Massoth vs LGB

A

aovenden

Registered
Hello, I'm after a bit more advice or opinion's maybe on which way to go. I have an MTS 3 base station and use a universal remote which is wired. This has got my layout to DCC. Next I was planning to go wireless which is where I'm in need of opinions. my layout is single track with a couple of sidings and some passing areas so nothing to fancy, so is it worth getting a remote adapter and wireless receiver for the universal remote or would I be better putting that money towards a massoth navigator and going wireless with this. Do people rate the LGB handset or do you prefer the navigator. I know it seems to have heaps for features and loads of loco addresses etc but do you really need that or a small layout. Chances are if I were to have more than 28 trains or the track at once it would be a pile up.

So any advice good or bad / peoples personal recommendations either way would be nice, I'd rather not upgrade the LGB remote if I'm just going to replace with the massoth in a few months.

Cheers,
Alan.
 
If you have the existing MTS3 and Universal remote, you can upgrade to wireless quite cheaply with the LGB 55050/55055 transmitter/receiver, I reckon for around £50-80.

A 55055 P (Parallel, which I would recommend you look for) receiver (without an antenna) recently sold for only £18-05 on Evilbuy....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LGB-55055-P-Wireless-Receiver-/251600669045
 
Personally, I'd go straight for the Massoth Navigator if you can stretch that far, it's compatible with MTS3 as you know, and you'd them be ready for moving to a Dimax central station if and when you wanted to. All the LGB MTS gear, though still perfectly good (and designed by Massoth anyway) is now effectively at end-of-life as far as new kit and support is concerned, Marklin are moving in a different direction with their new DCC gear for LGB.

YMMV of course, and all advice worth exactly what you paid for it! ;)

Jon.
 
Well, the lineage does go from MTS to Massoth so as Jon says you can always get a Massoth navigator handset to work with an old MTS III so that you have a more 'user friendly' controller.

But having had a Massoth system for some time, I can honestly say that it is good, indeed very good, BUT, there are a few things that maybe help to open ones eyes to look closely at the features of other DCC systems like ESU, LENZ, NCE etc .......if buying from scratch....

One reason for this not total satisfaction, is that, because they are a pretty small firm, innovation and updating does come rather slowly and the speed of responding to users' suggestions for possible improvements is not a strong point.
 
Alan,

Give me a shout if you want to try a Navigator out on your MTS3 system.
 
no2w thats service!
 
Thanks for all the help, Seems that massoth is the way forward. I have set out from the outset that this layout will be DCC rather than analog and the MTS3 was a good start and I got the kit (Universal remote, Central station and transformer) at a great price from DaveyB. The initial out lay for the massoth central station etc was probably 3 times that price. Now I have the problem of my 4 year old son using the layout which I always wanted but I keep fearing he is walking on the lead. I'd rather he didn't drag the boxes off the table. I think that the plan may well be to invest in a navigator and wireless receiver for use with my current kit for now.

Thanks for the offer Muns. Would be good to have a get together maybe at some point. Always useful to find out local friendly people for a chat and advice.

Cheers,
Alan.
 
I have the MTS III system and use a navigator with it, carn't fault it. If you can afford it then Id go for one 100%. Take up Marks (Muns) offer, top man.
 
Seems that most people rate the massoth system. Thanks for your reply nemo, that was kind of way I was thinking of running. Keeping hold of my MTS3 and just using the navigator. Might be a bit of impulse buying this afternoon. Might opt for a cabled one to start with ( kind of like the red one ) and then have to wait till the next payday to get the wireless sender and receiver.

Cheers,
Alan.
 
If you're going for a cable Navigator, just be aware that fitting the wireless board later isn't a simple push-in module like the LGB remotes - you have to take the case apart to fit the new board. I'm not saying it's difficult, it's not - but just pointing out that it will be something that needs doing. The total cost of the cable Navi plus the separate wireless board is also a little more than buying a wireless-fitted one in the first place, I think.
The wireless ones will of course still work fine in cable mode, so you could buy a wireless Navi now (assuming the budget would stretch) and simply use it cabled until you can get the receiver to go with it.

Jon.
 
I did think about that, The only downside was that I couldn't find a red one that had wireless already. It just comes as cable only. oh decisions, decisions.

Alan.
 
Plus on one website I found that it was cheaper to get a red one and the wireless card than to buy the one already fitted.

Alan.
 
aovenden said:
Plus on one website I found that it was cheaper to get a red one and the wireless card than to buy the one already fitted.

Alan.
Click to expand...

Well, that sounds a pretty good deal! ;)
When comparing prices, just be aware that the wireless ones (both factory-fitted and retrofit boards) come in two versions - the standard one which doesn't have any visible aerial, and the "plus" version for a few quid more which has a few centimetres of black "mouse-tail" wire aerial coming out of the top. The only real difference is the wireless power, and hence the range - but unless you have a HUUUUGE garden it really won't make much difference - quoted ranges are (I think) around 100 metres for the standard and 300 metres for the plus..... so for most people the standard type is fine, though I believe one or two folks on here have found that using the plus versions is a help if the line-of-sight to the receiver is compromised by walls, sheds etc.

Jon.
 
Alan,

I have just sent you a PM.
 
FYI:

for users of MTS3-system MASSOTH produces still a red-coloured version of the Navigator (really, not a joke)

If you are planning a remote controlled version, take care of the power. the version with antenna will work for 300 meters and more and will disturb neighbours remote controlled thermometers and all cheap chinese products which are using 443 MHz frequency.....also remote controlled switches for indoor lights.

you will not switch the other ones, but your Navigator will blow into the other receivers...

I am using a few with antenna and one without which works fine in a 100 qm garden where I can still see my train....

regards,

Michael
 
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