ROCO DCC HO Sale

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am very new to this hobby and I would greatly appreciate it if I could get some feedback from forum members on the information below so I can determine the best way to go and not waste my retirement money. Thanks in advance.

There is an advertised special on Internethobbies.com today for a ROCO DCC starter set for 125 dollars (list is shown as 250 dollars for entire package and 189 for the DCC portion alone).

Set includes: Dual-mode Decoder-equipped HO Scale CSX or UP GP40 Diesel Locomotive (runs on both DC Conventional and DCC layouts) ;
3 Highly-detailed HO Scale Freight Cars; an Oval of Roco Track with Roadbed; and a DCC set-up (Transformer, Base Unit and Loco-Mouse Controller -a $189.95 retail value!) .(Union Pacific or CSX set)…

I currently have a small (just working on it since I retired) conventional DC Kato N scale setup which was only about 120 dollars with the transformer, track , loco and all) .

Can the Roco HO scale DCC stuff run my existing small N-scale set-up if I obtain a DCC equipped n-scale loco? (I would also be interested in building an HO scale setup as well but would like to be able to use the DCC stuff on both (of course, not at the same time) …Is the DCC stuff the same as that I would have to obtain for n-scale?. The internet hobbies advertisement seems awfully hard to pass up. Thanks again…
:

2

Before I took a chance on this, I would want to learn more about the Roco DCC system – is it fully NMRA DCC standards compliant? If not, don’t get it, as it’s unlikely to operate properly with other brands of decoders. Roco’s Web site should have details about the system. Although Roco is in Austria, I believe they have a site in the USA – maybe Roco USA, where you can find more information

3

[#welcome]
this is a quote from their website at www.roco.com :

“Digital is cool” - Thats what more and more model railway enthusiasts are saying , or words to that effect. Digital technology offers both the beginner and the seasoned model railway pro a whole new dimension. Roco has, with its intelligent products, shown that there is much more to the subject than multi-train control and simplicity of wiring. The locomouse, the whistle, the smoking steam locomotive and the digital crane have set important standards. Now, a digitally remote controlled locomotive coupling, digital steam locomotive accoustics, and digital points have been added. All these functions can be controlled by any locomouse right from the very first generation, but also by all NMRA standard DCC digital systems.

so this is not MHO,