haven't dropped that far for decoders. You can now get the hardwired Digitrax DZ123 for around $15 I think which is good, but it needs to be $10 with the $15-18-20 range being for the feature-rich, locomotive specific drop-ins, which are still over $30 for n-scale versions in most cases. I wasn't aware that the SE8C would also drive turnouts. Interesting. I am planning on doing signaling so this is indeed a great deal. This could probably drive almost my entire setup, except for a couple more mainline turnouts and my staging turnouts which are Kato and would need a different type of decoder anyway. I just read about half the SE8C manual so now I must go and finish my reading assignment.
Actually, the SE8c doesn't quite count as a decoder. It cannot be run on a non-digitrax system without installing a loconet bus. Also, doesn't the SE8C require a computer, even to just run turnouts? These factors add to the cost. BTW, Lenz has the LS150 which controlls 6 turnouts. It's MSRP is 49.95, but it can be had in small lots for 39.95. (price from Tony's Train Exchange) which works out to about 6.66 per turnout. In lots of 10, you can get them for 36.95, which works out to about $6.15 per turnout. I personally have used the NCE Switch-IT to run my tortoise switch machines, granted, I only need 3 of those for the 5 powered switches on my mainline (I could do it with 2 if I were to put each switch motor for the crossovers on a single output of the Switch-IT). Paul
(Apologies for hijacking this thread) My scenario is this: ~8-12 Mainline Turnouts -Atlas C55 Turnouts -Tortoise Switch Machines -Aux pushbutton control of turnout -Remote control via dispatcher -Remote ctrl via throttle (optional) -Signaling for each siding ~21 Staging Turnouts -Kato Unitrack #6 Turnouts -Kato Built-in Switch Machines -Remote control via dispatcher -Remote ctrl via throttle (req) -Aux pushbutton ctrl (optional) So, I'm looking for the most cost effective way to decoder-equip these 30-some-odd turnouts, include signaling. I am currently using a Digitrax Zephyr, but I could jump to Lenz or NCE with good reason....although I'm pretty happy with the Zephyr up to this point. The majority of DCC operations will be via computer. I currently own a single SMD three-position signal that I like very well and will use those unless there are unforeseen issues.
That is true. The SE8c is technically not a stationary decoder in that it does not get its commands over the Rail A/B it gets over the LocoNet network. The SE8c can be the master though of its own network along with other Digitrax items like the BDL168 block occupancy detector. If you want to control the signals you will need a computer and software. The signal aspects are controlled by switch commands. The switch outputs can be controlled by panel switches without having the LocoNet. I am buying one now for this purpose. I want to control 6 turnouts with controls and displays on 3 different control panels. I previously used relays for these 6 turnouts but I just added the third control panel. It was a lot easier for me to rip out the relays and just use the SE8c. Since I had a lot of unused capability left, I am also installing a wigwag signal and a couple of block signals on a hidden section of track. Very cost effective. David
According to Digitrax, the SE8c cannot be used as a LocoNet Master. The BDL16x block detectors CAN be set up as a LocoNet master however. The Locobuffer/Locobuffer II can also be set up as the loconet master. Many Accessory decoders can be set up with controll panel switches. My NCE switch-Its can be as well. I guess it depends on how it was wired before, and how it is wired now. I tend to avoid re-building things that aren't broken. Most of the cost of adding a new pannel to a layout is in the wiring that connects it back to the physical devices it controls. You probably still have all the wire going from the pannels to a central location, though the relays that were in the central location have now been replaced with a single device. Paul
OK, back on topic guys..... I called Zimblers, the Australian importer for Bachmann EZ Controller, and the person who answered the phone was a total b*tch and woudlnt even tell me when they were expected in the country. I called Hearns Hobbies in Melbourne and they immediately tried to fob me off onto a Zephyr at $375. I told him not to be stupid. Called Junction Models and he told me the EZ Controller will retail at $139 Aus, or $189 if you want a decoder equipped loco with it...which is about 45-62 pound to you poms, or $100-140 for you yanks.... For once its cheaper to buy one here than import it!!! DCC for $139 is EXACTLY what DCC needs to achieve 'critical mass'. This system controls 10 trains with 128 speed steps and 99 stationary decoders (though it only has enough power to RUN 2 locos, standard). With Lenz stationary decoders covering 6 turnouts, that means this simple system has the capability to control 600 switches.....and 10 locos. Abosolutely an abundance for a single operator layout! Placed my order...waiting for stock...ETA this month!
disisme Sounds like more of that exceptional Australian customer service Do you have a number for Junction Models? This unit sounds great for my testing and then handing down to my son when my EasyDCC system arrives. I can just see it now - Thomas, Percy and James all running under DCC on a 4x8...great stuff. Cheers
Bruce, www.junctionmodels.com.au is the website. You can call Brian on 08 8349 7464 . Tell him Roger from Bendigo sent ya He's a good guy, unlike a lot of LHS people over here, and will give you just about unlimited time even if it has no chance of a sale.
Jeez..good question Doug. I believe it may have been from the documentation supplied to dealers on CD. Brian from Junctionmodels was reading stuff to me over the phone.
I just received the EZ-DCC unit. I'll be picking up some decoders today. I plan on posting a review at nscale.org Once I get the decoders installed, and the review written, I'll post a link to it here. BTW, I got it from wholesale trains for $54 excluding shipping. Quick rundown- I got to talk to Lee Riley, the Bachmann VP of technical development at a recent garden railway show. When I griped about the lack of info, he shared some info with me. I'll combine what I've seen so far and what he trold me. 1 amp power supply- a 5 amp booster is due next year 10 addresses On track programming There's a function button that goes thru 2 levels, so there are 20 functions that can be accessed in addition to the original 10 addresses The unit has a RJ 45 connector on it that Bachmann's working on adding functionality to. It can be used to controll stationary decoders. Like Lenz units, you'll be able to upgrade the firmware in the unit. One address is for controlling DC locomotives. It includes a DVD that gives a basic idea of how to use the system and shows how to hook it up and program locomotives. The controller is only slightly larger than a video game controller and all buttons are easily reachable without setting the unit down. Keep in mind, this system is designed as an ENTRY level system and is intended to be used on smaller home layouts where most people only run 2-4 trains at a time. As such, it's a brilliant idea in my opinion. [ 10. September 2004, 13:42: Message edited by: greasemonkey ]
Me too!!! I think this is the best thing to happen to DCC for quite some time (arguably 'ever') and has the potential to have profound impact on DCC in the short term future..... Bachmann will get my money just for having the Balls to go ahead and release a REAL entry level unit.
