So what do you find a pain in the duckuss when using your DCC system?
Personally I hate remembering what function does what with which train.
other. i would make it less expensive
Put the decoders in the fuel tank so they can be gotten to easier.
other… make them less expensive like Cheese3 said
Other:
Make all decoders PnP, to include running existing lights in loco.
All locos required to have same decoder plug.
Engines are going the DCC Ready route - There is no law that says a manufacturer has to make his product DCC Ready - It will just take time. Of course that fleet of non-DCC engines we all have may/may not ever be converted. I have some engines that were always consigned to the ‘display case’ even when I had DC.
DCC controls - The newer throttles(like the Digitrax DT400 series) are very easy to program with and operate your trains. As more throttles make use of good LCD displays and buttons, the ywill all move to a more user friendly interface. Things are so much better now that 10 years ago.
The one thing that needs to be done is that there has to be some standard to make a loco “DCC Ready”. The stuff now sold as DCC Ready varies from absolutely to “why did the bother wasting the money on the socket”
I don;t believe every loco should be required to be DCC ready - far from it. But, if they are going to advertise such as DCC Ready then I SHOULD be able to simply plug in the decoder of my choice (subject to size limitations, but all the DCC manufacturers offer various size decoders to take care of that issue) and go. No bypassing resistors, bypassing weird inductors, etc. If there is an NMRA plug in the loco and you STILL have to pull out the soldering iron to make it work, something is WRONG.
There is no possible way to make DCC easier for old locos with motors that have grounded brushes and motor frames. The task of isolating the motor still remains. However - everyone seems to look at that as an electrical job, when it’s really a mechanical thing. Just because it’s an electric motor - remotoring is far more mechanical than electrical.
Assuming the decoders are already programmed - which any good installer should do, should you contract the job out instead of attempt to install decoders yourself - I don;t know how much easier they can make this. On most system you press a button marked “loco” or “select” or something otherwise obvious, key in the number decalled on the cab or tender of the loco, and press an enter key. Then turn a knob and the loco moves. Honestly, how much easier can you make this?
–Randy
[2c]
Have built in resistors for the lights in the decoder so you don’t have to replace them all or wire in resistors. Digitrax DH163LO’s for Proto 2000 decoders are like this and make installing decoders very simple. I also think a universal type of plug and play pin would be great. Atlas and Athearn Genesis could learn something from Proto’s set up. Pulling of those stupid little tabs and soldering the wires to the decoder is really a pain in the butt.
Amen to Cheaper DCC!
Thats other for me!
The price is insane!
Cheese3 is right!
Enjoy mine so far. Keep driving the price of systems and decorders down. That way you get more people and more profit by quantity.
Had a blast with mine so far, but still new. I am not sure what I can’t do yet.
Tim
I started to write a long response to this, but after looking it over, think that Randy pretty much nailed my position on this, and in fewer words.
Of course, even if a manufacturer claims to adhere to a standard specification for being able to claim that a locomotive is “DCC Ready”, it won’t do any good if the manufacturer doesn’t actually test that they’ve done it right (such as MDC’s “incredible decoder output-killing Model 40 switcher”).
There’s not much of a way to deal with this short some sort of a certification program, and presently it doesn’t appear that there’s any obvious mechanism in place to do this. I’m not sure that there’s enough manpower available to handle this sort of thing through the NMRA Conformance Warrants program.
One approach might be to find some volunteers with experience in DCC to put together an independent reviewing group, sort of like the Consumer’s Union, to establish criteria and rate new locomotives for their conformance to these criteria, then publi***he results (likely on the web). Spread the load around enough, and it doesn’t become as much work as one or two people doing it themselves. 'probably would integrate well with the decoder install information that the Gateway Division NMRA started to put on their web site.
The one way I would make DCC easier and I am sure everyone here agrees to it is to have the Wireless controllers made universal by one or more companies. You could by one to be used with Bachman Easy DCC, Lenz, Digitrax, NCE, Etc. That would make it all much easier. Also one other thing would be easier
A set of about 25 buttons numbered T1-T25 to operate a turnout. It would make for non touching switch controls. Not having to scroll thru a menu and call up the # turnout. Just look at the turnout “oh thats #16 turnout” and then hit the T16 button labeled Straight or Turn. So basically there would be 50 total buttons. That would be so cool. The one bad thing is for people who have 26 switches. LOL
CVP USA has gotten close to this with its wireless throttle system. The handsets will work with EasyDCC, Lenz, NCE, System One, Atlas, EasyCab, CTC-80, and RailCommand systems that have his receiver base station. The only gap that I find is that Keith G has stated that he is unwilling to enter into a LocoNet license with Digitrax (and I can understand his reasoning behind that decision), and so chooses not to support that sizeable piece of the market.
I like CVP’s RF1300 throttles very much, and use them on one of the layouts I operate on. It is my belief that had CVP brought out a Digitrax-compatible receiver before Digitrax released the UT4R, it could have made a huge splash in that part of the market. 'guess it just wasn’t to be, though.
As soon as I read the question the first answer that popped into my head was, “Make it cheaper.” I thought that was being a bit of a smart a$$ answer, but I see as I read the replies that I would not be alone in this.
I’m not a poor man by any stretch, nor am I heir to a fortune, so cost management are a large constraint on my hobby. DCC is on the wish list instead of connected to my layout solely because of cost. Let’s hope that like most electronics, as it develops and ages, its cost comes down.
Trevor
You’re right Trevor. One good thing that has been happening is that a number of DCC
products have been slowly coming down in price. Some decoders sell for $15 now. The Digitrax Zephyr, which usually lists for $199 is being sold for $159 on some internet dealers.
I’m on a budget myself so I’m getting in “slowly”.
Sound is still incredibly expensive, but hopefully it will come down. There are toys and models of cars, ships, etc., that are equipped and sound absolutely incredible, yet costs are relatively cheaper compared to sound in model railroading.
I realize of course that precise train sounds require more research and time to produce, but I’m honestly thinking that if QSI and Soundtraxx were suddenly introduced to a new competitor selling quality sound for model railroading, at lower prices…you’ll suddenly see an increase in “Specials” and “Holiday Sale Prices”.
I voted other. DCC should be intuitively simple, ESPECIALLY for the first time user. to my way of thinking, it should be:
plug and play -whether plugging in the decoder or hooking up the controller.
push and watch -easier function control and programming. The manuals rival Windows for Dummies in their heft, fer cryin’ out loud!
One only has to look at the comments on the recent topic dealing with growing the hobby to see that DCC is a real setback for the beginner. It’s too complicated, but everyone here is touting its virtues. When the newbies ‘feel’ the delta between their own misgivings and lack of understanding, and the ravings and extolling of DCC’s virtues by those who have ‘cracked the code’, I am sure many get cold feet and look for something else. Guys like Randy appear like gods in an established kingdom, and the rest of us poor neophytes have a long uphill struggle ahead of us.
I picked “Other” because, IMHO, DCC should be made more “bullet proof” WRT dependability. I should never loose control of an engine, I should never experience “erratic” opration, I should never have an engine “lobotomize” itself, etc. This is the kind of stuff that drives people nuts.
WRT “DCC Ready”, remember that Athearn blue box, et al, is not “DCC Ready” as you have to isolate the motor from the frame. Things like Proto 1000 are DCC Ready because you don’t have to do that. Sure, you have to scratch out some circuit boards and solder some leads, but you don’t actually have to take the whole frame apart to get at the motor. That says “DCC Ready” to me…
Fritz, CVP is cutting their nose off to spite their face. Digitrax is, correct me if I’m wrong, the number 1 USA DCC manufacturer. Why wouldn’t CVP go for it? And the LocoNet license can’t be all that bad considering the 3rd party LocoNet manufacturers already out there… What is CVP’s reasoning?
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
I’d like to see “DCC ready” mean what it says - if there’s a socket factory fitted why do I have to warm up the soldering iron, clip some strategic connections, and fit resistors to stop my headlights either blowing up or melting their way through the shell. To be fair, I’ve only had to do this once (Bachmann Doodlebug), but I do wonder what would happen to a newbie in the same situation - would they realise there was a problem and seek help before or after melting the shell?
End the confusion. Even the manufactures of the DCC products are some what clueless. DCC needs to be more straight forwad. Even plug in play is confusing at times. It is getting better but figuring out which decoder for this and do you need to do that to it to makes it’s a pain. Of course converting older locos that were not designed for DCC will be a little harder. Everyone is screaming cost. When I can buy a Proto 1000 F3 for $20 and it cost me $20+ to get it setup with a decoder that doesn’t seem right. Then you have to relate to supply and demand. Look at Railroad books and why are they so expensive? Well it’s because the number of people interested in them is real small and the amount of research can be a huge task… So if you have only 1000 buyers it’s going to cost more than if you have 100,000 buyers.
RMax1
Other:
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make all DCC connectors standardized on ONE configuration. Stop with the 12 different types of connectors based on engine manufacturer.
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Give intro sets the ability to handle more than 2-2.5 amps. I neither want nor need a Digitrax radio Super Chief, but I’ve got a large layout that will require 5-10 operators. Right now, there’s no SIMPLE system that will handle my layout at max load.
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reduce the price of handheld throttles, especially ones without LCD displays. I work for an eOEM, and I know for a FACT that the Digitrax and Atlas handhelds cost them no more than $5-$10 to make. (decoders without wire harnesses cost in the $1-$1.50 range, TOPS)