DCC - Bachmann or Hornby?

[Nathan]

Simple question today, Bachmann's digital controller or Hornby's digital controller?

http://www.bachmann.co.uk/dcc.php4
http://www.hornby.com/pages/hornby_digital.aspx

 

[Nick]

I'm waiting for the Hornby select to come out and to read some views, but I like the way you can use Hornby select to program locos to say 20 for a Class 20 to respond to, on bachmann you can only use numbers 1-9.

 

[Nathan]

Yes that is true and with 0-128 speed steps there'll be some great contol over models.

Whats that about the Hornby select?

 

[Nick]

The select is due out this month and prices are expected to skyrocket to about £60-70, the first DCC set the Mixed Goods is out now and comes with the Select unit, Hattons are selling some off.

 

[Nathan]

Yeah just had a look there, there isnt a great deal more with the elite either. Only advantage Bachmann have is that their DCC controllers are currently cheaper, but for an extra £10 looks like i may be going with the Hornby 'Select'.

 

[Nathan]

A small problem with the Hornby 'Select' & 'Elite'

I just want to bring your attention to a few of the problems we are
experiencing with the Hornby Select system and Hornby loco's fitted
with their decoders.

Firstly we have been notified of problems with running TCS decoder
fitted loco's on a Hornby Select system.
We know the Select will only work with addresses up to 59 but even
with lower numbers on the TCS decoders the Select unit will not
recognise them.

In addition, we are aware that the Hornby decoders are not
by the Gaugemaster system and this system will not read any CV info
from the Hornby decoders.

The only conclusion that we have been able to come to so far is that
the Hornby Select unit is not NMRA compatible and therefore will only
work with their own decoders.

Lastly, please be aware that the Hornby decoders that are due for
release soon have a maximum current load of 0.5 amps.
Hence we suggest people thoroughly check the current draw of their
locomotives before thinking of fitting one of these.
We know that many of the Bachmann range and certainly the Heljan
products will blow these decoders.
Upon release of the Elite Unit we will be asking Hornby for a complete
list of the current draw of all their locomotives so that we can make
sure we recommend the correct decoder for the correct locomotive.
Whether it will be forthcoming or not is another matter.