The question is often asked “what is the best controller?”. The answer is simply “the one which suits you best”. We all have different needs from our railways, so there is no one controller that will be right for us all. So, here we have six systems, all with features that make them stand out from the rest. Which one is best for you?
HORNBY HM6000
First off, I'll deal with the elephant in the room - the HM6000 isn't a DCC controller. Hornby's little white box is an analogue DC controller for the 21 st Century. Pre-wired with two outputs and equipped with standard Hornby power plugs at the end, it's ready to plug straight into track power clips and is simple to set up.
No visible controls mean that this unit is app-driven using a smartphone or tablet. Apps are available for both Apple and Android devices, so you're not limited to one handset manufacturer.
The controller uses Bluetooth technology to link to the handset device, so no additional equipment is needed for the HM6000 - this helps to keep the cost low for this entry-level system - at just over £36, it is around the price of a coach these days. You'll need a smartphone or tablet to hand, of course.
Setting the app up, however, is quite 'techy', with unfamiliar terms such as 'provisioning' and 'Bluetooth mesh architecture', which may
