DCC Controller Recommendations - Newcomer

[Keano30]

Hello all. I'm relative new to the whole Railway modelling community. I have some experience using's Hornby's DCC Railmaster software to control my trains but I'm finding it frustratingly annoying as it will not work with my Class A model which I recently bough. To this end I'm thinking there must be a system out there which is simpler which I could use.

I'm pretty proficient with computer so I'd like to have something I can use on my laptop to control the DCC system. So far I've been looking at various options including the Bachmanns Dynamis System (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YgH37S-lxM&t=230s) or using iTrain (https://www.berros.eu/en/itrain/) software. 

The iTrain software would need a lot of other equipment to connect the track to I presume whereas the Bachmanns does not. Am I correct in this thinking? 

I'd like to get your thoughts on which systems would be best and of course affordable for a relative new comer to the the whole thing. I'm open to suggestions on other systems besides those mentioned above.

I'd love to try before I buy also so if you know of anyone or company which would let me do that I'd appreciate their contact details. 

All recommendations welcome and thanks in advance for your help.

Diarmuid in Kilkenny.

[Joe Keegan]

Hi Diarmuid

I would suggest that you look at the NCE Powercab which is easy to to use , is  expandable or the Roco Z21 which is expandable and you can use your smart phone/ wired controller / wireless controller.

Joe

[Noel]

Another vote for NCE Powercab. Easy to use, easy to programme locos, fabulous handheld cab ergonomics especially for eyes off use and sound locos with lots of functions. Setup the option button as shift and you have quick access to 26 functions. Throttle control via buttons for rotary knob, best of both worlds. Their more expensive Pro Cab system is basically the same, but is a 5amp system designed for larger layouts. IMHO Powercab would suit most Irish layouts and could be expanded anyway in the future if more power was needed (ie via booster), if there were to be a lot of locos running simultaneously on a layout. 

I have the Z21 too which is a good system, but just for me personally I don't like using smart phone touchscreen user interface to control a loco, its difficult to shunt due to the need to take eyes off the loco to look at the phone screen to position fingers, and more awkward to precisely control throttle setting sliding fingers on touch screen rather than the eyes off tactile feed back from a cab with physical buttons or knobs. But I know many folk who love their Z21. There is the more expensive black Z21, and the less expensive white Z21 which is sold on ebay as its removed from Roco starter train sets. You can plug Multimaus physical cabs into Z21 system for folks who prefer buttons.

The Lenz 100 system while a little dated is good quality and popular in Europe. Gaugemaster Prodigy advance (MRC) also popular, but personally I don't find it as easy to programme as the NCE and don't like the smaller buttons on the cab.

Have a look at as many systems as you can and suggest try a few if possible by visiting clubs or friends layouts. Once you hold a cab in your hand you'll know in an instant which is the right system for you. Don't be tempted by overly expensive systems like the ESU eCos 50200 with a lot of complicated functionality, looks amazing and as a tech geek I was drooling over it, but a games console system cannot be hand held.

 

[Billycan]

Agree with everything said by Joe and Noel and would add that over the past year or two there has been a growing support and knowledge sharing on this forum for NCE PowerCab users.

[David Holman]

Have tried both the Gaugemaster and Lenz systems. Both are ok, but not perfect, so sounds like NCE is the one to go for.

[irishthump]

I have used the Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance for years and have no complaints at all. It's very simple to use, I found the Powercab a little more involved when doing simple programming tasks. Gaugemaster also had excellent after sales service on the rare occasions I had any problems.

The only problem now is Brexit has made them difficult to get your hands on so I've been shopping around for an eventual replacement. I think I'll go for a Lenz Set101 when the time comes, I have no interest in iPhone or tablet control and I like the look of the Lenz handheld.

Incidentally, if anyone is selling or knows of anyone selling a Gaugemaster Prodigy please let me know. I'm constantly on the lookout for a spare!

[Noel]

Setting up double header consists is very easy. Good feel in hand, especially eyes off the cab so you can look only at the loco or train under control.

[Keano30]

21 hours ago, Noel said:

Another vote for NCE Powercab. Easy to use, easy to programme locos, fabulous handheld cab ergonomics especially for eyes off use and sound locos with lots of functions. Setup the option button as shift and you have quick access to 26 functions. Throttle control via buttons for rotary knob, best of both worlds. Their more expensive Pro Cab system is basically the same, but is a 5amp system designed for larger layouts. IMHO Powercab would suit most Irish layouts and could be expanded anyway in the future if more power was needed (ie via booster), if there were to be a lot of locos running simultaneously on a layout. 

I have the Z21 too which is a good system, but just for me personally I don't like using smart phone touchscreen user interface to control a loco, its difficult to shunt due to the need to take eyes off the loco to look at the phone screen to position fingers, and more awkward to precisely control throttle setting sliding fingers on touch screen rather than the eyes off tactile feed back from a cab with physical buttons or knobs. But I know many folk who love their Z21. There is the more expensive black Z21, and the less expensive white Z21 which is sold on ebay as its removed from Roco starter train sets. You can plug Multimaus physical cabs into Z21 system for folks who prefer buttons.

The Lenz 100 system while a little dated is good quality and popular in Europe. Gaugemaster Prodigy advance (MRC) also popular, but personally I don't find it as easy to programme as the NCE and don't like the smaller buttons on the cab.

Have a look at as many systems as you can and suggest try a few if possible by visiting clubs or friends layouts. Once you hold a cab in your hand you'll know in an instant which is the right system for you. Don't be tempted by overly expensive systems like the ESU eCos 50200 with a lot of complicated functionality, looks amazing and as a tech geek I was drooling over it, but a games console system cannot be hand held.

 

Thank you everyone I appreciate the advice and I will definitely go for this. 

Noel you mentioned that the 5amp one if better for bigger layouts. The layout I'm going to build will be quiet large see attached image, which I'm in the planning stage of right now. I presume you would recommend the Pro for this or not?

Edited January 8, 2022 by Keano30

[DJ Dangerous]

On 8/1/2022 at 3:13 PM, Keano30 said:

Thank you everyone I appreciate the advice and I will definitely go for this. 

Noel you mentioned that the 5amp one if better for bigger layouts. The layout I'm going to build will be quiet large see attached image, which I'm in the planning stage of right now. I presume you would recommend the Pro for this or not?

 

Which controller did you go for in the end, and what feedback would you have given, as a beginner?

[Evenescent]

I really recommend any NCE system, I don't like the Z21 system that my club uses, I don't find the  smart phone app to be simple to set up when taking a new loco to the club. 

HOWEVER, I've just been investigating the possibility of connecting the track output wires of an NCE Power Cab to the sniffer port of a Z21, there are number of pieces of info regarding this including ROCO's own web site if you search for their manuals then connections. But there is actual proof with a You Tube video https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=NCE+Power+Cab+%26+sniffer+port&newwindow=1&sca_esv=68bfdf527d5dcfbf&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIJl6WRyCqeeIC6mRcb8Wrb7V75_EQ%3A1719048119551&source=hp&ei=t5d2ZvPsHuqFhbIP1KeX4A0&iflsig=AL9hbdgAAAAAZnalx0B6w2JRPP6hRFhMlwB-tDmW7THM&ved=0ahUKEwizpI-k8e6GAxXqQkEAHdTTBdwQ4dUDCBQ&uact=5&oq=NCE+Power+Cab+%26+sniffer+port&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhxOQ0UgUG93ZXIgQ2FiICYgc25pZmZlciBwb3J0MgUQIRigATIFECEYoAFIpn1QAFiXbnAAeACQAQCYAVigAfsNqgECMji4AQPIAQD4AQGYAhugArIOwgILEAAYgAQYkQIYigXCAgoQABiABBhDGIoFwgIREC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYgwEYxwHCAgsQABiABBixAxiDAcICDhAAGIAEGLEDGIMBGIoFwgIOEC4YgAQYsQMYgwEYigXCAhQQLhiABBixAxiDARjHARiKBRivAcICCBAAGIAEGLEDwgINEC4YgAQYQxjUAhiKBcICCxAuGIAEGMcBGK8BwgIFEAAYgATCAg0QLhiABBjHARgKGK8BwgIKEC4YgAQYsQMYCsICBxAAGIAEGA3CAgYQABgNGB7CAgYQABgWGB7CAgcQIRigARgKwgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgQQIRgVmAMAkgcCMjegB5aJAQ&sclient=gws-wiz#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:077c2c46,vid:CZaVTlrj5Bs,st:0.

I hope to try this out soon but as you do need (according to Roco anyway) a 16v minimum in put from your "legacy" (as Roco term it) controller I'll use my Power Cab with a MERG NB2 Booster. I'll post further after I've tried it.

 

Cheers,

 

Eve

[Evenescent]

OH, and as for MRC/Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance 2, I had this before I changed to NCE. I was really annoyed with having to continually send my handsets back to Gaugemaster for repairs to the speed control rotary encoder. They would not send me a replacement rotary encoder which I could easily fit myself. 

Now my club has 2 Prodigy Advance 2's one a Gaugemaster and the other an MRC, both base units had packed up, I replaced a blown resistor in the MRC and 4 transistors in the Gaugemaster, I was however really shocked at how cheap and nasty the PCB's were, & very Chinese!

And I base that having explored the innards of my 5 amp NCE systems which are of much, much better quality.

Sorry if anybody takes umbridge at my comments, but I do have the experience of these systems.

Cheers,

Eve

[DJ Dangerous]

5 hours ago, Evenescent said:

I really recommend any NCE system, I don't like the Z21 system that my club uses, I don't find the  smart phone app to be simple to set up when taking a new loco to the club. 

HOWEVER, I've just been investigating the possibility of connecting the track output wires of an NCE Power Cab to the sniffer port of a Z21, there are number of pieces of info regarding this including ROCO's own web site if you search for their manuals then connections. But there is actual proof with a You Tube video https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=NCE+Power+Cab+%26+sniffer+port&newwindow=1&sca_esv=68bfdf527d5dcfbf&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIJl6WRyCqeeIC6mRcb8Wrb7V75_EQ%3A1719048119551&source=hp&ei=t5d2ZvPsHuqFhbIP1KeX4A0&iflsig=AL9hbdgAAAAAZnalx0B6w2JRPP6hRFhMlwB-tDmW7THM&ved=0ahUKEwizpI-k8e6GAxXqQkEAHdTTBdwQ4dUDCBQ&uact=5&oq=NCE+Power+Cab+%26+sniffer+port&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhxOQ0UgUG93ZXIgQ2FiICYgc25pZmZlciBwb3J0MgUQIRigATIFECEYoAFIpn1QAFiXbnAAeACQAQCYAVigAfsNqgECMji4AQPIAQD4AQGYAhugArIOwgILEAAYgAQYkQIYigXCAgoQABiABBhDGIoFwgIREC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYgwEYxwHCAgsQABiABBixAxiDAcICDhAAGIAEGLEDGIMBGIoFwgIOEC4YgAQYsQMYgwEYigXCAhQQLhiABBixAxiDARjHARiKBRivAcICCBAAGIAEGLEDwgINEC4YgAQYQxjUAhiKBcICCxAuGIAEGMcBGK8BwgIFEAAYgATCAg0QLhiABBjHARgKGK8BwgIKEC4YgAQYsQMYCsICBxAAGIAEGA3CAgYQABgNGB7CAgYQABgWGB7CAgcQIRigARgKwgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgQQIRgVmAMAkgcCMjegB5aJAQ&sclient=gws-wiz#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:077c2c46,vid:CZaVTlrj5Bs,st:0.

I hope to try this out soon but as you do need (according to Roco anyway) a 16v minimum in put from your "legacy" (as Roco term it) controller I'll use my Power Cab with a MERG NB2 Booster. I'll post further after I've tried it.

 

Cheers,

 

Eve

 

Welcome to the forum, Even.

Great way to introduce yourself. Try not to get too angry or you might blow a gasket like @Noel and his rants.

Just kidding, rant away - the more, the merrier!

[Evenescent]

Ahh that's not a rant!

Anyway i tried the PowerCab connected to a Z21 Black sniffer port and it worked fine.

I guess that the sniffer port connects to the booster within the Z21, so any DCC systems track output can be used. Roco states that the port requires a DCC system output signal minimum of 16v, so in the case of the Power Cab which works from a 13.8 v power source, I had to connect the Power Cab to another booster powered by a 16v power supply unit, then connect that to the Z21 sniffer port.

Cheers,

Eve

Edited June 22 by Evenescent

[Evenescent]

Some of you with NCE DCC systems might have used NCE's Mini Panel, which is a great bit of eqt for automation, layout control and route setting etc.. A large proportion of DCC Concepts products can easily be used with NCE systems, they have recently produced a new product called a Super Panel, which can only be used with NCE DCC Systems. The Super Panel is as you might expect similar to NCE's own Mini Panel, but is much, much more capable. The first thing that I noticed after unpacking is that each of the 50 odd terminals can do 2 actions compared to the Mini Panels 1 per terminal (30 terminals). This means that simple on-off switches are used, for instance to control a simple point left and right directions can used from 1 terminal, whereas the Mini Panel would have to use 2 terminals to do the same. The Mono panel can do sequences of 4 contiguous actions per terminal (no good for point control though), whereas the Super Panel can do 20 actions per terminal either as toggle switch closed or open, so that'd be 20 points that could be simultaneously controlled from one terminal and without using macros too.

I mentioned automation in a general sense, in particular the Super Panel is capable of locomotive automation too. So actions such as back and forth shuttles, with slowing, then stopping are possible as well as lights and sounds etc.

Some of these actions are possible with a Mini Panel too, but to match a single Super Panel multiples of Mini Panels would have to be used.

Cheers,

Eve

[Keano30]

On 24/7/2023 at 8:40 AM, DJ Dangerous said:

 

Which controller did you go for in the end, and what feedback would you have given, as a beginner?

I’ve gone for the Digitrax system. I’ve been using it now for some months and it does everything I need very well. But believe me I am at the beginning of my journey so I’ve allot to learn.