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Differences Between Digitrax DB150 & DCS100

Digitrax, a company devoted to creating digital command control systems and decoders for the model railroad enthusiast, offers a command station and boosters that are combined in one box. Two of these programmable devices are the DCS100 Chief Command Station 5 Booster, and the DB150 Empire Builder Command Station/Booster with Intelligent AutoReverse. These are both computer controllers that act as a central server, receiving messages and then redirecting them to other computers in the system. The booster then takes some of these redirected signals and sends them, superimposed onto the voltage used to power the device, down the tracks to control the locomotive.

Read Back Capabilities
- For railroad enthusiasts who are programming decoders, the DCS100 has read back capabilities. This is a function that allows you program each decoder without having to shut down the entire layout. The DB150 does not have the useful capability of reading back.
Number of Trains
- The DCS100 is capable of running many more trains at one time than the DB150. The DB150 is able to run 22 trains at once, whereas the DCS100 is able to run as many as 122.
Current Rating and Cost
- According to Digitrax, there are many similarities between these two models, such as both having a loco address range of 00-9000+, having a multiline backlit LCD display, and F0-F28 function control. They both do not have the same current rating, though. The DB150 is rated 5 amps, whereas the DCS100 is rated 5 amps or 8 amps. It is also important to note that there is an average difference of approximately $100.00 in cost between the DB150 and the more costly DCS100, as of 2010.

Model Railroads