Bachmann EZ Command Dynamis Wireless DCC Controller

I purchased one and have been using it for about 2 months now.

 There's some really nice things about this controller, and some things that make it a problem.

The nice stuff:

- Nice big display

- The joysick or toggle, which when used left to right or right to left and allows you to move between locomotives, is a really nice feature and allows for some relatively quick changes.

- Very easy to name, rename, modify and change locomotive information.

- Absolutely no problem adding or manaing locomitives. 

- The backlight is really nice!

The bad stuff:

- This is probably the deal breaker for me, the wireless function is bad.  A lot of the pre-release opinions were stated that IR wireless would be a problem were absolutely right.  I lose the signal repeatedly.  In fact, I had to move the reciever to a location about 18" above my layout on the opposite side of where I typically stand just to ensure that I would have a reasonable signal, but even this does not work.  The irony is that I have to stand in the same place and point the controller right at the reciever in order to be sure that the signal is received!  This is NOT what any of us want from a so-called wireless controller!  May as well keep the wire.

- As mentioned above, while the toggle works great for flipping between locomotives, it is not a very good mechanisam for accelleration and decceleration.  This is subjective of course, but it does not feel responsive at all to the throttle commands, and by the time the locomotive starts to move at a decent pace, you'll look at the controller and see you have it maxed out (and your loco is quickly getting up to that max speed).

 - Consumers batteries fast!  I think this is driven in large part by the back lighting

- Be careful to not remove ALL old batteries at once! Replace the two on one side, and then the remaining two after the new ones are installed on the first side.  Otherwise all your data, entries, etc... seem to get lost!

In summary, I had really high hopes for this....it allows MU'ing and command of accessories, a very nice interface/screen, and the price was excellent!  However, its failure to be reliable is what forces me to encourage others to view other products.  I am now looking at the Roco multumaus or (once released) the multimaus pro.