NCE vs Digitrax
mc_br...@yahoo.com
your reason(s) for choosing that brand, what you have enjoyed about
its features, and what components [throttles, boosters, decoders,
etc.] you opted for.
I see both brands at many of the train shows. Both appear to be very
impressive. The two cab control offered by Digitrax might not be a
feature I would make use of, but perhaps I am under estimating its
usefulness.
I believe each is able to communicate with DCC decoders from many
different brands.
Thanks!
Matt
You're welcome to e-mail me directly if you prefer.
mc_br...@yahoo.com
Matt
NCE
Thunderbird Model RR club in Phoenix studied several options before
choosing NCE. Digitrax was one of the first they eliminated - too much
proprietary stuff, very poor customer support. Ponderosa North club
that I belong too also chose NCE after trying both, and I chose it for
my home layout. 2 other members have also. I have the Power Cab setup
with a Smart Booster (3 amp total), am looking at adding a DB3 Dumb
Booster such that I can put 3 amps on each half of the layout. 4 power
districts; we run up to 4 locos during an operating session (layout is
around the walls 12 x 18, mostly designed as a switching layout). Club
portable layout will run 3 locos without sound plus one with sound at
the same time. I only have one sound loco but don't use it during op
sessions on my layout (will be adding one shortly tho). My layout uses
the Power Cab plus 3 throttles (one with a toggle switch that makes it
two throttles in one unit). Note that the Power Cab with Smart Booster
setup can only handle a total of 4 throttles, numbers 2-3-4-5.
I (and all in the club who use the NCE throttles) much prefer the
ergonomics of them over the Digitrax ones. One club member does have
Digitrax, and we do operate on his layout from time - don't know how the
others feel, but to me the push buttons on the Digitrax throttles are a
bit small, and I personally don't care for the feel of them when I'm
using them.
HTH
Matt (also)
Puckdropper at dot
@n35g2000yqm.googlegroups.com:
Our club is Digitrax. Digitrax has several good attributes, but is a
little rough around the edges for some people's taste. For example,
almost all digitrax equipment is compatible with future versions. That
means if you have a Zephyr set and a Super Chief Set they'll work
together and you'll get expanded capacity on your layout. The throttles
are likewise compatible.
Loconet is one of Digitrax's key features. Accessories, throttles,
computer control and the like can be done via Loconet. For large
layouts, you can spread your boosters around the layout to keep track
busses short(er).
I have no experience using NCE systems, but one of the key differences
often pointed out on the Digitrax Yahoo! group is how Digitrax and NCE
handle their throttle networks. The NCE throttle network is a polled
system, meaning each device in turn is asked "Do you have a command for
me?" while Digitrax uses a broadcasted mechanism. When a throttle has a
command, it's transmitted.
If all you're doing is using DCC at home and won't take your equipment to
other locations, either system will work. If you'll be taking your
equipment to other locations, Digitrax doesn't require much to get it to
work. Just make sure your Radio address is set to the layout's address
(if you're using radio), plug in and start playing.
Puckdropper
--
If a train horn blows and no one is around to hear it, did it really blow
at all?
Stuart Sabatini
Particularly if you have a lot of diesel consists set up. With the NCE
system, when you set up a advanced consist, both ends of the consist are
remembered by the command station. If you have a consist sitting on a
East - West track you can select either end to control the consist. Select
the East end loco and forward direction and the consist moves East. Select
the West end loco and the forward direction and the consist moves West.
Other systems require you to setup the consist in one direction or the
other.
Stuart Sabatini
Palm Coast, FL
<mc_br...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:95af621e-73f8-49df...@n35g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
mc_br...@yahoo.com
All four of your comments mirrored my unscientific, untested
observations that I have accumulated at a number of train shows where
clubs were operating their modular RR using either NCE or Digitrax.
Both systems are terrific, and owner satisfaction is equally strong.
As expected, the club members were very willing to talk about their
system, show you the throttle, and demo its use. Most of the clubs
that I have visited are using Digitrax. I think the NCE design and my
anticipated home use are a good match. I am particularly pleased to
learn how NCE handles an ABA and/or ABBA engine consist. I have three
of those engine combinations in my planning.
Puckdropper at dot
news:4b01950d$0$4955$9a6e...@unlimited.newshosting.com:
> I like the well thought out operation of the NCE system better.
> Particularly if you have a lot of diesel consists set up. With the
> NCE system, when you set up a advanced consist, both ends of the
> consist are remembered by the command station. If you have a consist
> sitting on a East - West track you can select either end to control
> the consist. Select the East end loco and forward direction and the
> consist moves East. Select the West end loco and the forward
> direction and the consist moves West. Other systems require you to
> setup the consist in one direction or the other.
>
> Stuart Sabatini
> Palm Coast, FL
>
As I understand it, the consist gets its own address. On Digitrax, this
is whatever address you've selected on the right nob (it doesn't have to
exist on the layout) and this means that your consist is essentially 2+
power units made in to one.
If you select a specific loco on the left nob you can control its
functions separately. So if you have an ABA set, you can set the two A
units to the throttle and when you change direction turn off one
headlight and turn on another.
How does NCE handle this?
Puckdropper
--
If a model tree falls in a model forest and no model person is around to
hear it, does it make a model sound at all?
Twibil
>
>
> If a model tree falls in a model forest and no model person is around to
> hear it, does it make a model sound at all?
Yes, but only Heidi Klum can hear it.
Stuart Sabatini
9999 there is also a consist address, say 20. In most systems when you
setup the consist the system will remember one unit say 1111 as controlling
consist # 20. If you select 1111 on the throttle consist 20 will move
and you can control the lights on unit 1111. With the second knob (on
Digitrax) you could select a second unit say 9999. Now since 9999 is in a
consist you will only control it's lights since the command station does not
associate 9999 with the consist. With an NCE system it remembers both 1111
and 9999 with consist 20. If you select 1111 it works the same as other
systems and the consist moves forward. If you select 9999 it also causes
consist 20 to move but in this case the consist moves in the other
direction, reverse. In other words selecting 9999 causes the consist to
move backward when you select forward on the throttle, but since you
selected the unit at the other end it all makes sense. Select the unit on
the East end and forward is east bound. Select the unit on the West end and
forward is west bound.
In addition the NCE system can be set to send function commands to the
consist address when you select the 1111 or 9999 units. This enables you
to control the sounds of a sound unit no matter where in a consist it is,
Lead, Rear or anywhere in the middle.
Stuart Sabatini
Palm Coast, FL
"Puckdropper" <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote in message
news:007d9664$0$23712$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
Puckdropper at dot
> Yes, The consist gets it's own address. If you consist loco 1111 with
> loco 9999 there is also a consist address, say 20. In most systems
> when you setup the consist the system will remember one unit say 1111
> as controlling consist # 20. If you select 1111 on the throttle
> consist 20 will move and you can control the lights on unit 1111.
> With the second knob (on Digitrax) you could select a second unit say
> 9999. Now since 9999 is in a consist you will only control it's
> lights since the command station does not associate 9999 with the
> consist. With an NCE system it remembers both 1111 and 9999 with
> consist 20. If you select 1111 it works the same as other systems and
> the consist moves forward. If you select 9999 it also causes consist
> 20 to move but in this case the consist moves in the other direction,
> reverse. In other words selecting 9999 causes the consist to move
> backward when you select forward on the throttle, but since you
> selected the unit at the other end it all makes sense. Select the
> unit on the East end and forward is east bound. Select the unit on
> the West end and forward is west bound.
> In addition the NCE system can be set to send function commands to the
> consist address when you select the 1111 or 9999 units. This enables
> you to control the sounds of a sound unit no matter where in a consist
> it is, Lead, Rear or anywhere in the middle.
>
> Stuart Sabatini
> Palm Coast, FL
>
Thanks for the explanation.
That might be a better way to do it than consisting everything to one
address, for as you pointed out any engine speed command can control the
consist. It would eliminate the extra button presses required to
manipulate functions and control speed.
Puckdropper
--
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to see that it has
fallen, has it fallen at all?
Calvin Henry-Cotnam
>
>
>I was hoping those of you who own either NCE or Digitrax could offer
>your reason(s) for choosing that brand, what you have enjoyed about
>its features, and what components [throttles, boosters, decoders,
>etc.] you opted for.
When I was looking into a DCC system, NCE was recommended from several
sources based on what seemed to be a consensus that it had the best
compatibility with other products (decoders in particular) and was easy
to use and quite flexible in terms of addressing and consisting.
I went with their system and ended up getting the wireless PowerCab Pro
since the shop I was buying from had a good price on it. I have since
heard that their wireless products tend to be better than others as well.
I should add a couple of points from my experience with NCE. I have had
no issues whatsoever. I have used a few decoders from Digitrax without
any problems, and I have used the Lenz LS-150 accessory decoders for
twin coil switch machines (a lower cost alternative than using six of
NCE's Snap-It). The Snap-It is a better choice if you are powering two
turnouts for a cross-over from one decoder as you can add an external
capacitor for some extra oomph, but you can't beat the LS-150' price per
output.
Here is what I believe is something that would definitely sell me on
a company if I heard it before buying: I purchased an NCE Switch-8
accessory decoder that had a problem. The little rotary switch used to
program each of its outputs was not working - regardless of its position,
only the first output was being programmed. I emailed NCE to find out
if I was doing something wrong or could do something to fix the problem.
They responded quickly and told me the unit may have a bad trace or
solder joint and asked me to mail it to them for repair or replacement.
I did this and I received a working unit within two weeks (and I am in
Canada, so there was no doubt some extra time involved in the shipping).
This sort of customer service is something I value.
To be fair, I did have a question for Lenz that was not clearly explained
in their manual (I wondered if multiple LS-150s can be powered from the
same AC source). They were quick to respond to my question (the answer was
'yes').
--
Calvin Henry-Cotnam
"Unusual or extreme reactions to events caused by negligence
are imaginable, but not reasonably foreseeable"
- Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, May 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: if replying by email, remove "remove." and ".invalid"