A few thoughts that might help the OP, or not, but here goes.
I am a DC user and have no interest in DCC or sound, but, dispite some responses to the contrary, if you want sound you want DCC.
BECAUSE, none of the sound equiped locos run worth a (blank) on DC. The sound cuts in and out, the speed control is poor at best, and the sounds cannot be easily controlled.
Personally I don’t see te point in DCC unless it is wireless so low cost “entry” systems seem like a waste of time/money to me.
How big will your layout be, other than or sound, most small starter layouts don’t really NEED DCC, but starting out with it may be good if you plan to expand.
However, learning some old fashioned basics about DC will help you as you grow in the hobby.
The Bachmann set is not “crap”, but again, what is the real point of DCC if it is not wireless?
Bachmann’s current regular line locos have much improved drives over those offered just a few years ago, their track is as good as any sectional track system, their RTR freight cars are likely the weakest item and are still OK.
119.95/10= less than 12 dollars each…AND they are good quality decoders! 4 light outputs, torque compensation, Cv readback…lots of features. Compare that to a Bachmann EZ decoders at 5 dollars more with about 1/10th the features and you will see what we are talking about.
As a DCC user I would have to totally agree with you on this one statement. However, I would love to see someone write a “wiring for DC” book that actually and simply taught electrical novices the step-by-step basics about electricity and DC wiring, as it pertains to MRRing.
The ones that I have attempted to read seem to start out well enough. However, the author inevitably (and fatally) always manages to make “assumptions” about the reader far too early; quickly jumping to a higher level of learning and soon leaving the novice reader scratching their head and discouraged because he (the reader) doesn’t have the experience, background, and/or know-how to make the logical connection from where the author started out and where he has just jumped to.
And, yes, I have read the ones written by the MRR masters about DC wiring. (Those are the ones that I’m referring to in the paragraph above.) The authors obviously know their stuff. However, they don’t necessarily know how to explain it well enough in order for a novice to logically connect the pieces together. For me, Lionel Strang came closest when he wrote his book, DCC Made Easy.
For me, it’s made MRRing a much more enjoyable experience - even tethered. There are times on my small 4x8 layout when I run two trains simultaneously: A thru train around the loop and a switcher in the yard. And I can do that from one throttle. [:)]
Tom,One thing that complicates DC is the over blocking.I seen way to many layouts that suffer from block overkill and feeder wire overkill.One doesn’t need to block or add a feeder wire to a short industrial spur but,yet many beginner books/layout articles written by “experts” shows these flaws…One can get by with 2 wires to the track for basic 1 train operation with industrial spurs on a 4x8’ layout-ask those that slapped down a loop of snap track on a 4x8 footer shortly after Christmas without the interference of “experts” or advice from follow modelers.
Some times I wonder if we (that we includes me) over complicate the simple and forgot the very basics as we advance in the hobby? After all the same basics we used in our innocent year(s) still apply today.
I would wholeheartedly agree. I’ve looked at some of the blocking diagrams in those books and have just shaken my head. The problem is, had I been brought up to speed along the way as I read through the author’s book, I might have determined myself that the diagram in Ch. 8 could have been made simpler (for my application) than what was outlined. However, since the author lost me waaaaay back in Ch. 2, how was I to question their logic.
I have always appreciated the truism given by Albert Einstein:
“Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.”
Although DCC does have some aspects to it that are more complicated than DC, I do find that the overall technology makes things less complicated and more enjoyable for me. As with DC, you can make DCC as simple or as complicated as you want to.