Mixing RailPro with DigiTrax on an NTrak club layout?

[RCJunction]

Several years ago, I decided to revisit my childhood fascination with model railroads. At the time I decided I would start with a simple NTrak layout, as I had found an active, local NTrak club. For various reasons, my plans got derailed (heh). Now I'm ready to pick up where I left off. I already have the table built, and I'm ready to start hammering out the technical details for the layout. The more research I do, the more I'm leaning toward going with a RailPro control system.

I sent an introduction email to the leader of the club with a few simple questions about club layout requirements and such. When I asked about using RailPro, I was told that the club uses DigiTrax, and that if I want my own throttle to use at club events, I need a DigiTrax throttle. Now my limited understanding at this point is that RailPro and DigiTrax trains can run just fine together on the same track (feel free to correct me, if I'm wrong). However, being of greenhorn mind, I don't know if perhaps there may be more to it than that, where multiple layouts are connected NTrak-style.

Is this simply a "we don't want anyone using anything but DigiTrax" thing or a "RailPro would complicate matters for everyone else" somehow type of thing? Naturally, being the new guy, I would want to go with the flow where at all possible, but I don't want my initial investment in a control system to be DigiTrax if RailPro may be what I end up using at home going forward. I just can't swing buying both - at least not yet - as the initial investment in getting started in the hobby is already fairly high.

Any insight would be appreciated.

-Rich

 

[RCJunction]

Ugh. I just realized that RailPro doesn't support N-scale yet. This may be a moot point.

 

[new guy]

Go with NCE! Their 5 amp system would allow you to run at least ten N scale loco's at a time! I've just not seen the same number and type of complaints from NCE users!

I have seen the Rail-pro and Digitrax users 'burning up the keyboards' with complaints on here! Compatibility issues, decoder issues, etc.

I'm not trying to hack on em, just going by what I've observed.

 

[Happy Curmudgeon]

I started with the Digitrax Zephyr, and and when it came time for something bigger I bought the SuperChief 5 Amp. Digitraxx has always worked for me without problem so I stuck with it. That being said, if I had to do it today, I'd probably go with RailPro. Not the biggest fan of proprietary systems, but if the interface delivers what it promises as easily as it promises, I would be a fool not to consider it just because of the interface.

As for the superiority of a particular model or brand, after 53 years, I've learned that very few brands and models can claim to be superior to anyone elses, but they can claim to be better at marketing than others.

 

[roofintrash]

I'm one of the Railpro users on this board and have zero complaints with the system. It's as easy as it gets. As I understand it, you can run railpro on a dcc layout but not vice versa. You just have to use the railpro throttle for your locos.
New guy, Have you ever even used a Railpro system?

 

[RCJunction]

Go with NCE! Their 5 amp system would allow you to run at least ten N scale loco's at a time! I've just not seen the same number and type of complaints from NCE users!

I have seen the Rail-pro and Digitrax users 'burning up the keyboards' with complaints on here! Compatibility issues, decoder issues, etc.

I'm not trying to hack on em, just going by what I've observed.

Before I knew about RailPro I was leaning toward NCE over DigiTrax, but this is a "go with the flow" situation for club stuff.

I started with the Digitrax Zephyr, and and when it came time for something bigger I bought the SuperChief 5 Amp. Digitraxx has always worked for me without problem so I stuck with it. That being said, if I had to do it today, I'd probably go with RailPro. Not the biggest fan of proprietary systems, but if the interface delivers what it promises as easily as it promises, I would be a fool not to consider it just because of the interface.

As for the superiority of a particular model or brand, after 53 years, I've learned that very few brands and models can claim to be superior to anyone elses, but they can claim to be better at marketing than others.

Thanks for the insight. Opinions based on that much time in the hobby carry a lot of weight with me.

Looks like I'll be setting up my NTrak layout to operate with DigiTrax. Won't kill me to learn one more aspect of the MRR hobby, and it sounds like I may be able to get away with just buying the throttle unit. Maybe I can find a used one at a good price.

Couple of questions, For the NTrak layout I'm assuming that when at home, I can use the power supply from my RailPro system for power (until I get it installed on a full layout) and continue to use the DigiTrax DCC system. Would that be correct?

Also, would the throttle be the only DigiTrax product I would need to buy (assuming the locos are DCC-enabled)? He didn't mention power. I didn't know if that meant I should be fine grabbing power from the rest of the club layout. Which DigitTrax throttle would you recommend for this purpose (and as my *only* DCC throttle)?

Thanks.

-Rich

 

[hirailer]

Hi Rich
It will be OK to use a RailPro power supply with your digitrax system. Any good Regulated power supply will work.

Ring Engineering has N scale modules in the works for some time. They have had some major challenges to overcome it it's development because of size issues.

So far in the several years that I have been a RailPro user I have never seen or heard of anyone "burning up the keyboards" with RailPrro. One of the best features of RailPro is it's lack of problems and ease of use.

RailPro users have a new forum that is not associated with Ring Engineering. Have a look.

http://rpug.pdc.ca/index.php

Cheers

Mel