New DCC User Needs Some Help

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meanjean

meanjean

Member
I need some advice. I am looking at buying my first DCC system for home use. I have seen so many comparisons that I am really lost now:confused:
This is what I want and maybe you can point me the right direction.

I want to be able to run at least 2 cabs in the future for now one is fine (3 would be the max).
I want to be able to run say 6 engines at one time (2-3 per train) at most.
I want the system to be expandable (power upgrades, maybe wireless in the future 2nd cab)
I DONT want to pay a ton for stuff I wont need. Right now $200 would be pushing the budget.
I have seen the Prodigy advance from trainworld for $140 and the Prodigy Express from $119. Last there is MRC? Powercab that looks like it have more amps.

Help me out here guys. I have 3 new engines with DCC that I have never run since the DCC world is really confusing me. Guess what I am looking for is what DCC system best fits the bill for the items I want?
Thanks
 
The Digitrax Zephyr, Prodigy Advance, or the NCE PH-Pro would be my choice. You can't wrong with any of these systems, although the NCE will set you back a bit more. It's also a more capable unit so you get what you pay for. For what you want right now, the Digitrax Zephyr starter set or the Prodigy Advance will do what you want within your budget. Both system can be expanded with walk around throttles, wireless control, and power boosters. The nice thing about DCC is the price has been steadily coming down so you are better off waiting until you actually need something like wireless control and buying it then rather than paying what's likely to be a higher price today.
 
Jim nailed it on the head...I cant even add to it! I personally have the Zephyr set and have expanded on it this past year...Welcome by the way! Glad to have ya!
 


Unless Digitrax has changed their secondary throttle to something better than the UT1 maybe the UT-4 is better I don’t know, it looks the same as the UT-1. I would go with the NCE. The NCE Cap04e is great second throttle. I had nothing but trouble with the UT1’s I use to have. The NCE’s Cap04e are so easy to use. I would go NCE if you want a main and some secondary throttles.

NYC_George
 
Why would you use a UT1 or UT2? I would use the DT400IR... he said he wanted to go wire less in the future and the DT400IR will do that via radio frequency or Ifrared....
 
NYC_George said:
Unless Digitrax has changed their secondary throttle to something better than the UT1 maybe the UT-4 is better I don’t know, it looks the same as the UT-1. I would go with the NCE. The NCE Cap04e is great second throttle. I had nothing but trouble with the UT1’s I use to have. The NCE’s Cap04e are so easy to use. I would go NCE if you want a main and some secondary throttles.

NYC_George
Click to expand...
The UT-4 is acouple generations beyond the UT-1,2. You can get it radio, and makes an excellent throttle for guests etc. I use one with my son. I love the DT-400.
 
Secondary throttles

I’m almost positive NCE makes a secondary wireless throttle Alcomotive. I think you can upgrade the Cab04e to wireless. I would ask Tony’s Trains about it. They would know. There not much written about secondary throttles you almost have to ask.

NYC_George
 
You are probrably right...I am only familiar with Digitrax products. It is what I use, my friends use and my club uses. I have not had any exposure to any others than MRC products.
 
See you guys start talking all these numbers and thats where I get lost.
I think I will go the the prodigy advanced (not the new squared). They are on sale at trainland.
Even though its an older design it should do what I want and have enough amps to run the trains i want, right?
 
If you get the advanced, then you can send it in and they will upgrade it to the advance2 and it will be completely ready for the usb adapter thats coming. Also by upgrading, it will open up to a full 28 functions instead of 18 out of the box. But it does have 3.5 amps still, so thats more than enough to run all you say you want to. I run 2 consists with 2 sound locos in each and an extra loco in each, and have 2 sound ideling in the yard, and run a little switching op with 2 geeps all at the same time with no loss, without an extra booster, just the 3.5 amps from the base station. What I like is the ability to disconnect from the base and the trains keep running, and plug in on an extended port (try that with a NCE single cab unit, sorry guys) and the MRC isnt tied down to a large cab control module like the Digitrax Zephyr is (sorry again), so you can get up and walk with your train. :cool:
 


Thanks, thats what I wanted to know. How much do they charge to send the prodigay advance and upgrade the unit?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
How much do they charge to send the prodigay advance and upgrade the unit?
Click to expand...
Just thinking you may as well buy the Advance2 and save the trouble of jumping through the hoops.

Willis
 
Mine was $50, but its for a new rom with all the upper functions as well as matching protocols for the wireless and usb. :cool:
 
CBCNSfan said:
Just thinking you may as well buy the Advance2 and save the trouble of jumping through the hoops.

Willis
Click to expand...

Your right. Thats what I thought so I found the Advance 2 on ebay for 210 delivered! Saves the time and money for shipping there and back.

So any lessons learned or Do's and Dont's when I get this?
Read the directions I assume? Anything else.
:confused:
 
meanjean said:
Your right. Thats what I thought so I found the Advance 2 on ebay for 210 delivered! Saves the time and money for shipping there and back.

So any lessons learned or Do's and Dont's when I get this?
Read the directions I assume? Anything else.
:confused:
Click to expand...

Heres the page from the manufacturer for the Advance2, read the "tips and tricks" file for little bits of info on problems people have encountered and the remedy for them. The basic directions on how to use the system are on the back of the handheld, other than that, the book is a little more technical, but not that you'd need an engineering degree to understand.:cool:
 
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