Hi Jeffrey, That's true, plus it also contains a pretty robust power supply at 7 amps, but it is still more than their entry level fully DCC set, and a whole lot more than the Digitrax Zephyr with it's 3 amp supply. The Tech 6 is also not nearly as expandable as the Zephyr system. In fact, if you bought the Zephyr, you'd have just about enough money left over to also buy an additional tethered throttle like the UT-4 and pay most of the shipping.
Even better, you could take that same amount of money and buy a complete Stanton S-cab system including the optional onboard battery and charger/regulator board (and also including shipping), and have money left over. I think the S-cab would be the better option, because it would allow you to operate without making any major changes to your layout's existing control system. Another thing to consider is the fact that the MRC system is closed source, meaning that MRC won't share any of it's source codes with other developers like JMRI DecoderPro. Think of Sony and their BetaMax VCR's. Bill in FL --- In [email protected], "Jeff Ngowe" <chocolatte777@...> wrote: > > Ed, > Their more expensive set with a walk around throttle is the same price as > buying the cheaper one and a throttle. > Jeffrey Ngowe > > --- In [email protected], Ed Kozlowsky <soldado7264@> wrote: > > > > I've never understood going to DCC and getting tied to a stationary > > throttle. As far as I know, Digitrax Zephyr is the only maker that does > > that. > > > > > > Ed Kozlowsky > > Sanford, Maine > > > > > > >________________________________ > > >From: Bill Nielsen <wrangler@> > > >To: [email protected] > > >Sent: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 9:11 AM > > >Subject: {S-Scale List} Re: MRC Tech 6 > > > > > > > > > > > >Hi Bill & Alex, > > > > > >I just went online to re-check the MRC website and they have several > > >products called "Tech Six". The only complete system using the Tech 6 > > >label was their 001201, rated at 7 amps, selling for about $279. The other > > >Tech 6 items are add on accessories rather than complete systems, one > > >being the "Black Box" which is hooked up between your existing DC power > > >pack and your layout. The Black Box super-imposes a control signal on your > > >track power so that you can control a dual-mode DCC sound loco's functions > > >while running it on DC. The other item listed as "Tech 6" is a walk around > > >tethered throttle for use with the Black Box, to allow you to move out of > > >reach of your power pack (as far as the cable will allow). Information I > > >found on the MRC website suggests that you may run either 1 DC loco OR up > > >to 5 DCC locos, but posts on other sites indicate that the only DCC loco > > >address the Tech 6 will control is the DCC default address of 03. If this > > >is true, I don't > > see how the unit can run up to 5 DCC locos, if they all have to be set at > > the same address. In any case, it appears that the Tech 6 is only able to > > run one system at a time, either DC OR DCC, not both DC and DCC > > simultaneously. > > > > > >Digitrax' Zephyr can operate one DC loco while also running DCC units, > > >but the nature of doing this causes overheating of the DC unit's motor. It > > >has also been found that having the DCC loco decoders programed to have > > >their analog capabilities enabled can result in runaways on DCC layouts, > > >so the two different systems don't really play nicely together. > > > > > >Hope this helps, > > >Bill in FL > > > > > >--- In [email protected], "Bill Nielsen" <wrangler@> wrote: > > >> > > >> I know that there were some posts about this unit burning out some OEM > > >> boards on Atlas lococ, and when I tried to find more technical info on > > >> the Tech 6 a couple of years ago, I couldn't. MRC has a habit of > > >> changing a product while keeping the name the same, and don't regularly > > >> update their website, while at the same time they're very guarded about > > >> keeping their technology a secret, so it's hard to get accurate and > > >> up-to-date information about their products. Their advertised price for > > >> the Tech 6 was higher than what most of the entry level DCC systems were > > >> going for at the time, and I wondered where they thought the market was > > >> for for that item at that price. > > >> > > >> After not finding enough information on the Tech 6, I decided it wasn't > > >> for me, so I stopped looking. I still think that if you want an entry > > >> level DCC system, the ONE to buy is the Digitrax Zephyr Xtra (with a > > >> street price of less than $175), simply because it is a fuller, more > > >> feature rich system than the other entry level systems, and should be > > >> good for 90% of most home layouts (and many clubs). It's two > > >> shortcomings are only three amps of power, which can be cured by adding > > >> a booster such as CVP's Zonemaster (7 amps), and it's limit of 10 > > >> throttles. Since most of the other entry level systems are limited to > > >> two or three throttles, I don't see this as a great disadvantage. > > >> Besides, what percentage of home layouts actually need more than 10 > > >> throttles? > > >> > > >> Regards, > > >> Bill in FL > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> --- In [email protected], "Willam Fraley" <wjfraley@> wrote: > > >> > > > >> > Has anyone operating in DC jumped into the new MRC Tech 6 operating > > >> > system? > > >> > > > >> > Sounds interesting ..... > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > Bill (Fraley) > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > >> > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
