What is the concensus between Digtrax and NCE

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Mark, it's a combination of factors. I used Digitrax in some Ntrak layouts years ago and it was nothing but problematic. They just didn't respond. Also, they are ugly as hell, they just feel gross in the hand and I don't want to put my hard earned money on a system that hasn't seen innovation in over a decade.

The ESU Android app is the reason why I'm looking at their system. Prices are high, but the system is so damn sexy.

[mark dance]

I don't wish to leave the wrong impression about Digitrax and don't' hesitate to recommend it if it meets your other needs...I have been very happy with it. the only weakness for me has been the quality of the duplexing radio.

The small UT4Ds are the work horses of the layout,  the operators (mostly HO-ers) all like them, and by and large I believe the layout performs very well relative to all the layouts I have operated on. I personally agree with the DT400's usability, or lack thereof, however the NCE hammerhead throttles seems to be similarly "over-whelming".  We therefore use the DT400s for special jobs like in the diesel house area and running transfers from hidden staging (both home road crew jobs not for visiting operator jobs) and everyone else uses the 7 UTs.

We have 8-9 loco operators at a time with max 2-3 people plugged in.  Save for last month's session, we will have only occasional radio issues causing momentary loss of control. A friend runs CVP throttles over a Lenz system and his radio issues seem no less problematic than mine.  This being said even "occasional" is more than I like which is why I now have wi-throttle set up as well and we will test this next week.   

md

[Bendtracker1]

The small UT4Ds are the work horses of the layout,  the operators (mostly HO-ers) all like them, and by and large I believe the layout performs very well relative to all the layouts I have operated on. I personally agree with the DT400's usability, or lack thereof, however the NCE hammerhead throttles seems to be similarly "over-whelming".  We therefore use the DT400s for special jobs like in the diesel house area and running transfers from hidden staging (both home road crew jobs not for visiting operator jobs) and everyone else uses the 7 UTs.

I'll echo Marks statement.  I have 6 of the UT4r's and the crews love them.  They're a nice one handed, no look throttle that can be operated with a thumb for the speed and forefinger for the direction, leaving the other hand free.
I also have a couple of the DT402r's, one I carry around or leave in the fiddle /staging yard.  The other is kept on the shortline at Malvern.  The local switcher is on one knob and the other knob controls the road units.  This has worked very for well for convenience sake.

[conrail98]

I'll echo Marks statement.  I have 6 of the UT4r's and the crews love them.  They're a nice one handed, no look throttle that can be operated with a thumb for the speed and forefinger for the direction, leaving the other hand free.
I also have a couple of the DT402r's, one I carry around or leave in the fiddle /staging yard.  The other is kept on the shortline at Malvern.  The local switcher is on one knob and the other knob controls the road units.  This has worked very for well for convenience sake.

One more on this. Mostly all road crews use the UT4Rs on the layouts I operate on. Only those doing special switching, like yardmaster or tower operators, use the DT40Xs, and even then not everyone does. I operate on all but one Digitrax layout with the other being NCE. I just don't see the greatness of NCE. I always use my EngineDriver phone throttle when I go over to the NCE layout. If I had to make my decision outside of the group I operate with, I'd give serious consideration to CVP. I've seen and heard nothing but great things about it and those that have it don't really ever say it works great except, they seem to really like it,

Phil

[Ken Rice]

The digitrax UT4r and the NCE Cab04pr are both nice throttles.  The UT4r is a good size, has nice knob, and I like the actual toggle switch for direction.  I don't like the knobs to select the loco.  The Cab04pr is Just a trifle thicker than I'd like, and the two poke buttons for forward and reverse are slightly less desirable than a toggle switch, but everything else about it I like a little more than the UT4r.
My personal theory is that if you got one of each and locked them in a dark room with appropriate mood music, you might end up with the perfect throttle a few months later.   

[subwaynm]

I'm also using NCE Powercab with a mix of Digitrax & TCS Decoders with no problems noted, but I don't belong to a Club.  I just use the system on my Home Layout