Digitrax Zephyr as a first train controller?

Mine has worked fine for about 20 years. I've never needed anything bigger. I did buy a Digikeijs system recently because I built a second layout but the Zephyr is still running the first layout....DaveB

Worked for me

About 10 years ago when I was getting back into the hobby and wanted to get going with DCC I bought a Zephyr and it worked out well for me. I learned a lot and I still use it on a small learning layout (I've since "gone over" to NCE with ProtoThrottles for my primary layout). 

You can run several trains with the Zephyr so it will keep you going for quite a while. 

The current model has a slightly different interface and I can't comment on that, but I think the price/value proposition is still pretty good even if you ultimately go another direction entirely. 

I loved it when I had it

I just realized that a command-station based DCC system isn't really what I need, so I ended up selling the Zephyr.

However, if you're looking for a starter system this is easily one of the top contenders.

Evolution

I just bought Digitrax’s Evolution Advanced Duplex EVOXD starter system after years of experience with NCE. The new throttle design is much improved, IMO. About on par with NCE but lower up front cost.

Absolutely no problem with the Zephyr

I hope you are getting the Zephyr Express, which is the newest and is a little more ergonomically designed (and has a nicer interface over all). 

Starter system

I bought a Zephyr DCS 52 because it was billed as a starter system and I figured I must need such a thing when converting from DC to DCC. It has worked great and I do not hesitate to recommend it.

One day I may own a Proto Throttle. In the meantime the Zephyr has a nice tactile lever that is labeled forward, brake, reverse. If you set sufficient momentum CVs on your locomotive decoders the "brake" lever on the Zephyr will allow a very realistic coasting feature that is fun to work with.

The Zephyr express is I think

The Zephyr express is I think a better base system than the NCE power cab for the following reasons

1: It's a 3 amp system which means you're going to be able to use it with more locomotives and a bigger railroad before you get a booster.

2: built in USB to PC interface. That means with no added cost beyond a computer (assuming you have one to use already) you can go straight to JMRI and Wifi control on Day 1 which means no additional cost wireless if you have a smart phone and computer...which also means you can add in Proto throttles or TCS throttles or roll your own throttles with minimal fuss. Now you said you don't like the NCE screen, so for all I know, none of those float your boat, but that day 1 set of options to me more than offsets the lack of a bundled walk around throttle wireless or tethered. 

Absolutely

Total agreement from me. The DCS52 is a fine start. I would think you are like me - l have only two hands. Therefore, can handle no more than 2 at a time. But I found in practice with my small layout, that trying to run 2 is not for me. Therefore, the one throttle on a DCS52 is sufficient. This is told tongue in cheek. Adding another throttle adds cost, but that can be delayed. You don't need the whole enchilada at once. Start slow, add as needed.

Good system

As mentioned, today's Zephyr Express (DCS52) is a 3 amp system with an easier to figure out control panel than the old DCS50 Zephyr and DCS51 Zephyr Xtra.  It can also run DC engines as address "00" if you choose, which most other starter systems can't do.  (I don't recommend running DC engines (those lacking decoders) for very long, but that's a different issue.)

Scott Chatfield 

It's a good system

I used Digitrax for years, starting with the Challenger system and then owning an older version of the Chief system and finally two different versions of the Zephyr before I went DIY with Arduino's  and DCC++EX. For the most part my experience was always positive until I asked them to sell me a simple replacement rubber keypad membrane and was tersely told that "they don't sell parts".  Still, all in all, they are a good company and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of the new Zephyr units if I hadn't now gone the DIY route.

Wow, thanks

Wow, thanks everyone!

@JamesWillmus what is the alternative to command-station based that you chose?

@sunacres what did you like about the NCE that the Zephyr wasn't providing?  Just so I can learn and understand the kinds of things people eventually find they are missing. With R/C planes I went through the process of buying radios for certain features, but neglecting to find out what the radios didn't have, which bit me twice as a quick-learning beginner.

@YoHo thank you so much for pointing that out about WiFi! That's definitely something I'll eventually use. And I don't mind throttles like the Proto, e.g. I just don't want to do all my programming on the tiny green NCE screen. And I'd like to eventually have a small wireless throttle, which an iPad or iPhone would be great for controlling from the bed or couch or something. 

My Zephyr Express works fine on my B&H away from home.

I have bigger Digitrax (DCS240, DCS200) stuff at home, but here on my small pike, I have the Zephyr Express ("ZE") (ZCS52) with one UT6D Duplex wireless throttle and a UR93 receiver.

Only issues I've ever had are trying to program ESU Loksound decoders (in general) and more advanced things on Soundtraxx decoders, but that has all now been resolved using (free) JMRI DecoderPro on my laptop with a USB cable between the Laptop and the ZE. It works really well in this mode and you don't need to buy a USB programming interface becuase it is built in to the ZE

Things are now flawless.   

The UI on the ZE is common to both it and the UT6 series handheld throttles, so I really like that, and I actually quite like these new throttles.  Programming is a breeze with DecoderPro.  I don't even bother trying to program anything directly with the Zephyr.  I often just use the ZE doing testing on my small layout and don't even bother with the handhelds.  The throttle in DecoderPro works really nicely as well.

Wait a minute... Digikeijs vs Zephyr?

If setup/programming will be done on a computer, and control done via remote throttle or app, maybe I should be looking at Digikeijs? The Dr5000 is the same price, doesn't have a throttle but does have WiFi built-in. Since I think I should have a hardware throttle at least for backup, maybe it's a wash in price. But if I'm using a remote, I like the idea of Dr5000 being smaller and not lit-up, and with no buttons or pots to go bad. 

I would LOVE the ability to run wireless without needing to use my PC every time, but also like the idea of being able to hook up to the PC for major updates.

Sorry to go on such a.... siding!? =D

FWIW, I do run logic-heavy, open-source firmware in my RC airplanes and radio. I definitely prefer low cost, high flexibility versus name-brand ease, as long as its a relatively dependable open-source system.

PowerCab/DCC++/Bluetooth/Wifi

Joe,

There are alternatives to the Zephyr that are not 'command station' centered.

First is NCE's PowerCab.  The handheld remote becomes the command station.  I'll likely be getting one of these since that's what people in my area use most often.

For a lot of smaller projects and layouts, which is pretty much all I will be doing for the next few years, I plan to go with DCC++.  The 'command station' is an Arduino computer board. Plug in a laptop to run the program, then connect a cell phone with a throttle app and it works like any other DCC system.  The difference is in price.  Building a DCC++ system costs way under $100 if you already own a computer and a phone, which most of us do anyway.  The downside is that it can't operate independently of a computer which makes it a little problematic for train shows, but at home there's no issues.

Then there are Bluetooth and Wifi options where the command-station is more like a power supply than a throttle. With products like Bluerail DCC, the option is there to have a battery-operated locomotive with DCC features that only needs to be connected to your cell phone.

Unless you are well-versed in building this sort of stuff yourself though I'd recommend just getting something from Digitrax or NCE.

Digikeijs or Digitrax?

  I got the Digikeijs for my new layout because I thought I might want to run it with a phone or ipad but after trying that for a while I found I prefer a throttle with a knob( got too many run-a-ways from fingers wrapping around the edge with the touch screen devices) so I've been using a Digitrax UR92 and UT4D on loconet which works fine on the Digikeijs. The Digikeijs has been reliable for two years or so but if I was doing it over I'd probably just buy another Zephyr and save the set up time it took to download Digikeijs software, update the unit etc. My Zephyr is about 20 years old and has never needed to hooked to a computer. If you need the other features of the Digikeijs such as compatibility with European stuff, etc. it's a good deal for the features. It does have some flashing lights and tiny buttons so is not totally bare of little things to break.  BTW.  The Digikeijs boosters are nice, small and easy to mount out of the way and work well on loconet. ......DaveB 

Digitrax and Dijikeijs

Thank you, that all makes sense. I definitely see the appeal of the "hand-held command center." If I liked the design of the NCE unit I'd totally get it, but as it is I think I'd still want a remote throttle, which pretty much turns the main unit into a command center.

And as a new guy I should probably be giving the plug-and-play capability of the Zephyr a bit more credit. But I get the feeling that either one of these two systems is a good choice; I'll sleep on this one for a bit and see where it takes me.

An Arduino setup sounds like a lot of fun, but I'd like to be able to run trains without always needing a PC running. 

Can I run something like the

Can I run something like the Dijikeijs feedback module, or other Loconet block sensing hardware with Zephyr, without an active computer (after it's been setup with a PC)? Is the same true for the Dr5000?

  Can I run something like

Digikeijs

As a former Digitrax Zephyr owner I run Digikeijs DR5000 with LocoNet connected to Digitrax UT4 throttles, DS64's and SE8c's along with Digikeijs RailCom detectors.  I recently added Roco Z21 WLANMaus throttles, about $108 each, which connect directly to the DR5000 built-in WiFi access point.  I can turn it on and run trains.  No computer required just to run trains once the DR5000 is programmed.

Also, the ProtoThrottle requires a receiver, and the NCE version from ISE connects to the X-Bus terminal on the DR5000.  Again, no computer required.

There are several other connections available on the DR5000.  I consider it the 'Swiss Army Knife' of DCC command stations.

Full disclosure - I do use a Raspberry Pi running JMRI connected to the DR5000 for detection, signaling, etc.

I get the impression whenever

I get the impression whenever we have these discussions that there are only 2 types of model railroaders when it comes to DCC. Those that will do anything to avoid a PC/consider it bad. Those that can't imagine not having it there.

I'm one of the later. I don't see why having a PC is a bad thing. 

Having said that, Ive no experience with the Digikeijs DR5000, but based on the spec sheet and previous comments here, it seems like a great product, but it doesn't include any bundled throttle and requires a separate power supply correct? So out the door it has an increased price. The throttles can be handled by Smart phones or tablets I suppose, but still. You may not require a PC then, but you DO require a smart phone and enabling the wifi. 

requires a separate power supply?

No, The Digikeijs DR5000 comes with a power supply and built in wifi . You do need a PC to set it up but once set up you can just turn it on and run with a phone or ipad or other tablet. I haven't hooked a computer to my DR5000 for about a year , I just plugged in a UR92 to the loconet and use a UT4D to run trains. Takes only a minute to get going-turn on the booster(which is across the room so takes the most time), turn on the DR5000, plug in the UR92, pop a battery into the UT4D and start running. I've also used it with an ipad which is just as easy but not as tactile feeling as the knob throttle....DaveB

I’m not anti-pc

I just don’t want to tie up my laptop, and want to be able to run w/o PC in case of computer issues or if I just want to run the train a few minutes before bed.In the future I’d very much be into automation with something like a Raspberry Pi.   =D
 

Automation is exciting, particularly since my layout will be small and simple. I didn’t know how much technology integrated into the hobby - I thought I was going to be doing a bunch of electrical work for automation control. I’d still be into that but I really should be learning more programming anyway.

It might be best to not

It might be best to not overcomplicate things at first. I’ve got a lot to learn and build already! And it sounds like Zephyr can do a lot of what I want anyway.

Ultimately I’d love to have the train run on its own: leave the station, build up speed, traverse an automated turnout or three, slow down before a sharp turn, pull into station and stop. Hopefully pause a short time and reverse the process. I imagine Zephyr could be the command center for all that? Even if not, for $200 it’s a good start.

Ultimately....

Yes, the Zephyr can be the command station for all that.  And it comes with built-in throttle and computer interface which is required for the automation.  (WiFi is extra)  To get to that point you will need to add turnout control and detection that can also connect to the computer. LocoNet (included in Zephyr) can provide that connection. 

And you will need software: JMRI, open source, free and well supported; Rocrail, open source and free; or Train Controller, $$$ but the most powerful automation software.