Lenz vs Digitrax

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boatwrench

boatwrench

Well-Known Member
Have a bit of a dilemma, and I know asking for opinions on the internet will get me plenty of things to think about.

I have a complete early on version of Lenz DCC with three throttles, one of the 1st purchased at the LHS 30years ago. It works, but not much support in the USA anymore and two local substantially larger layouts run the system. Another dismantled layout opportunity is to purchase a complete Digitrax system, including five wireless throttles and PSR circuit breakers for $200. It is a deal. Digitrax seems to have real good support but only one local layout uses it, most others are NCE.

So.... do I abandon the Lenz and switch to Digitrax?
 
I know one guy who claims to use Lenz, but I've never seen it at his layout.
Actually, he touts it as a badge of old school.
I don't know where you would get support for that system, let alone advice on how to use it.
Digitrax and NCE seem to be the most common and easiest to get support for.
ESU claims a lot of stuff in their system, i.e. you can send emails with your throttle. The command station can identify every loco that touches the tracks and a host of other useless novelties that I guess the Europeans just gosh all over. My local ESU dealer says the Germans look down their nose at us American model railroaders because we're just loopers. Because of that, they leave some of the features out of the command station as secret files that American's aren't permitted to use because we're immature model railroaders.
Really crazy stuff. I learned about that secret file stuff when I tried to get the Ecos set up to run my empire. Advertising was it would interface directly with my Digitrax hardware. Then it needed an interface board for the block detector. Then another interface for the signal control. Wait. You said direct interface, now ya have me buyin more and more stuff and I can't get the secret files. Enough. Get this crap outa here and I want my money back.
 


Skip the digitrax.

Since you're starting out fresh, consider one of these:
www.ebay.com

Digikeijs DR5000 15V DCC Command Station LocoNet, XpressNet, RailCom, WiFi, USB | eBay

POM Read Back When Used With The Digikeijs DR5088RC. CVP Products - Xpressnet Lenz compatible receivers, throttles, etc. DR5000 Multi-bus central features. Keep Your LocoNet Clean With Separate LocoNet Connections For Your Boosters (DB150, DB210, Etc.).
www.ebay.com
(The guy at Iron Planet Hobbies must have found a few left).

I realize that Digikeijs is out of business.
But the product still works fine and is UPGRADEABLE to the YaMoRC version if you wish.

My DR5000 (bought used) still works fine. I use it with the Roco z21 app, but it works with numerous handheld controllers as well. The wifi is built right in, works with any phone or tablet.
 
Depends on your skill level and if you are willing to deal with issues on your own for Lenz. I know Digitrax and the support for it from the company and community is very good. Of course I bought Digitrax because all the other people in the area with railroads bought Digitrax.
 
D&J RailRoad said:
Really crazy stuff. I learned about that secret file stuff when I tried to get the Ecos set up to run my empire. Advertising was it would interface directly with my Digitrax hardware. Then it needed an interface board for the block detector. Then another interface for the signal control. Wait. You said direct interface, now ya have me buyin more and more stuff and I can't get the secret files. Enough. Get this crap outa here and I want my money back.
Click to expand...
Seriously !!! secret files, rubbish, they're not "secret" they're proprietary files that make the system work just like Microsoft has on Windows and BLI, and a multitude of other companies have.

There's no difference between a European ESU system which I can buy, and one sold in the US they are exactly the same, bar two, the voltage and the flipping wall plug, the fact this idiot told you such BS is an insult to YOUR intelligence,

A company keeps stuff secret because they think their customers are "too immature". what year are you living in, the early 1940s ?

What I find saddening is that someone of your obvious knowledge, experience and education actually seems to believe this BS
 
Smudge617 said:
Seriously !!! secret files, rubbish, they're not "secret" they're proprietary files that make the system work just like Microsoft has on Windows and BLI, and a multitude of other companies have.

There's no difference between a European ESU system which I can buy, and one sold in the US they are exactly the same, bar two, the voltage and the flipping wall plug, the fact this idiot told you such BS is an insult to YOUR intelligence,

A company keeps stuff secret because they think their customers are "too immature". what year are you living in, the early 1940s ?

What I find saddening is that someone of your obvious knowledge, experience and education actually seems to believe this BS
Click to expand...
Sounds like you want to get into a pissing contest with me.
 
Smudge617 said:
No, but seriously????
Click to expand...
Well, when the local dealer tells ya something like that about the product, what do ya do?
I have no other Insite to ESU to weigh his comments against.
The system didn't interface directly with my Digitrax equipment as the dealer said it would, and he spent days putzing with the system tryin to make it work, then claiming he found one of the secret files that got one thing to work.
The only thing I'm foolish for is believing the ESU advertising as legitimate.
 
D&J RailRoad said:
Well, when the local dealer tells ya something like that about the product, what do ya do?
I have no other Insite to ESU to weigh his comments against.
The system didn't interface directly with my Digitrax equipment as the dealer said it would, and he spent days putzing with the system tryin to make it work, then claiming he found one of the secret files that got one thing to work.
The only thing I'm foolish for is believing the ESU advertising as legitimate.
Click to expand...
Whoa, hold up "The system didn't interface directly with my Digitrax equipment as the dealer said it would" So you bought it on his say-so, and he was wrong, and to get out of the hole he dug himself into, he gave you a load of bull 💩 about secret files, so it wasn't really his fault it wouldn't work, it was ESU's 🤔

I did find this on the Digitrax website, which your dealer should have known, and told you before you bought the ESU.

Digitrax detection and signalling will work with any DCC system. You will need to install a LocoNet network for the LocoNet components to communicate with each other, which as you said, you weren't happy about having to purchase, but the dealer should have known that it wasn't a simple plug-n-play and told you there were extra components that you would need to purchase, before you bought the ESU.

Obviously, too late now, but...........
 


I demanded my money back and for him to take all the ESU stuff off my empire. He did that and I'm back operating with Digitrax.
This was about 5 or 6 years ago.
 
D&J RailRoad said:
I demanded my money back and for him to take all the ESU stuff off my empire. He did that and I'm back operating with Digitrax.
This was about 5 or 6 years ago.
Click to expand...
Glad you got a refund, he mis-sold you the whole shebang.

I don't have an empire like yours, (don't I wish tho') and only a Digitrax Zephyr, but I like it and I can't see myself replacing it with anything else, all the new functions you can get nowadays don't do anything for me,
 
Well, I contacted the estate seller and the digitrax system was sold. My mother used to tell me "He who hesitates loses out" should follow her advice more. Thanks everyone for your input.
 
boatwrench said:
Digitrax seems to have real good support but only one local layout uses it, most others are NCE.
Click to expand...
Does this tell you anything? ;)

boatwrench said:
Well, I contacted the estate seller and the digitrax system was sold. My mother used to tell me "He who hesitates loses out" should follow her advice more.
Click to expand...
In this particular instance, I don't think you lost out at all. :cool:
Of course, just my opinion. Others may vary. 😇
 
Sold my NCE system years ago, been using Digitrax for close to 25 years, if that tells you anything. Tried an ESu Cab Control, did not like the throttle. Instead, bought a new Digitrax DCS210+ with DT602D and UT6D Throttles.
 
boatwrench said:
Have a bit of a dilemma, and I know asking for opinions on the internet will get me plenty of things to think about.

I have a complete early on version of Lenz DCC with three throttles, one of the 1st purchased at the LHS 30years ago. It works, but not much support in the USA anymore and two local substantially larger layouts run the system. Another dismantled layout opportunity is to purchase a complete Digitrax system, including five wireless throttles and PSR circuit breakers for $200. It is a deal. Digitrax seems to have real good support but only one local layout uses it, most others are NCE.

So.... do I abandon the Lenz and switch to Digitrax?
Click to expand...
Since I missed it all, I am still curious. Which Digitrax system was it? I'm pretty certain I have one or two in boxes around I might part with. None of them would be current production stuff. I also have bunches of Lenz equipment. I considered it my primary for the longest time. I use CVP wireless throttles with it. Now I kind of consider the NCE my main system, but that is just because that is what we use at the museum. One of these day's when I get a real layout I'm going to have to choose. But I am pretty certain I won't choose the Digitrax.
 
Iron Horseman said:
Since I missed it all, I am still curious. Which Digitrax system was it? I'm pretty certain I have one or two in boxes around I might part with. None of them would be current production stuff. I also have bunches of Lenz equipment. I considered it my primary for the longest time. I use CVP wireless throttles with it. Now I kind of consider the NCE my main system, but that is just because that is what we use at the museum. One of these day's when I get a real layout I'm going to have to choose. But I am pretty certain I won't choose the Digitrax.
Click to expand...
Not sure the nomenclature. What he still had when I contacted him again was a DCS100 Command Station, DB150 Aux Booster, (2) DT402 throttles.
 
Okay I’m a little late to the party but I’d go with Digitrax over Lenz as well.
To be honest if I were to start over with DCC I’d go NCE, I’ve only used it a couple times but found it way more friendly.
However if I was starting from scratch I’d definitely go with Ring engineering, but that’s a whole 'nother topic. 😝
 


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