HO DCC trains

[8stargazer]

Hello everyone.  I'm hoping for some advice.  I'm looking at a few HO-dcc entry level train sets to delve into the digital world.  Bachmann has the 501? two diesel set, Walther's has a dcc with sound, and then there is a Dymamis set with a steam loco.  Any takes on any of these?

Thanks ahead of time

[jward]

i'd go with the dynamis. it will grow with you,  some of the entry level dcc systems have very limited functionality, and you will quickly find that as you get more advanced they don't meet your needs. with dynamis, you should be able to get set up and running easily, then spend years discovering what its capabilities truly are.

[hawaiiho]

i'd go with the dynamis. it will grow with you,  some of the entry level dcc systems have very limited functionality, and you will quickly find that as you get more advanced they don't meet your needs. with dynamis, you should be able to get set up and running easily, then spend years discovering what its capabilities truly are.

The Dynamis is a good starter set, with one caveat. It is pricey to expand.


Will

[Doneldon]

star-

Welcome to model railroading and this board. I know you'll find so many aspects of this hobby that there are sure to be things which really interest you. It's worked for me for nearly 60 years.

I strongly agree with Jeff about going with Dynamis. It has significantly greater power output than EZCommand as well as allowing full DCC programming and the ability to run more trains (locomotives) at a time. Yes, it's more expensive than EZCommand but it is money very well spent. Other manufacturers have comparable entry-level DCC systems but they don't have any real advantages over Dynamis. It always makes sense to check what's out there and compare features but I think you have a very good option in Dynamis.

I can't, however, endorse your plan to buy a train set rather than getting your equipment "a la carte." Train set components tend to be a manufacturer's least expensive models, as a way to keep the overall cost down, but that typically means that operation and durability aren't the best. With Bachmann you are fortunate because the set locos are the same as what they sell individually; many other manufacturers use cheaper versions of their locos in sets. I guess I can't in good conscience advise you to avoid a train set, because they do tend to offer plenty of stuff for the money, but I will caution you against expecting the rolling stock to track perfectly have the best detail or last forever.

Bachmann's C&O set is a pretty good one, as sets go. The 2-8-0 locomotive has been around for a long time and has proven itself to be a dependable model. You'll probably get EZ Mate couplers, which are good, but I'm thinking you'll probably get plastic wheels which you'll want to change to metal sooner or later. (That's not difficult or particularly expensive but it's something which usually isn't needed with separately purchased cars.)

Don't pay anything like full price for the set.  The Favorite Spot, a seller which is often cited on this board for its excellent service, has the set for $265 with shipping.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spectrum-HO-Scale-Train-Set-Dynamis-DCC-Tsunami-Sound-Commander-C-O-01401-/141056605591?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item20d7a0fd97

You may need to copy and paste that address into your browser's address box, but try just clicking on it first.

                                                                                                                                                                   -- D

[Bob_B]

I recently bought the Dynamis system and totally happy with it. I'd agree with others that entry level sets aren't the way to go if you want the best possible layout. I believe some have steel track for starters and nickel silver is a much better option.
I purchased from a local dealer who bulk imports from The Favorite Spot and I got most of my equipment at well below retail. The Dynamis was on special and nearly half price. It pays to shop around!
Expanding the Dynamis system is comparatively expensive but you may not find it necessary and you can always wait for that "special" sale to make it easy on the wallet.

To recap. Buy what you really want and need rather than a starter set that will no doubt become redundant very quickly once you expand your layout.

[rbryce1]

I suggest you research all the brands before buying.  You will find they all have price advantages and disadvantages, but are not that far apart in the end once you start expanding.  Some are cheap to start with, but really pricy to expand on, while others are the opposite.  I started with Dynamis, but moved to something else when I had difficulty expanding.  There are several threads on this forum regarding good and bad things about Dynamis, read all of them before you decide.  If you are starting out and don't intend to expand, Dynamis is a good consideration, but there are many threads here about the inability of the Dynamis/Pro Box combination to use the 5 amp booster, which will limit you to the 2 amps of the Dynamis.

Do your research before you commit.  Don't even think about steel track.  It will give you a bad taste of model railroading for the wrong reasons, especially in DCC.   In DCC, small amounts of rust on the rails may stop the engine, as DCC relies on the computer signal getting from the rails to the decoder, and small resistances can stop that signal in it's tracks (wow, a pun!).  Go with Nickle Silver, even if it means not buying a train set but getting the items seperately.  THey are easy to tell apart, Nickle Silver has grey roadbed while steel has black roadbed.

I am not trying to discourage you from Bachmann, quite the contrary.  But when you purchase a control system and find it does not suite your needs, you may develop a poor attitude towards that manufacturer's products, when it was not their fault, but the buyers fault.  Simply do your research, go to train stores and try out their display units, go to train shows and see the different brands, find other model railroaders and/or model railroad clubs in your area and see what they are using ... and why.

DCC is really great, flexible and lots of fun, but it can get costly, especially if you jump into it and then decide to start over later.  How do I know this .......

Good luck

[Jerrys HO]

i'd go with the dynamis. it will grow with you,  some of the entry level dcc systems have very limited functionality, and you will quickly find that as you get more advanced they don't meet your needs. with dynamis, you should be able to get set up and running easily, then spend years discovering what its capabilities truly are.

The Dynamis is a good starter set, with one caveat. It is pricey to expand.


Will

I believe any set is pricey to expand on. The more you add or upgrade the more you will pay.
I started with the Diesel commander set and the Digital commander set,both come with the EZ Command and have no regrets other than the capabilities of setting cv's and using all the functions on some of my better equipped loco's. EZ Command has allowed me to learn about DCC as I progressed on my layout and it still controls my 30x16 layout with no problems. I still run both sets on my layout and it has been a little over 5yrs. now. I do intend to upgrade to a better controller in the near future.

Jerry

[jward]

jerry,
in other words you've outgrown ez command, and found it wasn't upgradable to something better. that is the thing I don't like about ezcommand, and the whole reason I recommended dynamis. all entry level dcc systems are not created equal.

it is also my understanding that the walthers trainline sets dcc system is even more limited in capability than ez command. it is made by digitrax, whose other products have an excellent reputation ( I use them myself) but whether it is upgradable to something better when the need arises I don't know.


dcc has some distinct advantages. on most systems, you can program all your locomotives to work together, and to run the way YOU want them to, regardless of gear ratio. the biggest downside I've seen is the need for clean track all the time.

[Jerrys HO]

Posted by: jward    Posted on: Today at 05:05:50 AM
Insert Quote
jerry,
in other words you've outgrown ez command, and found it wasn't upgradable to something better. that is the thing I don't like about ezcommand, and the whole reason I recommended dynamis. all entry level dcc systems are not created equal.

Yes Jeff I have finally outgrown the EZ Command and don't regret learning with it. I am ready to play with all the functions in my loco's. I know I will have as much of a learning curve as I did when I was trying to learn about the whole DCC thing (what am I talking about, you never stop learning). Yes the Dynamis would be a great starter set I agree, but I am glad I chose the EZ Command as I am a slow learner. I learn by doing and correcting my mistakes, kind of hard interpreting others knowledge sometimes so I kinda follow their advice and add my own twist into it. Wow gotta be careful doing that!

All I can recommend is follow rbryce's suggestion and do a lot of research on DCC and then follow your gut instinct. It may be wrong but it may be right, but it will make you crazy(little quote from Billy Joel, hope there is no copyright issues there )
Also keep in touch here on this forum with any help you may need. Just remember not to ask for comparison's to another brand or bash another brand. These guy's rock with knowledge.

Jerry

[Doneldon]

The Dynamis is a good starter set, with one caveat. It is pricey to expand.

Will-

Yes, it's pricey to expand but all of the systems are. One way to beat the power upgrade cost is to use a booster other than Bachmann's unit. Bachmann's hand helds and remote units are similarly priced to other manufacturers' equipment. I personally prefer RF remote to IR but IR can work just fine in the right space (i.e., not too huge, everything visible from at least one point, etc.)
                                                                                                                                                                   -- D

[rbryce1]

I have 2 layouts, one is permanent and large, and the other is a Christmas temporary layout, and also large.  The permanent layout runs six trains with upwards of 16 locomotives at once while the Christmas layout runs 3 trains using 7 locomotives.  

I started with the Bachmann Dynamis, then added the Pro box.  Had lots of problems with the Dynamis failing to communicate in the vicinity of fluorescent lighting.  Removed the fluorescent light bulbs and the problem went away.  Then, when I started running more locomotives,  I tried using the Bachmann 5 amp booster  and it would not work with the Dynamis and Pro Box combination, only with the EZ Command units, even though Bachmann's literature said it would.  After many, many threads here and trials & tests, I gave up.  I sold the Dynamis and Pro Box and replaced it with the Bachmann EZ Command unit, which does work with the Bachmann 5 amp controller.

I now have an NCE SuperCab controller with 2 NCE 5 amp boosters running the permanent layout, which gives me the ability to run multiple cabs, multiple 5 amp boosters and the ability to program DCC controllers, all under florescent lighting and I am using the Bachmann EZ Controller with the Bachmann 5 amp booster on the Christmas layout, as it is very easy for visitors to operate trains.  All trains are on separate tracks so no collisions can occur, and all of the Christmas layout locomotives are programmed so that no train can go fast enough to jump the track, which makes it safe for visiting children to run the trains and have a ball.

[GG1onFordsDTandI]

......  , and all of the Christmas layout locomotives are programmed so that no train can go fast enough to jump the track, which makes it safe for visiting children to run the trains and have a ball.

Ive never had/seen ho trains run that fast in the past! I thought it a problem unique to the larger scales. Ive never ran an ho steamer is that it? Or would you attribute this to the better power supplies?, or better locos? Back in the 60s my Gramps had to add resistors to a block on a toggled bypass to keep the kids on track. Large ceramic ones, but those things got blisteringhot after a while, my cousin will tell you (O gauge). 

[rbryce1]

None of the Bachmann, Bowser or Athearn engines I have are a problem with too much speed.  I have a small 2-6-0 steam engine that pulls 5 old time excursion cars, that can really crank it up, and in some of the turns can get pretty dicy.  Another is a set of AC6000 diesels by Broadway Limited that can get out of control coming down a grade and entering a turn.  I programmed the max speed step for the engines so they cannot do this.  All the other engines I have capable of going too fast are not on the Christmas layout.

[hawaiiho]

The Dynamis is a good starter set, with one caveat. It is pricey to expand.

Will-

Yes, it's pricey to expand but all of the systems are. One way to beat the power upgrade cost is to use a booster other than Bachmann's unit. Bachmann's hand helds and remote units are similarly priced to other manufacturers' equipment. I personally prefer RF remote to IR but IR can work just fine in the right space (i.e., not too huge, everything visible from at least one point, etc.)
                                                                                                                                                                   -- D

I did not want to clob brands together, so I priced using all Bachmann equipment and hunted for the best  prices, I could find.

The cost would have been nearly $200 dollars higher to upgrade the Dynamis,  than replacing the Dynamis with a new DCC system .

I now have a 5 amp system that will probably handle anything I will ever have, PLUS I now can use my computer to program

all my DCC locomotives and accessories and run my layout. Over five years ago, Bachmann originally promised to upgrade the ProBox to permit

computer connection, but to the best of my knowledge has not done so even as yet. Though I really did not plan it, by not upgrading;  but

replacing the Dynamis with an entire new system I saved money and gained more capabilities than I could get expanding the Dynamis.

Will

[Doneldon]

Will-

Truth be told, I prefer to stay with one manufacturer's goods myself. I was
merely pointing out an alternative. I'm glad you were ale to configure a system
which meets your needs without breaking the figurative bank.
                                                                                                   -- D