HI ALL NEW TO FORUMS. IVE BEEN OUT OF THE TRAIN STUFF FOR A FEW YEARS AND WAS WANTING TO BUILD MY SON A N SCAIL TRAIN LAYOUT. IVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FORUM FOR A FEW WEEKS . I WAS JUST WANDERING WHAT THE DCC IS AND WHAT IT DOES. IS IT GOOD OR BAD ? DO I NEED IT OR NOT? ANY HELP WILL BE GREAT. TY JEFF FROM ILLINOIS.
go to www.tonystrains.com and read the DCC for begginers link. Its a little lengthy but it explains what DCC is, how it works, what it does and its advantages.
The descision to go DCC or not depends how serious you are about the hobby. If you plan on just building this layout and then getting rid of it in a little while you should not spend money on DCC when DC will work just fine to run one train. However, if you plan on running more than one train on the layout or plan on really getting started in model railroading DCC is a good choice. Today DCC is pretty much a nessecity for more serious modelers.
Keep in mind also that DCC, even though it is FAR more capable than DC, is much easier to wire. With DCC you dont need panels of switches and blocks like on old DC. In the words of one forum member, “with DCC, you run the trains, not the track.”
Be aware that route control (as it is called) is not available with all DCC systems. Some systems include it; others offer it as a option (at extra cost); and still others are unable to control more than the trains. You do not need to use a DCC system to control your turn-outs (switches).
Also, some DCC systems can be hooked up to your computer so you can more easily alter the settings on the decoders (using free software). Although most DCC systems can do that without a computer. It is even possible to have the computer control the trains following a pre-determined schedule. (I find that kind of takes all the fun out of running trains; but the, to each his own. [sigh])
Jeff,
As a matter of forum (and internet) manners, please do not use all caps. It is the equivalent of shouting and is usually considered rude. If you find the text size is too small to read easily, you can adjust it to be larger.
Harley - please turn off your caps-lock key. It looks like you’re shouting.
Welcome to the forum. I’ve been back in model railroading for about a year now. I went to a DCC system last year, and I’m a big fan of it. It’s only a little bit more to set up than a basic DC system, and once your railroad gets bigger and more complex, then DCC is actually much simpler to wire and control.
As others have said before, you run the trains, not the track. That’s the way it should be, I think.
Harley -
My dad and I just got back into the hobby after a 20 year absence last year. We started out with DC, but after reading on this forum and getting the great input and advice from others, we made the jump to DCC.
We tried a couple of different DCC manufacturers, and settled in with Digitrax. I found it easy to install and use, and very cost effective for our size layout. The wiring for the layout was simple, and so far, decoder installation has been pretty smooth. There is a little bit of a learning curve to use DCC, but it wasn’t too bad. I would highly recommend DCC to anyone out there.
I wouled like to think you all for the info on dcc i will go to the web site and read on it some more… p.s sorry about the caps - lock.
Hi harley1997, another site that is full of DCC info is here: http://www.wiringfordcc.com/
BTW, thank you for turning down the volume. Now I can turn my hearing aids back up. [;)]
thinks and your welcome
Does anyone know of a good source for Digitrax Decoders? I’ll purchase in bulk.
Please email direct mspiwak@verizon.net
Thanks in advance.
Tony’s Train Exchange, Litchfield Station, Empire Northern Hobbies, and Gadget Tom have all given me great service. Check one of those.
–Randy