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I've been following this thread with interest and I find it analogous to what we face in the software business with the selection of different products. Often I suggest to my clients to look beyond the hype and learn what was the thinking behind the building of the products.
I look at xPressnet and LocoNet as the results of two different philosophies. On the one hand you have the Digitrax (LocoNet) group which is largely driven by the American market and somewhat mimics the highway cruiser where simple but large is one counts.
QUOTE I have yet to see any club with 32 or more consecutive controllers all active at once. I have and while not common it is the market sector that Digitrax is pointing at. So if you understand this everything else starts to make sense.
The Lenz (xPressNet) group is always looking to add the latest bells and whistles hence Lisa's comments on rewrites of the system. To me as long as you can update the firmware this is a non issue and can actually be seen as an advantage. Now without getting into a big argument it's my opinion that while LocoNet may be considered the cleaner system I would not be surprised when new technology is available to xPressNet users sooner than Digitrax users. On the flip side new bess and whistles can result in a less stable system. Digitrax/LocoNet if anything, is a stable system.
The selection of xPressNet doesn't in my opinion weaken or compromise Hornby's DCC products in the slightest. In fact it brings the Lenz world of products to your doorstep.
If you have a large layout with in access of 1/2 dozen cabs operating at the same time take a long hard look at Digitrax if not I would look at the interface(s) available (Display, Buttons) as my first criteria. If you don't like the part that you're holding in your hand then the rest doesn't really matter. On that point and at first glance I think Hornby is on the right track.
I look at xPressnet and LocoNet as the results of two different philosophies. On the one hand you have the Digitrax (LocoNet) group which is largely driven by the American market and somewhat mimics the highway cruiser where simple but large is one counts.
QUOTE I have yet to see any club with 32 or more consecutive controllers all active at once. I have and while not common it is the market sector that Digitrax is pointing at. So if you understand this everything else starts to make sense.
The Lenz (xPressNet) group is always looking to add the latest bells and whistles hence Lisa's comments on rewrites of the system. To me as long as you can update the firmware this is a non issue and can actually be seen as an advantage. Now without getting into a big argument it's my opinion that while LocoNet may be considered the cleaner system I would not be surprised when new technology is available to xPressNet users sooner than Digitrax users. On the flip side new bess and whistles can result in a less stable system. Digitrax/LocoNet if anything, is a stable system.
The selection of xPressNet doesn't in my opinion weaken or compromise Hornby's DCC products in the slightest. In fact it brings the Lenz world of products to your doorstep.
If you have a large layout with in access of 1/2 dozen cabs operating at the same time take a long hard look at Digitrax if not I would look at the interface(s) available (Display, Buttons) as my first criteria. If you don't like the part that you're holding in your hand then the rest doesn't really matter. On that point and at first glance I think Hornby is on the right track.
