Does anyone who is useing DCC or is thinking of useing DCC have this book? Is the information in it worth the price? Any opinion on this book.
If you could find it at the library, I’d say check it out. If you can’t find it, then it is worth the money. While you can find, through a fair amount of searching and surfing, most of the info that is in the book scattered about the web, the amount of time to do so along with the inability to take the Web with you to Wendy’s for a leisurely Frosty while you read, makes it worthwhile to spend the money on the book.
Yes, I do have it, and yes, even though I’ve been surfing in search of DCC info for better than a year now, I learned quite a bit from the book.
A lot of the basic info is good, but remember computers in the 80’s and 90’s? DCC is also maturing at a rapid pace with new models and new competition every year, so a lot of brand related info is already out of date. I would say it is a good basic text to have but do some research when buying DCC equipment.
You can get practically the same informatiion for free from Tony’s Train Exchange. Log onto his site and click on “DCC For Beginners” and you can download the booklet and print your own copy. The problem with books is that they become outdated before they come off the press because the DCC technology is changing faster than books can be updated.
Look for it on eBay. I got my copy for $5. It’s worthwhile, but a lot has changed since that book was printed. If you just want basics on DCC, look on Tony’s site, and check any number of DCC oriented web sites out there. If you have Digitrax specific questions, check out the Digitrax group on Yahoo.
One good thing about the book - on one f the pages is a picture of a GP-7 dumped over in a turntable pit. The only thing visible is the number on the unit, no road name (purposely obscured?). The book photo credits credit it to the Houser Collection, a well known collection of Eastern Anthracite road photos. Which leads me to believe this is a Reading unit (the number matches) but I have been unable to find out anything else about this - anyone have any info?
-_Randy
I have it, and the information on locos and decoders is good, but as others noted here, getting a bit dated (though it does have a great explanation of how to work with the various speed tables). But where it really shines is in providing info on stationary decoders, especially if you’re interested in automating block detection and turnouts.
Either way, I think it’s worth adding to the model rr library.