Unless you particularly want to use a computer IMHO the NCE power cab would be ideal for your proposed shunting layout.

I am always wary about anything DCC that has the name Hornby attached to it.

Some have success with Hornby DCC but there are many who don't.

I don't use NCE but do believe NCE power cab is very good value for money starter set.

Has many of the features of higher end DCC systems with a few limitations.

Very easy to use also comes with power supply which many don't.

Also, it is not the amount of locos/trains you an operate with DCC but more importantly how each loco can be set up (programed) to operate like the 12" to the foot loco.

Cheers

Ian

 

Tom, I have the Railmaster and E-link for my 7mm On16.5 layout, I have found it very good for ordinary use but the slow speed control is not
very good for shunting, and if you like a directional knob then the Gaugemaster Prodigy has a shunt setting which I use on my O gauge layout
and would recommend it as a simple system to use.

regards

mike g

 

Tom.

We have nine different controllers in our lab for testing our sound decoders and I have used them all on my shunting layout. I would definitely not recommend eLink because it is too tedious when making small uncoupling movements, etc. NCE Powercab is okay but is a bit clumsy for one handed operation and you have to press buttons to change direction. I find the Roco Multimaus far superior for shunting because it is small, light and easily operated in one hand. Most importantly it has a thumb operated, centre off knob. That means that you can readily achieve accurate movements in both directions just by moving your thumb, while concentrating on the loco and wagons.

Regards
Peter Lucas
MyLocoSound

 

*** Did you not realise that the NCE an also be used in "shunt mode"? It makes the thumbwheel a centre-off rotary control.

Funny how usage opinions differ - I find the NCE by far the most comfortable and usable product.... It is also the closest to NMRA spec in performance / waveform.

Richard

 

I with you Richard, I find NCE quite comfortable to use, although I haven't any real experience with other systems. Regarding shunt mode, I read elsewhere that is a feature available with ProCab and not PowerCab.

John

 

I'm a big fan of the NCE products. I have to disagree with Moonraker....I find the NCE cab very easy to use one-handed and not clumsy at all. John....check your user manual that came with the Powercab, shunting mode is most definately available with the Powercab.

Cheers
Gene

 

Left field, and more expensive than things discussed here... Uhlenbrock Daisy II system. About £220 in the UK. I briefly played with a Daisy II in November, and I think its one of the nicest handsets I've ever used. Small, light, easy to hold, sensible buttons, well balanced, clear display. The speed knob can be configured for either centre-off or separate speed and direction controls.

- Nigel

 

Gaugemaster Prodigy, in yard mode puts the rotary switch in a fwd & rev action so the fwd/rev switch used in that mode.

Unit can be run on PC so that two throttles are available, requires their software downloaded (free)

 

I second Nigel's recommendation of the Uhlenbrock Daisy 2. I have the handset in the radio version as an additional controller for an Intellibox 2, and I find it a pleasure to use. An English version of the instructions has not yet reached the Uhlenbrock website but you can see a series of short videos showing how the Daisy system works on the website of the UK importers, A & H Models. One thing not mentioned is that there is a useful free computer programme for setting up the loco database, which is otherwise a time consuming fiddle. If subsequently you want to move on to something more complicated, there is a very wide range of Loconet accessories, both from Uhlenbrock and other makers, that can be used with Daisy.

 

Thanks Gene, found it in the Cab Setup section (P18 in my manual). It's actually called "Yard" mode, which wasn't obvious to me until I read the words. I don't know where I get some of my notions.

While I was at it I finally got around to ordering the V1.65 EEPROM.

John

 

I've just looked at my Power Cab handbook (which is Rev 1.65) page 18 and found the Yard mode reference. However the second sentence in that paragraph is "Yard mode only works in Pro Cab."

Robert

 

Quite right Robert. I must try to read all the words in future.

John

 

I am with the NCE as well and at a show this weekend where I exhibited my layout (for the first time) it ran faultlessly.
A couple of club members helped out and were very impressed with the ease of use of the handset.

Regards Baz