Advice on DCC

Either one is OK for what you contemplate. Early vesrions of both had glitches, but current production is NMRA compatible (ie, it conforms to the international open, non-proprietary standards.)

You will need a controller for as many locos as you will run at the same time, plus one for the turnouts etc. Generally speaking, DCC is very good if there are several operators running trains over several routes at the same time. On a smaller layout, traditional DC will do as well, and often better, especially for the single operator.

I strongly suggest that you a) buy a book on DCC (make sure it's recent, not more than a year or two old); and b) go to an exhibition, and talk to the exhibitors running with DCC.

Good luck, wolf k.

Mornin Fred

I have a running love - hate relationship with Hornby DCC. Having said that I find that it works well once you understand the problems and can get beneath the bullshit which seems to have dried onto the subject.

I cannot afford the overpriced offerings and have made a determined effort to make those things that I can afford work.

In your situation with only 2 locos and some point & accessory control I would recommend the Elite. The Select will do the same job but I find it slow and it is unable to do two things at the same time. All of my problems have stemmed from poor installation of track and particularely points which do need to have isolated frogs which are fed either from the operating blade or an aux switch -- I use the former as it forces me to keep the points in good order.

There are several FAQS which Hornby do not mention but will be available here I am quite sure!

Good luck with your choice but cherish the thought that spending lots can cause bigger resentments when the same problems arise that you could have bought for less!

Peter A

NCE is good.

If you want really cheap then get the Bachmann EZ rather than the Hornby Select. If you can afford more, buy the Hornby Elite. Look for good deals on the cheap controllers that have been split from sets (e.g. eBay, hattons). I got an EZ to play with for less than =A330.

I would avoid the Hornby decoders. Bachmann decoders are made by ESU and are much preferred. For this reason, but locos as "DCC ready" rather than "DCC on board" or whatever buzzwords the particular manufacturer is using. You can (in theory and generally in practice) use any manufacturers decoders with any command station. NCE decoders are good. Zimo are the Rolls Royce brand.

Even for a very small layout, DCC can bring a lot of pleasure in improved controllability and lack of any requirement for isolating section switches once you have more than on loco. The cost of a basic DCC controller plus a couple of decoders is comparable to the type of DC controller you would need to buy to get the same slow running qualities.

MBQ

Because the NCE is probably the easist to use, lowest priced, full-feature DCC system you can buy. ( I don't use NCE, there are various areas where its not the best option for me)

The cheaper ones have serious compromises; cannot read-back settings from locos (so what was the maker's original value before you change it?), in some very cheap toy train-set models they cannot change the settings in locos (don't think you want to change things? you will, even if its just the volume in a sound loco or the starting and top speeds).

Decoders; be cautious about any trainset brand decoder, whether factory fitted or in a packet from a shop. Some trainset brand decoders are OK, but some are rubbish. The exception is sound decoders where all the UK outline OO ready-to-run locos are fitted with ESU LokSound's (as superb decoder).

- Nigel

Fred,

I dipped my toes in the DCC waters with a Dynamis, which was one of the cheapest startup kits at the time - two years ago. It worked well and did what it said on the tin, and it still does. But it wasn't long before I started to investigate DCC further and then found the limitations of the Dynamis when it came to programming decoders.

I then had a look around and went for the NCE PowerCab which was, at the time, one of the cheapest startup sets which would give me the more advanced facilities I now wanted. The NCE has worked extremely well and I have now augmented the original PowerCab with a second hand held controller which gives me two individual controllers.

So you might be as well to go for one of the cheaper setups from the big makers which will allow you to run your two locomotives, and let you get a feel for DCC. But be prepared to look around - as I did - when you want to get more involved in DCC than the basic outfits will allow. Starting off with an inexpensive setup at least lets you establish your own parameters for what you want in a system so that when you want to go for something better, you at least know the questions to ask, and what to look out for, based on your own experience.

Jim.

Unfortunately there were considerable limitations with Dynamis that the extra box was to cure, however once you added the cost of that box it was no longer a reasonably priced option. Did upset a lot of people, especially those who went for that instead of the Hornby Elite - which doesnt suffer from those limitations.

Can definately recommend the Elite. Cheers, Simon

The other big manufacturers you should consider are Lenz and Digitrax both make good systems and decoders. TCS are good for decoders.

"June" wrote in

I think (as far as it goes) your 'expert' is giving you sound advice. Lenz & NCE are both worth looking at, but Lenz would always be my recommendation if price isn't a real issue. NCE is a good second option.

Gaugemaster's Prodigy II (developed my MRC in the USA) is another good mid-market option in the UK.

Personally I wouldn't touch Hornby DCC with a barge pole, but it is popular, mainly (I suspect) due to the name on the box.

John.

Reminds me of the saying 'Just because you are paranoid it doesnt mean theyre not out to get you'. Some of us bought the Elite on price/feature considerations, and are still happy with our purchase. Had one for a couple of years now and still havent outgrown it.

cheers, Simon

Hi Fred Personally I've had great luck with digitrax. I like the loco net system. I use both a db150 and a DCS100 booster. Once I learned the ins and outs of the DTS400 throttle it was simple to use. I like operating 2 trains on the main, 2 or three in the yard and being able to operate tortoise switch machines all from this throttle. I have 4 DS64 switch machine controllers. I've had best luck with TCS and Sound Traxx Tsunami decoders in my locomotives. TCS has a great 1 year no fault warranty. Personally I believe in spending a little more and getting a really great product over spending less and hating what I buy. This hobby is supposed to be fun and DCC is problematic. The hardest thing for me was learning from the DCC manuals. They are written by engineers for engineers. I had to spend hours on the news groups as well as online and phone advice to finally get a complete understanding of the DCC programing issues. Once you learn them, it is a fun experience with DCC. I feel the only draw back to DCC is dirty track. It's not as forgiving as DC and keeping wheels, pickups and track clean is a full time experience sometimes.

Mike M

Good Morning Guys. Thank you for your prompt and varied replies.

To be on the safe side, looks like I will go for the NCE.

Cheers Fred

It is interesting that you found the handbooks to be "written for engineers". My view is the complete opposite. The various tech data that I have read for several marques have been either sales based ( extolling virtues and ignoring problems) or completely juvenile. Groupes like MERG invariably get carried away and invent whole dictionaries of acronymes which mask the often simple message being conveyed.

During my time designing control systems for ships and industry there was always the main thought that operating a system safely and efficiently should not require a PHd in button pressing.

I have yet to discover whether CV54 & 55 control the differential or integral components of the acceleration curve so have to spend too long messing about to achieve a result suitable for the X914 motor.

Peter A

s. They are

I suspect it's the "written *by* engineers" that is the problem. As an engineer i know how difficult it can be to write technical documentation for non-engineers.

That's seems a bit harsh. What sort of thing are you talking about?

Those CVs are manufacturer specific, so there is no standard use for them. Which decoders are you talking about?

MBQ

als. They are

I use the Bachmann 36-533 (when I can get them) as they mostly work straight from the box and are affordable! They are susceptible to spark derived interference but I would be prepared to believe that all decoders are. I do not use Hornby units because they are proved to be too frail ( wires falling off etc).

I paid my subs to MERG for a few years but found that after a lifetime in electronics was having to relearn the acronym world ( just as I did one time in the acoustics world) but in any case the whole business was being pushed into more and more PC control which was not my ambition --- too much like taking work home!

Not all decoders are equal. There is a quality curve, in control, features, handling of interference, etc.. Its not totally related to price, but is roughly in line. The best are Zimo, but they cost a lot more than Bachmann branded ones. The ESU made Bachmann ones are decent at a budget price.

PC's have two main uses in DCC systems:

One is layout control/automation, and I understand why many don't want to go there.

The other use is decoder setup. I am baffled why people are happy to type numbers into a keypad when a computer will give you a graphical display of what is going on, label the fields with sensible names, let you save things to the computer (so you can go back to it), etc.... If you have any interest in customising what your locos do, then get a copy of JMRI/DecoderPro and work through the tutorial on its use. You may have to purchase a hardware interface box to go between your computer and the DCC command station. (This assumes you don't have a Gaugemaster or Bachmann DCC system; those cannot connect to third-party systems).

I am not convinced that MERG is particularly useful for someone just wanting their models to run. MERG do make a few handy kits (notably the accessory decoder), but most of the stuff is cannot be deployed without a lot of effort learning how it works, and how to make use of the useful bits. MERG also have an excessive number of TLAs for quite simple concepts. Buying off-the-shelf technology is a lot easier for most people.

- Nigel

Hi Fred, with only two locos on a layout why spend money on DCC? Peco turnouts isolate sidings, spurs and passing loops so conflicts can easily be avoided. If your layout is large enough for two locos to run at the same time then you obviously have two circuits. Railways basically operate as one loco per block and a little thought before wiring will allow you to do the same on your model.

Greg.P.

Thanks Greg.

I had seriously consudered that. What would be a good controller for REALLY good slow running. Is there any way to have sound, engine lights and carriage lights with DC ?

Fred

Be interested to know what you are hoping to achieve here. With clean, level track, an engine with a smooth running chassis and a standard Guagemaster controller to my untrained eye gives a good slow running setup. Something like a hornby princess or black 5 can have the motor turning but apparently wheels not revolving. Good idea to have a DC controller anyway to run in locos and if you have any problems they are not caused by the DCC chip. Whats youre interest/opinion on really good slow running ? Cheers, Simon

Simon.

I am an LNER fan. Although I now live in Western Australia, I intend to model an East Anglia area. I love to see one of Greasley's large locos at the front of the layout, at eye level with all the valve gear just turning. I also like shunting goods vehicles.

Fred