With enough support maybe they will ad one. We can always hope!
Maybe it would work. But if you ever look in the general forums at the bottom of the list - even with Bergie’s big ol’ sticky that says NOT to post train questions there - guess what’s there? If you think that all the DCC questions would actually be placed in the DCC forum… The sad thing is, posting in the wrong forum really has nothing to do with being new - just so no one thinks I’m pickign on newcomers here.
Anyway, would be nice to have a dedicated section. But it opens up a huge can of worms - if there’s a DCC section, shouldn;t there be benchwork, Scenery, and Tracklaying sections too? Where does it all end…
–Randy
There certainly should be a DCC forum. Anolog train systems are the conventional past, however, the DCC methodology will soon be the contemporary way to control model railroad trains. I have been trying to get several complex questions answered by more experienced DCC railroad modelers but without a central forum it is a very slow process. Sincerely, Yardboss
I think it would actually be slower with a dedicated forum for DCC. Less forums means more traffic on the ones we have. Somebody might not be looking for a DCC thread, but just browsing around. However they might see your post and say “I have some input for that” (I know nobody actually says that). I’m happy with the way its now.
I agree with Joe. I think it’s fine the way it is. (Actually, they could get rid of the MR 70th Anniversary Boxcar sighting forum IMO…but that’s just me.) There’s a nice diversity of topics and threads within the “Layout” forum that might get too segregated if we divided it up more.
Tom
I would rather see it left as is. I’m interested in learning about all phases of HO model railroading and it is easier to glance through all of the subjects listed and select what I want to read. If DCC were separate it would just be one more place to look for the same information.
In my humble opinion, and no disrespect to our hosts, the Kalmbach boxcar thing has about run its course. Why not try replacing it with a DCC segment and see how much traffic it generates. The boxcar info could go to prototype, and I imagine with the magic of electronics (and albeit a bunch of manual labor by an intern) all the historical DCC topic matter could be shifted to the new segment, eh? Just something to think about! Happy railroading, jc5729
I think as long as we note (DCC) in the Subject line we should be OK with things the way they are. I’d rather have everyones input and not just get a lucky few who were lurking in the DCC forum.
Maybe they need to change this forums heading to include more general operating questions, even though they do show it in the bracketed words below the forum heading.
johncolley seems to have good suggestions but I would also like an N scale section-just my thoughts!
How about a more general forum on “Electrical” or “Electronics”, so that it would apply to both DC and DCC?
I don;t think there should be separate sections for each scale. 90% of what is discussed is applicable to any scale, not just the scale the person writing is in. Certain things, sure - decoder fitment, specific locomotives and rolling stock - naturally they are scale dependent. But scenery is scenery is scenery. benchwork is benchwork is
Splitting things up is nothing more than an inconvenience IMO. I like to have it moslty consolidated and be able to scroll through a couple pages each day. If you need a real life example, say you need milk, a hammer, a CD and a bar stool. You could either go to a grocery store, then a hardware store, then a music store, then a furniture store, or you could just go to Wal Mart. As we all know Wal Mart is very succsessful.
And like I said before, splitting up forums splits up traffic. If you look at the MR boxcar forum, not a lot goes on there. If that was just a thread in the General forum a lot more people would read it and the more people you have reading something the more likely it is that somebody will come along that has something to say.
On the other hand I think that this layout building forum has its purpose. It moves a lot slower than the General forum and the threads tend to be more on topic.
At this point I cant really think of anything about the format I would change.
I drive a rutmobile, I eat at the Rut restaurant and I have been accused of telling “rutty” jokes. Leave things how they are.
Personally, I think it would be a waste of time when you consider how many messages get posted in the wrong areas when we have only 4 from which to choose. Next, people will want a breakdown by scale – then manufacturer – then…
Remember the maxim, “If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it!”
There is another train forum I visit from time to time that has a lot of forums, one for each scale, DCC, you name it. Some of the scale forums have not had a post in days/weeks. The DCC forum has not had a posting in about a week. There are some forums with no postings in months and one that has not had a posting since December 2005.
Sometimes getting real granular is not a good thing.
It’s ok with me the way it is. I’m new to DCC (NCE PowerHouse Pro), but I can usually find what I’m looking for here. Now if I can only get my basement sealed and start a real layout!!!
I guess I am more of an organized person. I like the idea of a DCC forum. When searching for an electrical, or DCC problem, it would be so much faster to screen through pages of electrical/DCC problems and answers, than screening through “weeks or months” of “General” threads.
I guess it depends on how often you visit here. I’m on at leastonce a day, usualy twice., if not more. On the main section there is seldom more than 3 pages of topics with new posts. On this section - rarely more than half a page. This new software keeps better track of what you’ve read and what you haven’t than the Snitz stuff did. I don;t think I’ve missed anything yet, posts below the one with messages I haven’t seen have never had new posts that I didn’t catch.
Even with my slow connection it’s not too hard to read 2-3 pages worth - and I NEVER read every topic, slow connection automatically means I do not read any that are big picture lists like the weekend photo fun threads, and ones with titles that hold no interest for me, I usually do not bother reading.
–Randy
I’ll tell you in a perfect world it would be great to have a section for each topic but then how many cross topics would you miss out on and all the extra work it would take to jump around just to keep up with everyone else. I think this setup is fun and diverse. Now as far as the boxcar goes, where I live and railfan the chance of me spotting it is about as good as Neil Young showing up for dinner with a truck load of FREE Lionel trains! But if you take the boxcar section off, the boxcar would prob. derail and end up in my living room, next to my camera, which of course would be set on auto. Far fetched, but you never know so I say let it all stay the way it is, just incase! [;)]
Mike Rapp