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Post by KCSRailfan on Sept 28, 2008 9:49:12 GMT -5
I was thinking of get a DCC system,and I was wanting to know what is the best one to start of with?
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Post by Running Bear on Sept 28, 2008 10:28:46 GMT -5
If you're interested in just using DCC to run the trains and you're niot interested in adjusting CV's or programming a multitude of settings then you could use the Bachmann DCC system. It's a very limited system. I use it myself. I can program loco addresses 1-9, access sound options 1-8 (the most common).
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Post by KCSRailfan on Sept 28, 2008 10:34:18 GMT -5
Have you heard anything good MRC's Prodigy Express?
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Post by Running Bear on Sept 28, 2008 11:46:06 GMT -5
The Prodigy is alright but I would go more for the Digitrax Zephyr. Avoid the MRC decoders. They're junk!
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Post by ThoroughBreed on Sept 28, 2008 14:11:13 GMT -5
The Prodigy is alright but I would go more for the Digitrax Zephyr. Avoid the MRC decoders. They're junk! I would suggest a look at the November MRR page 50 for listings of the current systems and their accessable functions. As for the Prodigy system, winner hands down over the Zephyr for price and functions. If your forking out the funds for the Zephyr, save some and get the Advance. The Zephyr is only 2.5 amps, the Advance is 3.5 amps;The Zephyr is no better than the Bachmann system as it only has 10 functions and the Super Chief, which is $600+ only has 14, whereas the Advance has 28 and the Express has 16; The super Chief doesnt even come with a power supply, the Express comes with a 1.6 amp but will be upgraded for free to 2.5 amp if you mail it in. As for the MRC decoders, I have installed many of them without a single problem and they match up to the new Athearn 1.5v bulbs great without the use of resistors as you need for the Digicrap decoders. In fact alot of the manufacturers have made great strides in matching the 1.5v bulbs of athearn, except Digitrax. If you spend the money for a sound decoder or loco with it installed, and actually want to hear all the functions avail, DON'T get digitrax. Even the NCE powercab is better than the Digitrax system, it has 28 functions avail; has 2.8 amps out of the box; and is backwards compatable as the Digitrax claims to be. Now, these are facts, not just opinions, easily researchable thru Tony's train exchange or the individual manufacturers website. |
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Post by KCSRailfan on Sept 28, 2008 14:50:05 GMT -5
Thank you guys.
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Post by Running Bear on Sept 28, 2008 15:07:45 GMT -5
As for the MRC decoders, I have installed many of them without a single problem and they match up to the new Athearn 1.5v bulbs great without the use of resistors as you need for the Digicrap decoders. I go on personal experience, not what MRR or Tony's say. Every MRC decoder I've used has gone up in smoke in less than a day in locos pulling light loads, on a stock Bachmann system no less. I use a 5 amp booster now. People say bad things about Bachmann decoders. I have locos with Bmann decoders that are over 4 years old that are still going strong. As for Digitrax decoders, who else makes a Z Scale decoder (DZ125) that can stand up to an Athearn F7? I have a pair of them in an Athearn BB F7 A-B set and another pair in a P2K E7-A - E6-B set and they run flawlessly. I have 18 locos so far that have DCC decoders. 6 have Digitrax, 1 has NCE, 1 has Lenz and 10 have Bachmann decoders. I have 25 more locos waiting on decoders. The bulk of those will probably be Bachmann and Digitrax. |
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Post by ThoroughBreed on Sept 28, 2008 18:47:31 GMT -5
Well Jeffrey, I'll say this; I haven't said anything about Bachmann decoders, as I have no experience with them, and they are problem good reliable decoders considering they were designed for the low end loco with the beginner in mind who doesn't clean their tracks or locos well (not to say that is you). As for using Digitrax decoders, if it works with your system, then go right ahead and use them, but think about this, you can't adjust cv's for special lighting, ditch lights, mars lights and so forth with the system you are using.
I guess the MRC decoders work well with the MRC system and others I've talked to about them, except for the users of Digitrax. It seems only the Digitrax users prefer their own brand for some reasons.
I can say this, my current layout is 14 x 18, run only by the Prodigy Advance 3.5 amp system, with 1 extra handheld cab. I have a friend from another forum that comes into town and he has a Prodigy Express system at home, he brings his handheld and uses it on my system. My current layout is a double track mainline with 32 radius on the inner curves, and I can run multpile big locos in consists without loss of sound or power.
Can the bachmann system consist locos? Really I don't know.
Look, I started out with a Roco Lokmaus system, with the same function availabilities as your current system, only able to program 100 loco addresses. So I researched quite a bit before choosing which system to get. I went to the LHS and used the systems and I chose the Prodigy Advance. It's super easy to setup, program, and run. Only 4 keystrokes to program a loco adress (excluding the actual address digits), can program on the main or program track, can readback decoders cv's, Can handle multiple sound locos with ease ( I currently run 6 on the layout).
So, the question here is, what makes you comfortable? Do your own research, forget about others opinions, and look at the facts.
In the end, you are the one that has to be happy with the choice you make, not anyone else.
After all, its your layout, have fun no matter what anyone thinks.
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Post by Running Bear on Sept 28, 2008 23:07:10 GMT -5
I agree that the MRC system is good. In fact it's starting to look pretty good to me as I'm uncovering a lot of problems with the Digitrax Zephyr, such as mysterious runaway locos. The Bachmann system I'm using right now has no such problem. It does simple consisting only. Set two or more locos to the same address and away you go. I run several loco sets this way. An Athearn F7 A-B set, a Proto 2000 E7-A E6-B set and an Athearn PA2-PB2 set, addressed as 02, 05 and 08 respectively. I was aware that the Bmann system doesn't have the ability to program CV's when I bought it nor have I had a need to do so until lately. For now I take the loco to a friend of mine and we set the CV's with his Digitrax system. BTW, the new Bachmann decoders now have most of the features of the more expensive (non-sound) decoders offered by other manufacturers. They're really coming up with better quality stuff now but they still have a ways to go. I like their new Dynamis DCC system but it's too pricey for my taste. How much is the basic Prodigy system?
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Post by ThoroughBreed on Sept 29, 2008 1:23:24 GMT -5
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Post by ThoroughBreed on Sept 29, 2008 1:47:53 GMT -5
Oh, and 1 more thing; all the locos you currently have programmed will have to be re-programmed when you change dcc system, no matter which system you get. But thats a good thing as you get a chance to setup the correct address for them and play with lighting effects and so forth.
If you have any of the older Digicrap decoders, dh120,121,123's, they have to be programmed on the program track ONLY, can't do it on the main.
If you ever get a BLI blueline and want to add a decoder, the easiest way is to put the decoder in another loco, program it to the way you want it, then install it into the BLueline loco, after you have already programmed the Blueline's onboard dcc decoder, saves the hassle of setting the decoder locks on the on-board decoder.
If you have any Athearn RTR locos and want to add ditch lights or have ditch lights and want them to function correctly, If you use a 1k ohm resistors at the small hole right next to the violet and green wires on the dcc-ready board and hook the other 2 wires to the common on the front of the board, it will flash independent, after you setup the decoder to do it.
I also found another simple task, get a decoder tester or build one. I picked one up from a friend on another forum in a trade, and it works great for seeing what is actually going on- on the tracks. Sometimes you get problem decoders and can't tell whats happening as you wait for them to save or respond, the tester has lights for the different functions and lets you know if the decoder is "thinking". I have the scanned prints from an older MRR or RMC that came with mine, if anyone wants a copy. I love it, makes waiting on those POS digicrap decoders to think about what they want to do, worthwhile cause at least you know its responding. Mine has hookups for 8 pin mini, 9 pin JST, and hardwire hookups with an external speaker hookup also. I was thinking of adding a old motor to it to test functionality as well as direction, but also to look good, lol.
Anyways, its late and I'm rambling.
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Post by Running Bear on Sept 29, 2008 6:04:06 GMT -5
I'll have to reprogram my locos? That's strange. I don't have to reprogram my Bachmann programmed locos when I run them on my friends Digitrax controlled layout and vise versa. Anyways, I found a Prodigy Express at Amazon.com for 118.54. I can order it on my Shop-a-Tron account. I like using that because I NEVER have to send ANY credit card or account info through cyber-space. They don't even know if I have a credit card or account. I just order what I want and the merchandise is sent. Shop-a-Tron sends me a paper bill which I pay within 30 days with a Money Order paid for with cash. Why these precautions? I've had my identity stolen online once (EBay). NEVER AGAIN!
I was looking over the info on the MRC PE and it says I can program on the program track or on the main.
So far I like what I'm seeing, and it appears that it will work with my Bachmann booster (most everything else does).
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Post by ThoroughBreed on Sept 29, 2008 9:15:46 GMT -5
How does that shop-a-tron work? I looked over their website, but no way to join. Is it invite only? lol
I got burned by paypal a lil over a yr ago for $600, and so any ebaying is done with money order or cc thru a brick-and-mortar store over the phone.
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Post by ThoroughBreed on Sept 29, 2008 9:27:18 GMT -5
Well I said you'd have to reprogram your locos cause now you can actually have a 3 or 4 digit address that corresponds to the loco's rd number instead of just a 1-99 address. But if you find your locos not responding when you put them on the track for the first time, just reset them on the program track and program the new address and you won't have to do it again.
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Post by Running Bear on Sept 29, 2008 10:01:16 GMT -5
How does that shop-a-tron work? I discovered Bill-Me-Later (Shop-a-Tron) when I was buying some decoder on the Bachmann Forum site www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.phpJust select an item (low price item for a first purchase) and add it to your cart then go to checkout. There you'll see the payment options. One will be Bill-Me-Later. Select it and continue following the prompts through checkout. Your purchase will be made through the Shop-a-Tron Shopping Network. They'll only ask you a few questions and NONE of them will be about credit cards or accounts. You can set it up to automatically deduct the money from an account but I prefer to pay by money order. I get a little ansi about an online concern taking money from my bank account. Shop-a-Tron allows you to do business with over 700 online stores and the list is growing everyday. It's a good way to buy online if you concerned about identity theft. |
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