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Starter Set Recommendations


Pmorgancym
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So my father in law has decided he wants a model railway and wants to go DCC.  

Its been a while since I looked into DCC, and when I last did the low cost of the Bachmann Dynamis made it to me an obvious started choice.

Now that must have been 10 years ago and the playing feild has changed considerable, Dynamis no longer seemd to enjoy such a large cost advantage over the competition.  

The only thing that seems to have stayed stable is avoid the Hornby Select/Elite systems.

The priorities I see are cost, ease of use, and playability (i.e. should be able to run a sound loco.or two).  The layout he plans isn't huge (an 8x4 double loop with yard type affair).  Not a vast number of locos certain no more than say 20

 

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What is best for you depends on a number of things.

How the controller feels to use.

What features you will want (can you buy a cheaper system & upgrade it).

Do you want compatibility with friends' layouts?

 

Most people on here will probably recommend what they know.

 

After learning the very basics of DCC with a Hornby Select, I uograded to an NCE PowerCab. I then joined a club & several others have the same, This is fortunate because we can now use each other's throttles as extras for each other.

PowerCab meets the upgradability requirement very nicely. It is one of the cheaper 'fully featured' systems with access to all loco functions.

Features like a programming track & a PC connection ar not included to keep the cost down. More current, a separate programming track connection & a PB connection are all available as add-on modules should you ever want them in the future.

They are not for eeryone though. One person n the club already had a Gaugemaster Prodigy & tried to switch to a PowerCab because it was the mst popoular system within the club & felt it would be easier to not be an odd one out. His familiarity with the Prodigy meant that he didn't like the PowerCab.

 

I am not able to comment on how this compared to other systems because I have not used them. It is well worth a visit to a DCC specialist like Digitrains in Lincoln or Coastal DCC in Ipswich....ot seek them out at an exhibition.

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The playing field has indeed changed somewhat in the last 10 years.

As you say, the Bachmann Dynamis is now the Dynamis Ultima version and a lot more expensive.

Also another very good starter system, the Roco MultiMaus, is no longer produced as a complete starter system, having been replaced by the z21 entry level version of the Z21. A few brand new sets appear on eBay occasionally, but the price is much higher than it was and brand new, split from train set examples are becoming increasingly rare.
2nd hand sets are available though.

 

The first question is, would your father in law prefer a console based system (operating from a fixed position), or one using walk around hand sets?


A console based system worth looking at, is the new Digitrax Zephyr Express. A much improved version of a familiar entry level system.

For handset based, entry level systems, the NCE PowerCab is a also popular choice.

 

A cheaper option might be the budget Roco z21 Start, complete with one or more MultiMaus wired handsets (the handsets are still made).

This can then be added to, to make it wireless using the wireless MultiMaus handset(s) and/or smartphones and tablets.

You can get new examples of this system, split from new train sets, from eBay for around £140

 

It would be useful if he could try a few of the options out at a DCC specialist retailer.

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited by Ron Ron Ron
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Piko Smart control Light might be worth a look. Very similar in idea to Multimaus. Apparently a rebadged Uhlenbrock system underneath. May well have some limitations but could be a possibility.

Know both Coastal DCC and Digitrains stock them

Stu

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I also have an NCE Power Cab with which I am very pleased. When I was researching which system to buy a few years ago it was the one recommended by lots of people. I normally use it to control two sound fitted engines at a time, but I have managed to do four at once when the grandchildren visited.

 

Robert

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My neighbour wanted a simple system and has an NCE Power Cab which he likes. I find it a chore having to consult a paper list  to find the address of the locos I want to use. As mentioned above, it's worthwhile visiting a specialist retailer who can demonstrate a range of systems. Your father-in-law should also look at the manuals to see which he prefers.

Edited by grriff
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with starting with the relatively inexpensive Hornby Select or even Elite, to get used to DCC and learn what additional functions might be worthwhile (there aren't many that the Elite cannot do, but it is just rather long-winded in doing them), rather than spending a small fortune on something that might not turn out to be suitable. I still use my Select for when simple work is all that is required.

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There is a new version in the pipeline, available "soon".  It's had to be redesigned due to some components now being obsolete, mainly the sprung connections on the back of it.  I assume the Select will also be affected as it uses the same connectors.

 

The new connectors are similar but bigger.

Edited by smokebox
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13 hours ago, smokebox said:

There is a new version in the pipeline, available "soon".  It's had to be redesigned due to some components now being obsolete, mainly the sprung connections on the back of it.  I assume the Select will also be affected as it uses the same connectors.

 

The new connectors are similar but bigger.

 

As a result of the necessary motherboard redesign one of the Xpressnet (RJ11) sockets has been lost, which is no big deal as it is a little used facility. Hornby state that there is a batch of these new Elites on the way - possibly held up by the current health chaos in China and beyond. As stated presumably the Select if rebatched would also have these connectors, subject to also possibly needing a motherboard redesign to accept them.

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I don't think you can go too far wrong with a Roco z21 Start (white one) with a Multimaus handset or a Gaugemaster Prodigy set to begin with. I use a z21 Start for my main layout and for my test track I managed to pick up a second hand Gaugemaster Prodigy for £50 off Ebay. Both sets would operate my layout with ease. Dead easy to use, programme loco's , read CV's and operate accessories/functions etc.

 

The white z21's are hard to find but search in Ebay and it will bring a few up. 

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On 08/02/2020 at 14:15, grriff said:

I find it a chore having to consult a paper list  to find the address of the locos I want to use.

Most systems allow you to choose a loco by its 4 digit address.

Surely that is enough to choose something by running number, which is clearly visible on the cabside? (When running late 30s LMS, this is perfect. When running BR/TOPS, I just use the last 4 digits & have never had any clashes).

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17 hours ago, Pete the Elaner said:

Most systems allow you to choose a loco by its 4 digit address.

Surely that is enough to choose something by running number, which is clearly visible on the cabside? (When running late 30s LMS, this is perfect. When running BR/TOPS, I just use the last 4 digits & have never had any clashes).


More modern systems have the ability to input a loco name, attached to the DCC address.

With this feature, you don’t have to remember a loco’s 2 or 4 digit DCC address, as the loco can be selected by its name.
A loco name can be its cab number (e.g. including full TOPS), or any name made of letters and numbers.

Depending on which system it is, loco choice is made either from quickly scrolling through a list, or from a small image of the loco.

Some systems are better designed than others in this this regard.
 

 

.

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54 minutes ago, Ron Ron Ron said:


More modern systems have the ability to input a loco name, attached to the DCC address.

With this feature, you don’t have to remember a loco’s 2 or 4 digit DCC address, as the loco can be selected by its name.
A loco name can be its cab number (e.g. including full TOPS), or any name made of letters and numbers.

Depending on which system it is, loco choice is made either from quickly scrolling through a list, or from a small image of the loco.

Some systems are better designed than others in this this regard.
 

 

.

I am aware that some systems have this feature. As far as I know these are all more expensive systems.

The risen cost of Bachmann's Dynamis was mentioned in the OP so this suggests that a less expensive system is a priority.

Entering 4 digit addresses is something you easily get used to & is not something I find limiting, so while I would agree that a description/list/picture it is a 'nice to have'.

If I had the choice of 2 otherwise identical systems, or with a relatively small price difference between the 2, 1 of which had named addressing, then yes I would choose it. This is not a choice being offered though.

 

The earlier post from grifff intimated that with digit addressing, it is necessary to scribble down address & details for each loco. With 2 digits, I would agree. With 4, the chances of a clash are very remote unless you have 5 digit locos & deliberately re-number stock to be a problem.

The OP stated 20 locos, so 4 digit addressing is almost certainly going to be sufficient.

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4 hours ago, Pete the Elaner said:

I am aware that some systems have this feature. As far as I know these are all more expensive systems.....


....If I had the choice of 2 otherwise identical systems, or with a relatively small price difference between the 2, 1 of which had named addressing, then yes I would choose it. This is not a choice being offered though.....

 


Loco naming is available on some of the cheapest systems available.

e.g. Roco MultiMaus, Roco z21 Start, Piko SmartControl Light, Trix Mobile Station 2

 

 

.

Edited by Ron Ron Ron
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On 09/02/2020 at 00:45, grriff said:

. I find it a chore having to consult a paper list  to find the address of the locos I want to use.

 

as I run my empire to timetables & written/typed train orders, they specify the loco address to be used.

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All the entry-level systems seem to be crippled in some way.  Typically they can't programme fully, can't read CVs (only write) or can't operate accessories.  I got a good deal on a Dynamis Ultima split from a set, and it does everything I want it to do (even the notorious IR connection works perfectly unless I hide under the table).

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The Prodigy Advanced “squared” appears to be back in stock with Gaugemaster (and in the US with manufacturer, MRC).

It hasn’t been available for the last several months.

The wireless set, wireless handsets and wireless conversion kit are now out of stock.

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