Update on Best DCC Starter Set for 2025

[basementcalling]

Yes, Petski, I searched the forum.     Every thread on a starter set discussion I found was old, like back in the last decade, so I thought it time for a more up to date discussion.

What set would you DCC hats recommend for a new starter system for a guy who has limited DCC experience, but needs to take the plunge with a new layout.

I'd like it to be simple to use - maybe even as simple as hook up two wires to the track and go like I was originally told DCC could be.

It should have the ability to be expanded as the layout grows from a small/medium switching layout designed for one to operate usually solo, to a medium sized port with jobs for 2-4 operators. Initial operations would likely be 1 train orbiting on the main while I work switching areas while keeping out of its way.

Wireless control might be essential as the layout grows, but not at first in the early stages. So the system should have the ability to add that feature, even without an upgrade to a more powerful command station in terms of voltage.

Can it play with a proto throttle? No sound equipped locos yet, but if I downsize the engine collection to match the needs of a simpler layout, putting some of the yard sale money into sound might become a thing.

I might also want a portable system - one with a controller that could move between several smaller layouts, as that might be the pathway my current interests take.

What are the options out there?  Not really impressed with the Digitrax Zephyr. NCE Powercab looks intriguing, but the limited power of 2A is concerning. Are there other systems that have come along since the 2010s that are worth looking into?

[Sumner]

I'm a DCC-EX user and up until now you had to put the command station together.  Not hard, about an hour job but still too much for some.  Well they have just released a complete DCC-EX command station that is complete, no assembly, no software loading.  Plug the power supply and connect the wires to the track and in 5 minutes you are running trains.  It has WiFi that is built in and will take up to 10 operators.  Will run with a wireless phone throttle right away or with some of the commercial wiFi throttles like a TCS WiFi throttle.

Good news is that the US price is in the $130-$150 range, bad news is they might be swamped with orders for a while.  More info on the site...

https://dcc-ex.com/ex-commandstation/ready-to-run/index.html#gsc.tab=0

Don't let the price make it seem like the system is a low end system.  It isn't, has features that systems 3-4 times the cost don't have like the ability to also run DC locos with the same wireless throttles.   Take a look at Jimmy's video for instance....

Take a look at the comments also.  It is a 5 amp command station and one can set the trip amperage lower.

Sumner

[Scottl]

I like DCC-EX a lot, especially with wifi-phone trottles.  It does require some hands-on and is not for everyone.

For an out of the box set, NCE Pro Cab is great, attach two wires (skip the programming track, who needs it) and intuitive to run.  The 2A capacity is fine for a large layout with 1-2 users and a handful of trains. 

[peteski]

If low price is a factor then I still recommend NCE Power Cab.  It is a vintage design but still robust and as intuitive (at least to me) as a DCC system can be.  It is also basically 2-wire hookup (since the throttle, command station, and the booster are all built into the handheld throttle unit).

As purchased, it can run 4 locos.  As it is simple, it does nto have WiFi interface, so no ProtoThrottle.  But it is expandable. More NCE ProCabs can be added for multiple operators to run trains.  There is also USB interface available so it can be connected to a PC running JMRI, so all the JMRI capabilities will then be available (including WiFi).

I also understand that TCS is now producing a DCC system. I have not looked into it, but it might be something to look into as it is a newly-design system.

[mu26aeh]

My boss goes straight to the NCE Power Cab with no questions asked.  I usually ask the important questions, are you lone wolf, belong to a club, have friends with systems ?  Depending on the answers is what I suggest.  If you have friends with layouts or a club, go with whatever system they have, after asking if they'd buy the same system again.  You have instant troubleshooting help because 9/10 times they have had the same problem you are having and can walk you thru the solution.  2ndly you now have a throttle that you can bring along for open house or ops sessions.

[Maletrain]

I'll second the comments on the NCE Power Cab, with the additions that it really only puts out about 1.4 amps continuous before its wall wart power supply trips.  Still I can run a lot of N scale locos on 1.4 amps (about 10 actually running, not just sitting still).  And, although the proprietary NCE radio system is not cheap or simple, the WFD-30 ( http://wifitrax.com/products/product-WFD-30-detail.html ) is an inexpensive and easy plug-in to the cab bus that will run cell phone throttles and the TCS WiFi throttles.  There is also a ProtoThrottle interface for NCE.

After saying all of that, I will also second the advice to get something that matches/mates with whatever is being used by a nearby friend or your club (if there is one you belong to or might join).  Even the "easy starter systems" result in lots of questions on the groups.io user groups.  All systems have their quirks, and too often, what you think you know about DCC is actually just what a friend told you about HIS system that might be different for your system.  "Consisting" locomotives is a common source of confusion, because there are actually 4 ways to do it, and different systems do it differently by default.

I have the NCE Power Cab system at home, and like it a lot.  It seems better for programming CVs than the Digitrax systems I have used in the past to do that, mainly because it has a good user interface and higher voltage (but still limited current) to the programming track, so does better with sound decoders.

That said, I just did buy a Digitrax DCS52 for my club to use for T-Trak - because the club uses Digitrax.  I can buy a Digitrax LNWI to allow cell phone WiFi throttles to be used.  That just needs to be plugged into the LocoNet jack on the DCS52, and is also cheap and easy.  There is also a ProtoThrottle interface for Digitrax.

The new TCS LT-50 (https://yankeedabbler.com/products/tcs-lt-50-layout-throttle-lcc-system-dcc-command-station-all-scale ) is very similar to the NCE Power Cab system, and like the NCE system, is designed for upgrading/expanding in the future.  It has a more modern electronics base, and has good vendor participation in its groups.io group (unlike Digitrax and NCE, which don't participate in their equipment's users' groups).  It is even compatible with Digitrax and NCE throttles.  If i were starting from scratch today, I would give it a serious look.  But, I do not have any experience with it myself to share with you.

Whatever you buy, I suggest joining the appropriate groups.io group to get help.

And of course, your Plaid Membership here is always good for advice, some of it even good advice. 

[basementcalling]

Been narrowing down options and think it's s down to the DCC-EX or TCS LT50.

Not really a fan of phone throttles. I like a tactile button over a screen I have to look at to press the right place. I know that from my limited gaming experiences.

DCC EX does get points for being 5amp and having the wifi built in though. And it looks less expensive to expand to a proto throttle
down the road, one day after I win the lottery.

The LT50 seems very plug and chug, use it right away with no set up other than connecting the wires. A bit concerned is only 1.4 amps output though. Not sure that will be adequate to grow with the layout i have planned. And upgrading it to 5amps seems to involve much more expensive options, as in a new booster and then new throttle. Wired is fine for a HCD or shelf switching layout, but as stage 2 gets built out the cord won't be long enough anymore.

Am I missing anything?

[Sumner]

....Not really a fan of phone throttles. I like a tactile button over a screen I have to look at to press the right place. I know that from my limited gaming experiences.

DCC EX does get points for being 5amp and having the wifi built in though. And it looks less expensive to expand to a proto throttle
down the road, one day after I win the lottery.

The LT50 seems very plug and chug, use it right away with no set up other than connecting the wires. A bit concerned is only 1.4 amps output though. Not sure that will be adequate to grow with the layout i have planned. And upgrading it to 5amps seems to involve much more expensive options, as in a new booster and then new throttle. Wired is fine for a HCD or shelf switching layout, but as stage 2 gets built out the cord won't be long enough anymore.

Am I missing anything?

Not hard to connect or buy ($35) a physical throttle knob to .....



..... add to an Android phone throttle running EngineDriver, which is an unbelievable app. 

https://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/DCC/page-3.html

No buttons for other controls though and I also like those.  I use....


https://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/DCC/WiTcontroller-Index.html


https://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/DCC/HandCab-Index.html

.... my Wifi throttles with buttons and other functions via the keypad but admit they aren't for everyone to build but are very inexpensive (around $50) if one does go down that path. 

Also agree that getting rid of a throttle tether is big especially if the layout is larger.  I second the DCC-EX with the ProtoThrottle down the road and a phone or tablet throttle as a fill in until then  You won't need to start over at that point looking for a better command station.  The DCC-EX command station will take you into the future with all of it capabilities.  Also you could get into a commercial WiFi wireless throttle for around $200 if the wait for the ProtoThrottle becomes too long.

Sumner

[DMU-Fan]

While I can't vouch for the TCS LT-50 Starter system, I have the TCS UWT-50 throttle (the wireless version of the throttle that ships in the LT-50 system) and I find it extremely easy to use! The TCS DCC throttles have a very cool version of consisting, which doesn't require programing of the locomotives in the consist. The consist lives in the throttle, and you don't need to remember a consist address, you just continue to talk to the individual locomotives in the consist, and the other locomotives you have assigned to the consist follow the instructions you have given to the single loco! The throttles are very easy to use, clearly marked, and feel very good in the hand. If you don't care about wireless right up front, the LT-50 would be a great way to go. If you DO care about wireless, I would recommend going with the UWT-50 throttle and the WFD-27 base station by WifiTrax (http://www.wifitrax.com/products/product-WFD-27-detail.html). You need a power supply to work with this, but other than that, you are all set. Having tried the wireless systems by NCE, Digitrax, and MRC, I can say that sticking to this open source wifi based wireless is a much better decision. You can add phones or tablets for cheap (for other people!), and if someone else has another UWT throttle they can bring it over to you. If you go to someone else's house, and they are running the wifi throttle module on JMRI, you already have a compatible throttle. No worrying about if your throttle is compatible with their DCC system!

[peteski]

There are 3 types of DCC consisting. https://dccwiki.com/Multiple_Unit_Consisting

The most basic is when all the locos in the consist are programmed with the same address.

Next is "universal consist" in which the consist configuration is set up and retained within the command station (or in a WiFi throttle). 

Then there is the advanced consist where CV19 is used. In some brands of DCC, some additional info is retained in the command station.

The consist in TCS UVT-50 sounds like a universal consist.  Both Digitrax and NCE also have always been capable of this type of consisting, so it is not anything new.

[Maletrain]

To avoid confusion, I think it is best to differentiate between having the consist info in the throttle and having it in the command station - so 4 means instead of 3.

The basic difference for the operator is that consists made in the command station can be operated by any throttle connected to that command station, but consists made in a throttle will only be consisted for that throttle.  For somebody else to use the same consist, you have to hand them your throttle, or get them to make the same consist in their throttle, too.

And, if somebody else uses another throttle to control one of the locos in a consist that is made in your throttle, then that loco will still obey commands from the other throttle, too, messing with the consist.  (Yes, it actually happens).  That is because the command station and the decoders do not "know" that the throttle has the locos in a consist.

[DMU-Fan]

You’re both right, I had forgotten this was a feature on my old MRC Prodigy system. They referred to it as “Old Style” consisting. All I can say is, I much prefer this style, as I tend to take my throttle with me, so the consists remain. Plus I don’t need to remember the consist number, I can just pull up the loco on my throttle. Plus you can operate each loco’s features independently, so it’s easy to turn lights on and off! Anyway, I stand by the WifiTrax base station. A great option if you don’t want to roll your own DCC-EX, or purchase a wired only version like the NCE and TCS options. I will say, the Prodigy system was also great, also easy to use, and as I recall, pretty easy on the wallet.

[peteski]

You’re both right, I had forgotten this was a feature on my old MRC Prodigy system. They referred to it as “Old Style” consisting. All I can say is, I much prefer this style, as I tend to take my throttle with me, so the consists remain. Plus I don’t need to remember the consist number, I can just pull up the loco on my throttle. Plus you can operate each loco’s features independently, so it’s easy to turn lights on and off!

NCE DCC  system also handles their consists that way. You don't  have to use some arbitrary consist address - you can use one of the locos "real" address.