I'm trying to decide between a Digitrax Empire Builder or a Lenz Set02. If anybody has experience with either one please give me some feedback.
My first venture into DCC was a used Digitrax Big Boy. At that time, I did see the need for a Chief. I ran that unit for about two years & was VERY pleased with the bells and whistles. As my decoder fleet increased, I found a need to read back the decoder settings and also a need for 4-digit addressing. So, I bought a Digitrax power booster (DCS100), plugged it in and now I have a Chief with more bells and whistles. I don't know anything about Lenz but I am hooked on Digitrax. ------------------ Keep on Track'N Harold Riley www.phcomputing.com
I decided on Digitrax based on the network technology used and the level of control. The digitrax network model is closely related to that of Ethernet. Ethernet is a proven reliable network topology used in computer networks. The amount of bandwidth available on Digitrax is huge. This means that more devices will be able to be developed and used together over time on the existing system. We will be able to add components to the existing Digitrax systems. Digitrax also supports 128 speed control. The Lenz network does not offer as much bandwidth as the Digitrax network. Also, the speed and function controls are not as robust as the Digitrax. To get specific examples would require me to brush up on the documentation of the Lenz system. It has been some time since I made my choice towards Digitrax. The Lenz system will not be as upgradable as the Digitrax systems. With that said, the Lenz system is still reliable and works very well. I just feel it is not as nice as the Digitrax systems. Matt
The one thing that makes me not like Digitrax is the fact that there seems to be a massive shortage of decoders!' Happy Railroading! Dane N. ------------------ TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info. To send a general TRAIN! E-Mail send to BCRailKing@Canada.com
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BC Rail King: The one thing that makes me not like Digitrax is the fact that there seems to be a massive shortage of decoders!' Happy Railroading! Dane N. Really? What decoders are you looking for? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Don't worry about the decoders. You can use any manufacture's decoder with any of the systems. As long as they are NMRA compliant that is. You can use Lenz decoders with Digitrax.
Anything Digitrax is in short supply in Vancouver. There is a higher demand than most places for the stuff, but in general there just isn't enough stuff being made to facilate the growing demand for DCC! Happy Railroading! Dane N. ------------------ TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info. To send a general TRAIN! E-Mail send to BCRailKing@Canada.com
I've used digitrax, lenz, and mrc decoders. I like the FX decoders for their functions, but the lenz back emf decoderd give the smoothest operation I have seen so far. I hear lenz has 4 digit addresses now, but that still dont beat digitrax's radio control. I have the nce and am happy with it, but am waiting for the radio control module due out. ------------------ Robert Ray The NP & UP N-Scale Railroad
Digitrax shortages: Loy's Toys seems to always the items I need. Back EMF: I believe the new decoders from Digitrax has that. My SD40-2 decoders have something called "speed stabilization". Is that what back emf is? ------------------ Keep on Track'N Harold Riley www.phcomputing.com
I think so, because that is what back emf does. It applies more juice when the motor slows down, like going up a grade, to smooth out the speed. It looks like digitrax has it all now.
The new digitrax unit also slows an engine on down grades. ------------------ Keep on Track'N Harold Riley www.phcomputing.com
There seem to be some confusion on BEMF. The Digitrax DZ121 has this feature, and most of my decoders are the DZ121's. Small size and great features. The Back EMF feature is like a scale "cruise control". Every electric motor, whether powering or freewheeling produces a "Back EMF" wave. The decoders (when this feature is turned on) constantly compare the back EMF wave with the last received throttle setting. This means, as you go up grade, the decoder automatically feeds more power (within limits) to maintain the speed, and when going down grade, it cuts back on the power to maintain speed. It's a great feature. MOPAC 1
I've tried digitrax and I bought a Lenz 01, I'm not an electrical engineer and had a lot of difficulty going thru the digitrax manual and trying to program a decoder. The Lenz unit was very user friendly. Lenz is like IBM never the leader but good solid stuff that is upgradeable, in fact I just spoke to Debbie Ames in Chelmsford and she said that my free up grade to 4 digit adressing will be available in August. To be specific about programming I pluged in the new decoder, typed in F8 hit enter twice then typed in 44, set the speed table at 28 and my engine was ready to run. all I had to do was hit "2" and my marker lights turned on. Really neat. Were I you I'd go with the system that is easiest to get, shop around for prices, try ttx-dcc.com they have good numbers, or your local hobby shop may do better. Good Luck! ------------------ When in doubt, empty your magazine.
