I went NCE because of the prodding of one of my friends, Dan Kirlin.
Before that I was a 'dyed in the wool' PFM/PBL user. The steam Tsunami in
the SHS 2-8-0 and the ability to run constant lights using coreless motors
without ballast lamps were the nails in the coffin for the PFM system.
Coreless motors are extremely efficient and draw very little milliamps of
current. Unfortunately, they also give off very little back EMF voltage. I
still maintain that the PFM/PBL units deliver better sound but the
flexibility is not there.
I have installed 3 Tsunami's and a couple of non-sound decoders. If you know
how to install PFM, then DCC is a piece of cake. I also like the
programmable steam exhaust of the Tsunami. You can get it close enough that
you don't need a wiper or sound cam if the locos are not so equipped. The
one thing I don't like of the Tsunami is that the exhaust tone is pretty
constant. You can't add a doppler effect or change the exhaust tone and you
can't really play the whistle as on the PFM units. When someone comes out
with a decoder and controller that can equal the PFM system in these areas,
then DCC will finally be able to say that they lead in every way.
The Canadian S Scale Workshop Modular Group which I am part of uses
Digitrax. Fortunately, one of the members has 2 throttles and he allows me
to use one to run my locos. If I had to choose between patforms, I would
still choose NCE. I like the 5 amp power and the control of the wireless
ProCab-R and with the large display it is easy to read and easy to handle.
Gotta love that wheel.
It would be nice if NCE got in the sound game but I understand that someone
has obtained a patent covering sound in DCC and it's not SoundTraxx. I
believe that the NMRA is fighting it.
cheers,
Andy Malette
www.mlwservices.ca
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