Model Railroading > Replace / Upgrade A DCC System(?)

My Digitrax DB-150 system is approaching its 25th birthday.  It still works fine!  But to be honest, I'm not sure if my system or anyone else's digital devices ever do go out-of-date(?).
Does anyone have suggestions (or experiences, or thoughts) to share about replacing their existing DCC systems for more modern technology? 
Perhaps phrasing the question better . . . has anyone bought a recent DCC platform that was light-years better than an older, reliable system?
I am simply wondering if it might be worth the investment to upgrade my present 25-year-old "works OK" system?
TIA

I'm in the same boat with my older, upgraded MRC wireless system that works very well but but needs further upgrading for the newer decoder CV's.

Discounting ESU's system which has a touch screen type throttle and seems a bit quirky, TCS has a new system out that seems to be in much favor by those who have purchased them. A bit pricey maybe when you start adding up throttles (I need four) but seems to be a worthwhile investment. Everyone raves about the throttles. LCC and railcom are the other tech features that seem to be on the rise. Mostly overkill for what I do currently.

Wifi seems to be big in newer wireless throttles and I would like to move towards a ProtoThrottle or two.
 
MRC is supposed to be coming out with their advanced system called NEXXT, but it been crickets lately as to when it might hit the shelves.

I'm sort of biding my time waiting for MRC to bring their system out, but if mine died tomorrow I would have zero problem ordering a CS105 from TCS based on what I've read so far.

I bought a Digitrax Chief system in the late 1990's and always struggled with doing things like consisting.  Last year I bought the TCS DCC system based on their new CS-105 command station which uses wifi UWT-100 throttles.  Very easy to use with menu driven consisting.  Here is the command station (right) just before I connected it to the DCC Concepts PSX circuit breakers and a Tam Valley Hex Frog Juicer to the far left.  I have 3 power districts presently on the layout which is why there are 3 PSX breakers in series.

Cheers,
Jim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/24 05:38 by SPDRGWfan.

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I know the discussion gets much more involved as you layer in more and more equipment. A local member went all in with TCS CS-105 and wifi, took some configuring, but he is very happy. No signaling, no detection to replace, just command station replacement. 

My digitrax system is only 3 years old, am 100% wifi (LNWI), zero utility ports, which was really nice not to have to wire. I thought about going TCS, but the LCC seems a bit complex for what I'm doing. My layout is fully CTC'd and fully detected. Replacing an old DCC system with 1:1 simple block protection should be easy. Add in other components, could get more complex. Yes, I know there is an LCC-loconet connector, and if I do replace my command station, I know I could connect up to loconet and still use mix of vendor equipment. I know it's best to stay with one vendor for compatibility, but as mentioned, there is newer, better stuff available today. 

As with all technology, gotta keep updating!!

Mike ONeill
Parker, CO

If your DCC system is working to your satisfaction then leave it alone!

I had many problems with my Digitrax system once it was a few years old.   I also did not like how it programed.    The grand blocks on my layout are controlled with rotary switches so I can run one of two MRC Controlmaster 20's, as in straight DC, or the Digitrax or an entry model corded NCE powercab model.    The NCE is much easier to program with.   I did bite the bullet (as in $1000 bullet) and changed to NCE and sold the Digitrax, which was wireless, but I did it because I had numerous problems with the Digitrax stuff.   If yours is working just use it until and if it dies or you decide a different system is better for your purposes.   I know plenty of guys that are happy with Digitrax and I know plenty that prefer NCE.

Richard.

ATSFSuperCap Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If your DCC system is working to your satisfaction
> then leave it alone!
>
> I had many problems with my Digitrax system once
> it was a few years old.   I also did not like
> how it programed.    The grand blocks on my
> layout are controlled with rotary switches so I
> can run one of two MRC Controlmaster 20's, as in
> straight DC, or the Digitrax or an entry model
> corded NCE powercab model.    The NCE is much
> easier to program with.   I did bite the bullet
> (as in $1000 bullet) and changed to NCE and sold
> the Digitrax, which was wireless, but I did it
> because I had numerous problems with the Digitrax
> stuff.   If yours is working just use it until
> and if it dies or you decide a different system is
> better for your purposes.   I know plenty of
> guys that are happy with Digitrax and I know
> plenty that prefer NCE.
>
> Richard.

This reinforces my view of Digitrax:  Some people swear By Digitrax, Some people swear at it.  Just MHO.  

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

My own thought... if it still works and does what you want, stick with it.  If you're looking for newer features/functions, than it may be worth a look.
 

Thanks, everyone, for the comments!
A Christmas gift to myself will likely include a new DCC system (replacing my aging technology)!
Rich
 

NSyorktown Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks, everyone, for the comments!
> A Christmas gift to myself will likely include a
> new DCC system (replacing my aging technology)!
> Rich

Let us know how you like your new TCS DCC system?  Or whatever you got.  I have found that consisting locos in my TCS UWT-100 throttle is pretty easy, something I was concerned with since my Digitrax system wasn't so easy to do that with.