What is the concensus between Digtrax and NCE

[Randij]

I know Digitrax has a large part of the market, but with all the evolution is it most versatile?
Has NCE improved on the product of DCC?
If you are starting out with the intention of using a good product what would you consider outside of the club is running it?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I never really even compared products.

All of my friends and the clubs I belong to use Digitrax, so I use Digitrax. There's a real network effect in place because, not only can you get help, but you can also use your throttles across environments.

I'm not in love with Digitrax, honestly, but it seems to be ok.

[djconway]

I've been using Digitrax since Feb-1997 - haven't looked back. 
What sold me then and I still use it now was the ability to connect to my PC and program the functions on my locos.

[garethashenden]

I never really even compared products.

All of my friends and the clubs I belong to use Digitrax, so I use Digitrax. There's a real network effect in place because, not only can you get help, but you can also use your throttles across environments.

I'm not in love with Digitrax, honestly, but it seems to be ok.

I'm pretty much the same, but with NCE.

[Randij]

If you are starting off and yes help is available in clubs for Digitrax, does it make it the best choice?
Yes, there is help, but is that the only criteria for buying it?

[C855B]

I faced this exact conundrum five years ago. Decision was to go with Digitrax because that's what the club uses. However, I don't regret it.

NCE's advantage is a better user interface, and the one-piece design for the handheld PowerCab makes it a nice entry system. Digitrax' plus is a much more robust support system, including a goodly number of 3rd-party add-ons. Digitrax'... uh... "challenging" user interface can be circumvented with smart phones if you make the jump to JMRI.

Bottom line, IMO: it's the system building blocks that make Digitrax the better choice for growth. I started my own system with the entry-level Zephyr, then added a couple of throttles. Now that I'm growing out of it, it has a home on my workbench, and I don't have to learn a new system for either the club or my under-construction bigger layout.

[Bendtracker1]

Anyone can tell you that they like system "X" for any number of reasons.
The best thing you can do is to ask questions, keep the answers in mind and then find a person or club who is using each system and  play with each system and get a feel of what each system can do and how they handle.  Take them for a test drive if you will.
They both have their pros and cons, the trick is to see which system fits your needs and works for you.
I started with Digitrax in 97 as well.  Our group made a group purchase so we all had the same system and could help each other out.
At the time Digitrax seems to have better options.

Digitrax has a bit harder learning curve than NCE, but to me it seems more flexible and expandable.
NCE seems to be a little more user friendly to learn.  I've heard it's more intuitive.  Not sure how expandable it is as I haven't been exposed to it.

[wazzou]

If you are starting off and yes help is available in clubs for Digitrax, does it make it the best choice?
Yes, there is help, but is that the only criteria for buying it?

Certainly not, but in my case and I'm sure that of others, it is a big one.  Just think of potential questions or problems you'd encounter that I'm sure your fellow Digitrax users had experienced themselves.

[Philip H]

Being the lone wolf NCE user surrounded by Digitrax hounds . . . I find NCE's user interface worth the price of isolation.  I just can't work Digitrax throttles unless there's a JMRI set-up for my smartphone.  NCE is every bit as expandable as Digitrax - there's even computer modules with USB input that can allow the use of JMRI.  NCE also has block detection that rivals or exceeds Digitrax, and the have wireless radio cabs like Digitrax.  So unles syou just don't like the ProCab and PowerCab paddles, you loose nothing using it as far as i can tell.

[jnevis]

I have been looking at both while waiting to get a layout started worth using DCC.  That said, my understanding is the biggest reason most of the clubs use Digitrax has more to do with bulk buy discounts early on than actual function of the system.  I have been leaning towards the NCE system, as I like the one hand operation.  It appears just as expandable as the Digitrax and price for a "starter" set up is comparable.  There is a DCC to PC interface module so control from tablet, phone, ect is possible.  There are Yahoo groups for both to get answers to questions as needed.

[C855B]

I'll interject here... if this decision is going to influence a club's choice, NCE has an issue in the very narrow instance of using their wireless system in public show settings - it is not friendly with Digitrax' duplex wireless. The NCE system will have no problem, any Digitrax duplex users within "earshot" will be shut down.

We confirmed this the hard way at a large show with an official Digitrax presence. We had adopted their duplex system right after it was released, and this was a new show for us. Since the product was new and they wanted to solve the real-world problem, a couple of Digitrax guys spent two hours with our layout trying to figure out why our duplex throttles would lose control and go offline, yet no issues with simplex. As it turned out, there was another layout 50 feet away from us running NCE wireless, and I pointed this out to the Digitrax techs. The other club graciously shut down for a few minutes, and voila!, we were golden. Diagnosis was that NCE has a constant "broadcast" network on 2.4GHz and more or less hogs the shared frequency band. Across the large hall wouldn't have been a problem, but that we were close made a mess of things.

As I said, an isolated instance with a very specific set of conditions, but something to be aware of. One of those "...potential questions or problems you'd encounter that I'm sure your fellow Digitrax users had experienced themselves" that Bryan mentioned.

[Denver Road Doug]

I think Digitrax and NCE are both good choices.   Like many, I chose Digitrax simply because it was more common in "my circle" but even that isn't really necessarily the case anymore.   For a bit, I was hell bent on setting up the detection/transponding infrastructure that Digitrax has available but that plan has taken a backseat.    So, if I started over I'm not sure what I would do, but it would be one of those two for sure.

I like the "dual throttle" capability of the Digitrax controllers, which is especially nice for small layouts. (having the ability to easily/instantly control one train running while switching with another)

[Catt]

Two of the clubs here use NCE,the club I am in is one of them but most of our decoders are Digitrax.I'm not sure why it just seems to work that way.I have no idea what the sound guys are using but it most likely is what ever the manufacturer put in the loco.

I use Digitrax in my HO because (1) I can afford them and (2) they do what I need to do.Come to think of it my N scale stuff have Digitrax decoders too,but I bought them that way.

[Rossford Yard]

I wouldn't forget MRC unless you have real plans for complicated signaling, etc.

I always wanted NCE, most people seem to think its the best, although many settle for less expensive systems.  At least I did, starting with a Digitrax on sale, and going to a simpler for most functions MRC (also deeply discounted at time of purchase.)

Looking back and using the old insurance salesman trick of "just pennies a day" it probably makes sense to buy what you want.  As to club influence, I know it seemed like more clubs around here had Digitrax, which short of influenced the local market. As time goes on here in DFW, it seems the market is getting split up 3 ways between Digitrax, NCE and MRC on home layouts.

It may be that you may not have to bring your throttles to the club, or can buy one digitrax throttle if that is all you need there.  That allows you to enjoy your layout at home.

As you can tell, I am not a big Digitrax fan, because of the user interface. It looks like they are overly proud of their nerd status and wanted to make it as confusing as possible, where the others pretty much make it simpler.  Your opinion may vary, of course.

[sumfred]

I'm using a NCE Power Cab and Digitrax decoders (both sound and simple) and am very happy. Using the Digitrax decoders allows me to reprogram the sounds using my computer.
Fred