Thinking about a new DCC system - please help me decide

Hi Doug

I will have to agree with John go for the MultiMAUS Pro and use it with the Lenz System
You can keep all your XpressNET connections

You should be able to buy a MultiMAUS quite cheap on feebay and plug directly into the Lenz system
and see if it agrees with you before going for the MultiMAUS Pro

Having used the Lenz system (very well constructed) and myself using the MultiMAUS , easy to use.

So, I am , a bit biased towards the MultiMAUS

I find the MultiMAUS very easy to use, and one handed , fits comfortably in your hand much nicer than the Lenz Handheld

The MultiMAUS allows you to put a Loco list (Loco Library) together a bit like the the "Stack" in the Lenz LH90
You can keep it short and Name them with 5 Alpha Numeric characters
In mine I have eg. TEST3 for testing and programming new loco's ,DMU 2 , BR218 etc

My Grandson has another MultiMAUS and Uses it with a Lenz system 90 But rarely would use the LH90
He also names his Loco's (in The Loco Library Mode ) differently , to his taste

It is easy to switch from the Loco Library mode to Loco Address mode (normal 4 digit address )
In address mode you can scroll through the address numbers or enter them directly

The MultiMAUS may not have all the features of the Dynamis and ESU ECos or the amount of information on the screen
But I prefer to look at the Trains not the screen

The only bug we have had is the MultiMAUS comes up with Err1 (not compatible for programming) when trying to Program on Main (POM) on the Lenz LZV100 (ver3.5) which is a bit annoying as adjusting things "on the fly" is easy with MultiMAUS usually. I'm not sure , if an update of the LZV100 to version 3.6 , will fix that .

Maybe some one on the forum has already done this update and tried it

Hope this helps

Regards Zmil

Hi All

Personal preference is always , just that , personal

I have always liked a control knob for hand held control

I prefer the the Roco (designed by Lenz) control with the centre off rather than the Lenz combination of the Direction Switch and Knob of the LH90 or push buttons of the LH100
So my preference would be something similar
Hence my choice would be MultiMAUS Pro for wireless

NCE do a Knob based control (NCE cab-04p) as well which can be used like the Roco (centre off) in yard mode or full one direction and can come radio equipped

But I don't mind keyboard based control like JMRI panel pro ( controlling trains while answering emails is great!)

The NCE Power Cab control is in a Industrial Tough case so very robust

The MultiMAUS is in a plastic case and a bit more ergo dynamically designed , it also has 4 little rubber pads underneath so it will not slide away when put down on a smooth surface (handy when leaving it on the rolling tool box while plugged in) you can also hang it on a round head self tapper , it has a upside down keyhole mount on the back.
The only time you need to use two hands - is you need to enter the Menu (shift and Menu button) or change from Library mode to Address mode , basically you need to push two buttons simultaneously . For most operations you would use it like you would a phone keypad , everything is in easy reach of your thumb.

But Like Neil wrote Try some systems out you may be pleasantly surprised

Regards Zmil