Recommend me a DCC starter set

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brubakes

brubakes

Member
I'm going to reenter the world of model railroading running so I want to make sure I get a good DCC starter set.

At first I am going to have something small like a 4x8 layout. Maybe 3 locomotives total. Once we move into our new house I will get most of the basement and the layout will grow much larger. Point being I will need something that has the ability to grow with me and the layout.

Your recommendations?
 
I just ordered the MRC prodigy express. Has almost all the features of the Zephyr, is fully upgradeable, and is handheld, for $40 less than the zephyr.

MRC has been around for a long, long time, so their stuff is pretty good.

Check it on ebay, or standard hobby supply has 'em for like $112.00 brand new.
 


brubakes said:
My LHS sells NCE. What kind of quality does NCE have?
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Great. I've operated on NCE, Digitrax, and MRC and I have to say that all three are excellent. I decided on the Zephyr because that was what was most supported in my area. IF your store sells NCE, then that is a great reason for choosing it.
 
If your LHS sells NCE, I'd recommend getting the PowerCab, its a perfect 3 amp starter, and is 100% integrable into the Power Pro sets (5amp). And it only costs ~$150.

It may be a tad more then some other starter sets, but its very simple, as the hand held cab provides all the DCC power.
 
A source at an "Unnamed Large Hobby Wholesaler" told me to wait until January before buying a new DCC system. NCE is supposed to be coming out with a new model that will knock your socks off. :)
 
UP2CSX said:
A source at an "Unnamed Large Hobby Wholesaler" told me to wait until January before buying a new DCC system. NCE is supposed to be coming out with a new model that will knock your socks off. :)
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good information to know. i might just have to wait. any further details?
 
UP2CSX said:
A source at an "Unnamed Large Hobby Wholesaler" told me to wait until January before buying a new DCC system. NCE is supposed to be coming out with a new model that will knock your socks off. :)
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I wonder if they are referring to their new, revised radio system, which is supposed to be outstanding. If so, this won't affect starter sets like the Power Cab. At least not until one is ready to upgrade to radio.

What I like about the Power Cab is the nice upgrade path when you're ready to expand. The initial 2 amp system works great to start out (about $150) and then can be upgraded to a total of 3 amps and up to 4 cabs (throttles). Then, if your layout gets much larger, you can add addtional power districts with 3 amp boosters. This is more than adequate for many home layouts. And of course you can upgrade to radio whenever you need to.

Jerry
 
I don't know the exact details but it's supposed to be a revamp of the whole NCE lines with new features on everything from the Power Cab to the radio contrilled system. The "source" is presently runing MRC but said the new NCE offerings are good enough that he is planning to replace the MRC system with NCE. Since I just have a Bachmann E-Z Command system now for my measly fleet, I will be looking for a better conroller, especially as I get more sound cards, so I'm interested in what NCE will offer and at what price point.
 


I'll tell ya, after looking at these things and what they do, I'd be hard pressed to be impressed by a starter system other than the zephyr, prodigy express, or power cab.........because the price point of something with more features will be higher than for most starters.

That and the learning curve for dcc is a little bit steep with tons of features :)
 
chimmike said:
I'll tell ya, after looking at these things and what they do, I'd be hard pressed to be impressed by a starter system other than the zephyr, prodigy express, or power cab.........because the price point of something with more features will be higher than for most starters.

That and the learning curve for dcc is a little bit steep with tons of features :)
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Although I've used all three systems, I know the Zephyr intimately because that is what I bought. You can do anything on the Zephyr that you can on the bigger systems. IN fact, some people who have bought the larger systems, use the Zephyr as the control module because of the readout.

What the bigger systems mean to me is power boosters that I add to the Zephyr. I'd not be surprised if the MRC and NCE have something similar.
 
Hi All. Well for awhile there I was contemplating an NCE Power Cab, but now I'm wondering about current supply to the track. According to the posts on this thread, the power cab and a 5 amp supply is just not going to do it for me.

http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7221

Basically most of my locos are older Athearns (some with brass fly wheels and some with steel or whatever material) these machines draw current when running especially on a grade, and at any time there will be a minimum of 14 of them on the trackage, and a max of 4 running at any one time.

The layout at present is power routing, so dividing it into sections wouldn't be a problem.
I understand there are units called power boosters and that these PB's can supply current to each individual section, I also understand that the controller supplies the DCC composite signal to each of these boosters, ( hope I'm correct up to that point)
Now my question is can the output signal from a Power Cab (modulate/control) the DCC out of each power booster.

Most likely before I can afford enough decoders and DCC equip, something new will come along. :D

Cheers Willis
 
Willis,

You certainly can run 14 at once, but do you need to? Idling, they are not going to be any where near their max stall current.

On a Zephyr, with 2.5 a, a friend of mine had our club over and we had 10 trains running, 4 with sound. IF you like the NCE. You might start with the 2a Power Cab, then see if you need the booster. You certainly will not need more than 1 booster for what you describe.
 
SpaceMouse said:
Although I've used all three systems, I know the Zephyr intimately because that is what I bought. You can do anything on the Zephyr that you can on the bigger systems. IN fact, some people who have bought the larger systems, use the Zephyr as the control module because of the readout.

What the bigger systems mean to me is power boosters that I add to the Zephyr. I'd not be surprised if the MRC and NCE have something similar.
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AH HA! Ding ding ding! We have a winner! I was waiting to see if any one was gonna mash that button!:p

The Zephyr is what I would reccomend as well...ONE WORD... readouts!

Readouts are very important to really learn and understand DCC and the components and in & outs of CVs. Gotta have a read out! My club has a spur that has a switch for main line power or program track. I have heard some clubs have the same but this one has the Zephyr attached for CV adjustments. This is a serious thought guys if your just starting out and learning. Reminder always with a new decoder or sound decoder record all of you default CVs for your records before you make your changes! My 2 cents! Out!
 
Good Grief! what have I got into now? :eek:
Seriously thanks for all the input, it's appreciated. I Could have got back sooner but I got into a lot of reading. Tony's trains for the Zephyr and ThoroughBreed's links
The following is in Canadian prices from Canadian dealers, for comparison only, actually I'll go where I can get the best buy with service, which may be an online source.

The Zephyr Basic starter set was ~$200, so that with loco net and a hand held or two plus a booster might be all I need ~$260
What I like about this system is the command station stays in one place, unless I have it wrong what might be cumbersome is the hand helds are assigned to a specific train so I might have to carry two. Then again maybe not I have more thinking to do about that. The point about readouts availability is a good one, I dont like having to guess.

Question for Alcomotive
The MRC Prodigy has a digital readout, does it not have the option of reading and displaying the CV's (CV's= set points I guess :confused: )

MRC Prodigy Advance plus the Power Station 8 ~$235; a second added hand held throttle if it doesn't have to be a command station as well. However it might just be what I need being able to switch from one train to another, what I don't like is carrying the command station around, I have a tendency to drop things.

My hobby supplier says the only way to go is NCE as all the rest of the systems are junk :rolleyes: (if so, it makes one wonder how they stay in buisness) But! NCE must be only for those who can afford it
NCE Power house pro starter set $595 but it requires a power supply for more $$
NCE Power cab starter Sys. $214.25 but can handle only 4 trains

So my decision will be between Zephyr and MRC
While reading I find there's a lot of ways to build a system, this adds to my confusion, so I'll have to thread carefully to get the system I want.

Chip,
"On a Zephyr, with 2.5 a, a friend of mine had our club over and we had 10 trains running, 4 with sound."
considering that, maybe that is all that is needed in regards to power.
I'll have six mainline trains and one spur line train operation of 2 locos each that's 14 locos. If I'm alone, two trains on the mainline will be enough to handle. As they meet in the yard a 4 axle unit will do the switching. That's current for only 4 locos, maximum at any one time. Yard work can be done with one loco but for the grades ~7% two locos minimum otherwise one loco with 10 cars gets a little smelly before reaching the the top. I also read when the Zephyr exceeds it's output rating it will shut down for protection, a good point. The tested unit went to 3 amps before turning off.

So a system plus decoders is going to be big $$ for me. So like parts for the layout I'll start buying what ever I can afford at the time, probably a bunch of decoders first. Guess I'll need a couple of reversing units as well. The whole layout is wired with a common rail, but with DCC I guess the snap relays will have to come out since they wont be needed.

Now if I remember right on Digitrax systems when the hand held is removed for relocation to another area (follow the train) the train maintains speed and direction while the hand held is unplugged.
Is this true of the Zephyr?
Is it true of the MRC units?
Confused :confused:
Cheers Willis
 
The advance has 3.5 amps of power by itself, I included the link for the power station 8 for the extra 8 amps. As with any dcc, I believe you can remove the handheld whilst your locos are running and plug it into another port, (I know you can with prodigy series). You can also program routes, if you have the switch machines dcc'd.
As for readback of CV's, I can write the cv's either on the main or program track, but read only on the program track, without affecting other locos. :cool:
The advantage to me is, with the advance or express, the power comes from the base unit, not the handheld, so if I drop my handheld, I can spend $80 and be right back in business with the same amount of power. I can use advance/2/express handhelds controllers for my unit, as well as any prodigy advance/2/express based system. :D
There is a 3.5 amp booster for the systems also, but its about the same price as the 8 amp, and you hinted you needed more power.
 
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the digitrax does maintain speed until you change by plugging in another handheld. Zephyr isn't handheld, so it shouldn't be unplugged and moved anyways, and I'm pretty sure the prodigy does the same thing.....of course you can get the prodigy wireless, too ;)
 


NCE Powercab has readouts, it will read all sound decoders without any boosters or add-ons. Even the big Power Pro can't do that.

Kennedy
 
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