Choice of DCC decoders and System Layouts

What DCC is the definition of the protocols, timing and signalling between units. If a system/decoder etc is quoted as DCC this will mean that it will work with any other DCC system. The differences come in on the interface between controlling devices, feedback from accessory decoders to the main unit. This means how a controller/throttle talks to the main unit. There are two main systems Loconet introduced by Digitrax and Expressnet introduced by Lenz. So that controllers/throttles by these two manufacturers are NOT interchangeable.

In summary boosters from any manufacturer should be able to drive any other manufacturers decoders but controllers are largely proprietary, both Digtrax and Lenz have licensed their interfaces to other DCC manufacturers.

The best advice is to read up the manufacturers blurb and then see if you can see your preferred version in action.

Chris

You're asking a lot because there are a lot of chips out there. There was (and I guess still is) a list of decoders on the Fremo website, but I think it was only in the German and not translated. However, as its mostly data tables, you won't need much German and Google Translation tools don't make too much of a mess of most things:

- Nigel

I quite like the DCX74 and the last batch I bought came from Arnold Hubsch in Austria. He takes paypal (you don't have to sign up to pay him, you can do it as a one off transaction) and speaks pretty good English.

If you want some more advice I will be at Colchester MRC exhibition at the end of the month demonstrating with my Z Scale DCC layout and I'll have a couple of decoders (Digitrax & CtElektronik) out so you can get some idea of real size.

PeterI

Click on the Union jack at the top left and hey , Bisto, its in english..

_--____-----__ Speak three languages and you're Trilingual, two languages and you're Bi-lingual, one language and you're English..