For you few "old timers" this subject was brought up in the old forum, but seems appropriate again. How do you feel about DCC?? Personally I thionk the idea is cool, but it is WAY outside of the limited budget of the CSW. I must admit that I don't fully understand DCC, and am an old block system man myself...tried and true will never leave you blue ! John
Posted by dragondawg (Member # 29) on :
John, John, John...this is almost the 21st Century! DCC, my man is so simple..and its not that expensive. For a small layout, the MRC Command 2000 system runs 10 trains. Check out train shows for discounts on the product..I've seen it for less than $150. Installing decoders is a bit of a pain unless you are real good at electronics. But after I did a couple of them, it was no sweat. I will never go back to conventional block wiring.
Enjoy the weekend John (the other John)
Posted by jcater (Member # 31) on :
Really...less than $150.00?? Well then, perhaps I CAN afford it ! When you say small layout are you refering to actual square feet or simply number of trains...in other words does distance relate to type of system needed?? I only ask because the CSW may actually be expanding when it finally is moved to its new home !! Happy Modeling!! John (this John)
Posted by dragondawg (Member # 29) on :
Small layout meaning square footage AND number of trains. My layout sits in a 12 by 12 room..total square footage of the layout I'm guessing might be 100 square feet. I can by myself run maximum three trains, and thats keeping me on my toes. Normally two. Two operators can run safely four trains. I have six locomotives all together and might get one more. Not going to need anymore than that. I have included a link to the location where I bought mine. His list right now for the mrc is $169. Which means most trains shows will have it for less than that.
quote:Originally posted by jcater: Really...less than $150.00?? Well then, perhaps I CAN afford it ! When you say small layout are you refering to actual square feet or simply number of trains...in other words does distance relate to type of system needed?? I only ask because the CSW may actually be expanding when it finally is moved to its new home !! Happy Modeling!! John (this John)
What about lighting and sound with DCC? Personally the affects of sound and lighting outweigh the advantages of DCC for me. I'm so used to running block systems I don't even think about it. It seems with most DCC systems by the time you add sound and lighting you've got a wireing maze, and I'm not very good at tiny wireing anyway, never seem to have the right components on hand. Scott
Posted by dragondawg (Member # 29) on :
Well lighting isn't any harder for dcc or block..its not as big a maze..sound I have never messed with so I can't speak to it..I just like DCC for the ease of setting up a railroad. If I already had an establsihed railroad that was running with blocks and running well, then I wouldn't go to the expense of ripping out all the wiring to install dcc. But for someone new that is just building a layout, I would give dcc strong consideration. John says hes planning on rebuilding his layout when he moves it. A great opportunity to check it out. I built my layout in dominoes, ala David Barrow, so adding bus wires between each module was a snap. I could have set it up in blocks I suppose but I wanted to give dcc a try and it was the right choice for me.
Nothing wrong with either. Personal preference.
JB
quote:Originally posted by millcstl: What about lighting and sound with DCC? Personally the affects of sound and lighting outweigh the advantages of DCC for me. I'm so used to running block systems I don't even think about it. It seems with most DCC systems by the time you add sound and lighting you've got a wireing maze, and I'm not very good at tiny wireing anyway, never seem to have the right components on hand. Scott
Posted by Mike C (Member # 35) on :
I have to agree with dragondawg here, The MRC system is very simple to set up and opperate. You really wouldnt evan need to tear out your block wireing. Just switch all the blocks to the same number hook up the two wires from the MRC unit and youre ready. A lot of companies are also bringing out locos that are set up to run Dcc,all you do is take out a dummy plug and plug the decoader into the socket. couldnt be easier. If you want sound a company called Soundtraxx is making plug in units that have the Dcc controler and the sound unit in the same package. Once you run a layout with DCC you wont want to go back to the dark ages.. ...Mike
------------------ Its only money
Posted by jcater (Member # 31) on :
Although I would not say that the block system is really a Dark Ages invention, I must admit that I would rather run trains than constantly watch my block selectors! I may just check out DCC, if the decoders are also reasonably priced Happy Modeling!! John (this John)
------------------ Colorado and Southwestern, the Top of the Rockies!
Posted by dragondawg (Member # 29) on :
John, If I can asnwer any more questions for you about DCC especially Command 2000, you know where to find me. I talked a buddy of mine into it and he is very glad he did now. He also has a small, in square footage,railroad with no more than 10 locos so its a perfect match for him.
Hope I've helped and good luck on the rebuilding. Did you see the latest issue of MR? Tony Koester has his new track plan in it. Its a triple decker!! Wow!
John(the other John)
quote:Originally posted by jcater: Although I would not say that the block system is really a Dark Ages invention, I must admit that I would rather run trains than constantly watch my block selectors! I may just check out DCC, if the decoders are also reasonably priced Happy Modeling!! John (this John)
Posted by virtual-bird (Member # 37) on :
If you hae a large amount of locos, its NOT cheap.. Decoders can be a pain to install with hacking anc bucthering needed on MOST old locos...
find out about them first, then loco into the rest
To me the old block system works. if it aint broke.. dont fix it.
------------------ RR: K, C, & Bird Butt Railroad - SP, NS, and ROCK admirer. Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that shares with SP, NS, and some CSX.. Also some Custom RARE Bird RR sd40-2's coming! Era:
Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels of today.
Posted by jcater (Member # 31) on :
quote:Originally posted by dragondawg: Small layout meaning square footage AND number of trains. My layout sits in a 12 by 12 room..total square footage of the layout I'm guessing might be 100 square feet. I can by myself run maximum three trains, and thats keeping me on my toes. Normally two. Two operators can run safely four trains. I have six locomotives all together and might get one more. Not going to need anymore than that. I have included a link to the location where I bought mine. His list right now for the mrc is $169. Which means most trains shows will have it for less than that.
OK, I guess I will need to measure my new space. I think the new railroad will be bench type (what I wanted to build in the first place) and I may use the old 4 x 8 as an island. I'd bet that it won't be more than 100 square feet because even though I get 1/2 of a garage we still must park two cars in it . Anyway, thanks for the tips, I'll let you know how things develop. Good luck and Happy Modeling!! John (this John)
------------------ Colorado and Southwestern, the Top of the Rockies!
Posted by dragondawg (Member # 29) on :
Hacking and butchering? I can assure you I don't hack or butcher any of my locos old or not. Yes it takes some creative thinking to fit a decoder inside some of the engines.. sometimes you have to give up a little weight to make room for the decoder. So I can't pull 35 cars anymore on straight level track..now I can only pull 25 cars.. Big deal. The point is, once you do a couple engines it gets easier as you do them. And with more companies coming out with engines decoder ready, its even easier now..plug them in and program them. I say again, if you're happy with blocks and you're railroad is running just fine with it, then stay with it. DCC is simply another option we didn't have five years ago. Enjoy your railroad whichever way you go.
Posted by ajy6b (Member # 77) on :
I am taking the plunge into DCC. My club uses Railcommand and I love it. I have equipped a couple of my locos with it and I like the results. I am in the process of building a new home layout and I am deciding which system to use. Either way, I am going to have it set up so I can use either analog or DCC until the conversion is over with. I will also have block control. I know it is very important to isolate both DCC and Analog and not mix them at same time.
So, the systems I am deciding about are, A) Railcommand or B) The new Atlas DCC. I am leaning towards Atlas, because of it's price; the deocoders are cheaper and can be switched between analog and dcc; and finally Atlas is a large company, with deep pockets. Atlas has been around since dirt almost.
------------------ AJ Y6b
Posted by jcater (Member # 31) on :
I haven't seen the new Atlas stuff...missed the August issue of MR . How much is it listing for and what are the advantages? Happy Modeling!! John
------------------ Colorado and Southwestern, the Top of the Rockies! http://jstrainstation.homestead.com
Posted by ajy6b (Member # 77) on :
The Atlas System appears to cost about $179.95, plus $30 per decoder. This should make conversion less painful on the old wallet.
------------------ AJ Y6b N&W and Conrail Fan http://communities.msn.com/TheGRRModelRR (my page)
http://www.nvrra.org (my club's page)
Posted by jcater (Member # 31) on :
I just saw the ad in the September MR (I missed the Aug. issue !!) It looks good and seems to be affordable...I'm getting closer to going with DCC !! Happy Modeling!! John
------------------ Colorado and Southwestern, the Top of the Rockies! http://jstrainstation.homestead.com
!
! When you say small layout are you refering to actual square feet or simply number of trains...in other words does distance relate to type of system needed?? I only ask because the CSW may actually be expanding when it finally is moved to its new home 
!! Happy Modeling!!
Once you run a layout with DCC you wont want to go back to the dark ages.. 
. Anyway, thanks for the tips, I'll let you know how things develop. Good luck and Happy Modeling!!