I have not yet bought this book. However, it looks like it might be a good one, espcially since it seems like there are more questions about DCC on here than anything else. Does anyone have or has anyone read it?
http://store.yahoo.net/kalmbachcatalog/12242.html
My Lenz system came with a superb owner manual and it covers it all. I wouldn’t say DON’T buy the book, but just beware that some of the gear comes with really comprehensive documentation., and the money spent on the book would just as well go to decoders or accessories
A book is not really going to do you that much good because it is written in a generic manner that does not really apply to any specific DCC system. Research via Internet sites such as http://www.tonystrains.com and reading through his DCC For Beginners topic, or downloading the manuals from the various DCC manufacturers’ Web sites and reading through them, can give you the same information for free.
I know that Digitrax and CVP’s EasyDCC manuals are free for the downloading, and you can probably also get Lenz and others from the Internet.
All the Lenz manuals are available in PDF format from http://www.lenz.com
Ian
Yes, I got it and read it when I decided to rebuild my layout and was trying to decide whether to stay with DC or switch to DCC for the new layout. It’s a good basic overview of what DCC is, how it works and what’s involved in converting to it. It gives you enough info to understand what you’re reading in the manuals from the vendors and in the more technical discussions here.
Another good, though more advanced book is “The Big Book of DCC” from Digitrax. While it’s (obviously) biased towards Digitrax equipment, it’s also generic enough that the principles it covers apply to just about and DCC equipment. And the operations portion has great info on programming the ‘core’ CVs, working with speed control and speed tables, and setting up automated yards and routes with stationary DCC decoders.