DCC - why not?

Dale spake thus:

Hmm; dunno about that, but it occurs to me it might not be a totally crazy idea to use tubes to make a booster: essentially a power amplifier driven by the controller. So if you were willing to allow some newfangled technology onto your layout, you might be able to drive the thing with a tube amp, stepped down to track voltage. Think of it as an "audiophile" setup.

By the way, a Trash-80 or even a Sinclair would supply more than enough computing power to drive the whole thing.

No, of course not.

Now it's my turn. ROTFLMAO!!

It's all toys, Joe. All your scheduling,waybills, whatever, it's still playing with toys.

The only activity that isn't is the actual model building. And that's a hobby all in itself, whether you're modelling rolling stock, structures, scenery, ships, airplanes, or whatever.

Stein, I think you may have misunderstood what I said. I did hear the engines humming but it wasn't so loud that it bothered me. Once they were running you could hardly hear the hum at all. I think if you were standing next to a non moving engine and were dwelling on the humming sound you could well decide it was annoying.

It was on a friends DCC layout -- I don't remember exactly what all the brands were. I believe that one was a small Bachmann steamer and there were a couple brass diesels that were probably Challengers. Also there were a couple Genesis F units plus some others that I cant recall.

I've seen a non-decoder engine operate very nicely mixed in with those with decoders. The thing is that this is a way to operate a non-decoder engine as opposed to not being able to run it at all.

Jim

If you really want to follow this up start from where you will find circuits and plans for all the bits you need. Tried and tested, my layout runs on them.

Keith

I thank you all for the pointers and links I've followed throughout this thread. I'm wishing there were a r.m.r.dcc group on the regular usenet, but I haven't tripped into one yet. But I am curious about one dcc item that I'm kind of banking on...is running scheduled trains on varying routes (and possible scheduled meets) within dcc's capabilities?

Oh, yeah...I began an order for my 8' x 35' trailer today to house the future layout; I will take this one with me if ever I move again.

Steve

then that means a cheat sheet to convert engine numbers to decoder numbers. I know that it is easy to change the number, just tell the loco that it has another number with the base usit. I'm used to the idea of just powering the block and the loco moves. No need for any addressing of the loco as the block addresses it. I'd love to see somebody that has built the electronics so that the loco is addressed as being in block #xx and the block power following the loco. That would mean that any DC loco would be able to run on the layout without any problems and the only time that you have to play the addressing game is to tell the system that loco #xxxx is in the starting block.

-- Why do penguins walk so far to get to their nesting grounds?

Larry, I completely agree with you! I've never considered DCC to be to an advantage when operating trains although it will also allow for computer control of the trains. What amazes me even more is the addition of turnout control to the DCC system!

-- Why do penguins walk so far to get to their nesting grounds?

I consider using two controllers to control two locos on a train to be basically playing with fire. I've seen enough derailments from such sillyness. There's nothing fun about having to rerail 80 cars when either the front end or the rear end decide to take a dump.

-- Why do penguins walk so far to get to their nesting grounds?

Bob,

CTI appears to have the capability you mention. I am working with it right now to keep track of each train on the layout while in motion and in staging, etc. The capability is called "Beacons". Visit CTI at

Drop me a note if you wish to pursue further; I might be able to help out.

For DC control, I would only wire 1 block for your Tumut terminus. That's all you need for prototypical operation in this case. Isolate a second locomotive by using route wiring. No need for isolating blocks for this specific prototype. Beyond the home signal a second block would start. Tumut is a simple layout to control using DC block or DC cab control. The wiring is going to be simple for either way, DC or DCC if you wire for reliable operation.

Terry Flynn

DC control circuit diagrams

HO scale track and wheel standards

Any scale track standard and wheel spread sheet

Great site. Thank you very much!

Dale

Sure. But you have to attach the layout to a computer and run software like Railroad & Co.'s "Train Controller", IIRC.

Paul A. Cutler III

So, historical recreations of actual events is just "playing with toys"? Better tell all those military reenactors that so they can stop wasting their time, too.

Oh, I see. Building a model is OK, but running it is "playing". Right.

Paul A. Cutler III

If you can't see that running a train by DCC is an advantage over DC... Please explain why you don't consider DCC to be an advantage. I grant you that it's more money. I grant you that it's more complicated. But when working, it's hands down a superior method of train control over conventional DC in any form.

Paul A. Cutler III

I certainly haven't had that problem on my club's HO layout. I've operated 100+ car trains with rear pushers and have yet to derail a single car due to loco problems. Heck, we had two such trains following each other on the layout at speed. Of course, our layout has 40" min. radius curves and No. 8 mainline switches, which probably has something to do with it. The nice thing is the "Emergency Stop" feature of the throttles. It tends to stop things right quick if need be.

Paul A. Cutler III

what does your tag line mean?

Because that's the way the railroads do it. If you MU units together then only the headlights at the ends of the consist light up. headlights between units remain off even when changing direction. Plus can put a decoder in passenger cars or caboose and control them. Bright at stations, dim on the road, off on storage tracks. And ditch lights only come on when out on the road. Lights stay on even when loco not moving...

well, with dcc you can toggle the lights on and off. so you can tell pretty quick if you have the units or not. without having to move them. (unless the track is dirty and they aren't getting any power) Jb