NCE or Digitrax

On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 04:25:44 UTC, "Paul McGraw" wrote: 2000

I posted some negative comments on the NCE radio throttle. First let me describe the layout. It is in a room that is approximately 45' x

65'. The antenna is pretty much in the middle, hung from the false ceiling. It is closer to one end of the 65' dimension, near the command station. The layout is double deck so there are a few areas where the antenna is blanked by the benchwork, especially when the throttle is held at a comfortable level.

The first problem is acquiring a locomotive. With the radio throttle it is a hit or miss proposition with many more misses than hits. This occurs even when each button is held down for several seconds. That is why road crews (the only ones who use the radio throttles) normally carry a throttle cord. That way they can plug in and acquire. From then on things are okay. When running on a road job the throttles are adequate since fast response isn't really necessary. On occasion when running at constant speed the throttles shut down due to inactivity. This again is not a real problem since as soon as you notice it you can reactivate the throttle. I would hate to be heading for a cornfield meet in this case but so far this has never happened.

The throttles are essentially useless for switching due to the delay. During a non-operating session when I was the only one running it was acceptable. Normally we have some 15 to 20 throttles active during an operating session.

On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 23:19:54 UTC, Jim Holland wrote: 2000

One other system to look at is CVP's Easy DCC. A couple of people in our group have it and are happy. But the layouts are small.

On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 21:34:05 UTC, Kennedy (no longer not on The Haggis!) wrote: 2000

That has been my experience.

Unfortunately the spammers don't seem to have any difficulty no matter how hard I try to avoid them. ........F>

It doesn't matter about a new throttle. AFAIK there is no super DT-400 coming soon. There may be new issues and/or upgrades on other throttles, but it is really unimportant as any new release will be timed to occur exactly three weeks after you make your purchase, whenever that might be. You can do it now or wait until next year, it will be the same three week interval. that is just the way it is.

I just got in from an op session this evening where I used my DT-400 and was reminded, yet again, how much I like it and how easy it is to use.

........F>

I don't think you should discount radio control if all you're concerned about is "starts and stops". I believe the majority of folks here are upset with the use of radio control when doing switching operations. I've personally given up on NCE's radio simply because of the horrible random-length delays between issuing a command and acting upon it. However, once it's up and running, I can do frequent starts and stops and reverses without concern.

Isn't it a crock that NCE even suggests such a wierd configuration? Most of us take many pains to hide our wiring, and they say the best way to use their radio is to hang the corded base station from the ceiling! Personally, I think they're more concerned about the operator being too close to the base station, which they admit can overload it with commands.

There is a setting that will disable this - I believe you input a "0" and it won't turn off the throttle. The only other time this has happened to me is when the batteries were low on juice.

On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 15:09:28 UTC, "Frank Eva" wrote: 2000

I will check into this. I don't use the radio throttles since I rarely run as a road crew. I bid for the local jobs.

Good Morning!

I still want individual operators. Out on the line equipment is spaced further apart, but in *Town* settings, equipment operates much closer than trains. Just operate like prototype trolleycars which use spacing and stopping rules before pulling in immediately behind another piece of equipment.

Conflict in usage observations --- some find the delay too much, others just so-so!

Jim