hornby DCC control

[Mark82]

R 8213 is this controller any good for a fists timer? Only going on cost as not got a lot to spend on a DCC controller.

Chess

[Roger (RJ)]

In my opinion the Select (R8213) is a reasonable choice if money is tight BUT if you think you are going to be expanding your layout in the future and you will want to be able to read and write CVs then save up your pennies and get something better such as the NCE power cab which is a MUCH better system and can be expanded enormously if you need to.

The Select may not be suitable if you want to use other makes of decoders (apart form Hornby's basic decoder) as it's lack of CV programming facilities won't allow you to make adjustments and get the best out of them. It is also said to be incompatible with some makes of decoder such as TCS.

[Mark82]

That one scrapped then lol. Cheers

How about the Bachmann E-Z Command dynamis wireless dcc control. This is the first one I saw in action and was quite impressed

[Essex2Visuvesi]

EZ command has the similar limitations to the Select

Dynamsis I have never really used so can't say

[thebritfarmer]

I use a Dynamis and am quite pleased with it. I find it easy to use, does the job for me. I have about 12 locos on my layout only run two at a time and one shunting in the sidings though.

I did have problems with it and my fluorescent desk lamp so I just moved the box over a bit and works fine now.

[georgehgv]

I have two Hornby Selects and am delighted with them, no bells and whistles for me thanks just straightforward control, mind you I am still learning loads here but the Select is more than adequate for my needs and works with various chips I have fitted. Good budget price controller. Tried Hornby Elite and had too many problems so sent it packing.

[centenary]

In my opinion the Select (R8213) is a reasonable choice if money is tight BUT if you think you are going to be expanding your layout in the future and you will want to be able to read and write CVs then save up your pennies and get something better such as the NCE power cab which is a MUCH better system and can be expanded enormously if you need to.

The Select may not be suitable if you want to use other makes of decoders (apart form Hornby's basic decoder) as it's lack of CV programming facilities won't allow you to make adjustments and get the best out of them. It is also said to be incompatible with some makes of decoder such as TCS.

Is there any evidence to support this rather than hearsay or impressions?

Im just asking because a lot of goods get labelled as being incompatible based on what people have heard or been told but, there's hardly ever any substantive evidence to back the claims up.

[poliss]

Yes. Hornby themselves. "* Please note certain US manufactured decoders are not suitable for use with the Hornby Select unit due to their inability to conform to EMC requirements."
https://www.hornby.com/hornby-dcc/controllers/
Odd that the same warning isn't given for US decoders and the Elite.

[Brossard]

I thought this was a good summary of pros and cons:

http://www.dccconcepts.com/index_files/ ... isions.htm

I have the NCE Powercab and like it a lot.

John

[Essex2Visuvesi]

In my opinion the Select (R8213) is a reasonable choice if money is tight BUT if you think you are going to be expanding your layout in the future and you will want to be able to read and write CVs then save up your pennies and get something better such as the NCE power cab which is a MUCH better system and can be expanded enormously if you need to.

The Select may not be suitable if you want to use other makes of decoders (apart form Hornby's basic decoder) as it's lack of CV programming facilities won't allow you to make adjustments and get the best out of them. It is also said to be incompatible with some makes of decoder such as TCS.

Is there any evidence to support this rather than hearsay or impressions?

Im just asking because a lot of goods get labelled as being incompatible based on what people have heard or been told but, there's hardly ever any substantive evidence to back the claims up.

Somwhere on this site is a thread with a list of decoders proven not to work with the select

[centenary]

Yes. Hornby themselves. "* Please note certain US manufactured decoders are not suitable for use with the Hornby Select unit due to their inability to conform to EMC requirements."
https://www.hornby.com/hornby-dcc/controllers/
Odd that the same warning isn't given for US decoders and the Elite.

That suggests it is 'certain' US manufactured decoders that dont conform to EMC requirements being the issue rather than with the Select, no?

[centenary]

I thought this was a good summary of pros and cons:

http://www.dccconcepts.com/index_files/ ... isions.htm

I have the NCE Powercab and like it a lot.

John

As far as Im aware, that's an old testimonial page.

[thebritfarmer]

Yes. Hornby themselves. "* Please note certain US manufactured decoders are not suitable for use with the Hornby Select unit due to their inability to conform to EMC requirements."
https://www.hornby.com/hornby-dcc/controllers/
Odd that the same warning isn't given for US decoders and the Elite.

That suggests it is 'certain' US manufactured decoders that dont conform to EMC requirements being the issue rather than with the Select, no?

It could be read both ways I am sure. my (Dynamis) doesn't mention anything that some decoders could be incompatible I would say it is the Select that is the issue.

[poliss]

No centenary. It's the Select that's the problem, otherwise there would be the same warning with the Elite and other DCC controllers. The problem with the Select is that it doesn't use a square DCC waveform and instead it's waveform is a wavy line.