DCC Systems- Thoughts

My other project is re-evaluating my DCC system. I have an Atlas Commander system (comprising a base station and a power supply) which I have been impressed with- a great introduction to DCC, easy to set up and use, etc. albeit with limited functionality. As I started to plan, and think a bit more about my layout and how I would use it, I came to realize that I needed a couple of additional features which I didn’t have: walk-around capability, and sound support.

My layout is long enough that I think having walk-around control would be useful, and would also allow a couple of other operators on the layout. I don't ever expect to have a ton of people over for a true "operating session", but do have kids and thought it would be fun to do this together from time to time; plus, with a branch line, a yard and a main, I could definitely see 3 trains operating at once in 3 different areas- that to me suggests walk-around could be useful.

For walk-around capability, Atlas does (or did, I think) make a separate walk-around controller; a search online found no one really selling those. Atlas is really just a Lenz system though, so I looked at Lenz controllers which are available. But buying the Lenz controller still left functionality limited to what the Commander could provide; and for the price it didn’t seem like a great tradeoff. That, plus my interest in adding better sound capabilities (see below) pointed me to investigating other systems.

I started looking at MRC, which I read gets a bad rap for prior system errors. The current system Advance2 seems pretty good, and offers all that I want; but price is high, and the lack of compatibility with other systems (the use a proprietary communications format) were turn-offs. So I slows gravitated towards the Digitrax/NCE debate. I don't know that I have that resolved totally, but I think I like the NCE system, apart from the drawback that when you unplug it the train stops. Digitrax has the disadvantage of being a bit more complex to set up, and I don’t see myself really going deep into lots of DCC accessories, etc. for a while yet. So I'm not fully settled yet.