I’m not running dcc on my layout, so it doesn’t really matter to me if it wasn’t
Gordon
Its not all that hard to wire in your own decoder, but having a plug makes it a lot eaiser.
If your not using dcc now-you are missing a lot of fun. My 7 year old grandkids have no trouble runing the trains when they come over. I don’t beleive it will be many more years, before almost every new engine will be dcc ready.
personally i could’nt care less if the loco has a DCC plug or not. I run a small DC layout so DCC decoders wouldn’t be practicle in my diesels. I run diesels that are analog and others that have DCC compatible boards.
I’d buy the loco regardless of the DCC plug.
A DCC plug is certainly a plus but wiring a decoder is not that difficult. The decision depends mostly on other factors but a plug is good. There are so many overwhelming advantages to DCC that I find it hard to understand the resistance from some people.
Even though I have a small layout, DCC is the future and I want to embrace it as a new hobbyist looking to be in the game for the long-run. For those with massive fleets already, DC understandably is quite attractive. For me, having DCC plugs there means I am getting a locomotive that will allow me to easily upgrade my tiny N-scale engines without frustrating myself in the process!
If I had plenty of time I wouldn’t mind, but I prefer not to have to install the grab-irons or wire in a decoder. DCC will have ‘arrived’ when most locos come with the decoder already installed. Steven Burrows, Australia
Six months ago I was working on a layout with double ended yard and loco storage tracks; ran into many elec problems with DC. So switched to DCC and converted 12 engines including several 1990 Mantua Goats and am having the time of my life. Start a passenger train on one mainline, a freight on the other main and then do yard or siding switching. No more flipping block switches!
I park my locos anywhere. After 65 years, I am really enjoying my layout.
I say yes it would. But if there was an engine I would like that the plug just was available in than I would still buy the engine.
Well, let’s see here on the DCC verus DC issue. I run both on my RR for the simple reason of when I have to repair someone’s engine, I got DC. If one of the club members come over with DC, they can run their engines. I run DCC and DC at the same time in different sections of the RR and use COMMON RAIL on the entire RR without any problems of any kind.
So, there is still headlights that work on DC and lights that work on DCC. Haven’t figured out where there wouldn’t be and lights unless you took them out of the engine.
So as to if it has a plug or not? No problem. It might just run on the club layout in DC.
[:o)]
I’m afraid I’m one of these guys who buys purely on looks, mainly because my layout will be all steam. Recently though, I decided to take a closer look at all my locos and found two Rocos and one Brawa were DCC ready. I may look into it in the future but not now. Just let me finish my layout and I’ll go from there.
Rather than go the DCC route, I expanded my railroad to include 48 reverse-loop staging tracks. I have to keep the juice simple, especially with the short-circuit problem evidently so critical with DCC; so I have stayed with good old DC and my faithful, amperage-ful Dallee Engineer power sources. With the capacity to have over 200 locomotive units on the system at any one time, there just is no way i can consider the time and money for conversion. More power to all those excited hobbyists who find DCC meets their needs. There are, however, many of us who will never make the move.
I’d certainly prefer a DCC plug so I don’t have to solder those tiny wires. Plug or not, I can’t imagine a layout withour DCC anymore. After spending my entire life operating and maintaining DC-powered layouts, DCC is really a joy to use. Installation is not too bad either, once you take some time to learn the systems. Certainly wiring for block control was much harder than dropping a decoder in an engine!
Regards,
Greg
This won’t affect my decision because I have not found any 4-4-0 models that can easily handle DCC plugs, let alone manufactured with a plug included.
Having a DCC socket (since the plug is already fitted on the decoder lead!) is not a ‘buying’ issue.
‘Space’ - being the availability of a suitably-sized void - is more my concern, especially now given than I’ve taken up N scale modelling (to help my 14y.o. son out).
In fact, if there is complete compatibility running DCC-fitted stock on ‘standard’ DC systems, including those employing through-the-track constant lighting systems, the next evolution in manufacturing may see all new DC-motored locos sold with DCC as standard, just as you can’t buy a new TV without a remote control (and there is bigger analogy there than you may have imagined…).
If this state was ever to occur, I would still like to see a standard dimensional package determined to allow people the opportunity to replace/upgrade with decoders of their own choosing.
Regards,
Steve
Bergie,
In N scale, not having a DCC plug is important, and a lesson that Life Like doesn’t seem to have twigged on. A thread like this got started in the Atlas forum, when some one suggested that for the price the LL engines were the best. Many such as myself responded: “no DCC ready, no purchase.”
Most locomotives still come without decoders and I think that trend will continue well into the future. Those do come with built in dcc at this time can be used on dc layouts without any modifications, so I really don’t think it’s much of an issue at this time, except for price
Yes, I’d be more likely to buy a loco without the DCC plug than a loco that has one.
DCC is the way of the future for model railroading.The operaion and installation of systems is much better with DCC therefore I will only purchase new engines if DCC is available in the unit.
I first started model railroading in the late 50s, but due to work and family had to lay it aside for many years. Now retired, I dug out the crated remnants of my earlier layout and started to get interested again. My local hobby shop guru recommended DCC, and even helped to install the first decoder in an old brass engine. I am hooked. Since then I have installed decoders in a couple more engines myself and just love the way they work. Makes that old layout come alive. And now hearing about the next step in the DCC future makes me say… lets get on with it.
Not having a Dcc plug is that important. I buy the loco’s I need when available Dcc ready or not (usually not). As I have an electrical background fitting decoders will present no problems.
As for DC being simpler as someone in a previous post hinted at, it is but only on the simplest of layouts, as your layout becomes more complex so does the wiring required for DC. Dcc becomes much more realistic the bigger your layout.[:)]