TMCC??? DCC???? HELP ME!!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 92hatchattack

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lehigh Valley Railroad

92 hatch, If you make it out to that March show, I will let you experiance TMCC first hand, Sorry, I dont have a MTH setup.

Chris

are you gonna be there both days???? I think i will stop by and take you up on that offer!! thanks! [:D]

Joe,

I will be there both days, the whole time! I bring a good number of TMCC locos, and enought to "wet your whistle" so to speak[;)]

Just remeber the TAMR [:)]

I would be glad to let you play with TMCC

Chris

[92hatchattack]

^^^ cool, thanks!

Ill be looking foward to it!

[92hatchattack]

ok, so i read a little about this comand control.... and i have a few questions...

1. since all trains are controlled seperatly and power is constantly suplied to all rails does it eliminate the need for insulated tracks????

2. if you bring one of your locos to a stop, does it remain in nuetral(with its lights on and everything) or does it shut down completely untill called to order again???

3. lighted passenger cars??? im guessing these dont shut off at all if there is constant power to the tracks???? whats the deal with that????


thats about it for now..... thanks all

[spankybird]

HI Joe,

To answer your questions,
1. Insulated tracks? If you are asking about out side rail insulating for controlling thinks like crossing gates, only as needed for control.

If you are asking about block control, it depends on how large of a layout and how much power (size of transformer) you are planning to use. You may wi***o have two or more blocks to have two or more power supplies to the track.

2. With DCS PS2 engines, when you stop them, the power remains on, just like neutral until you shut down the engine. But remember the track still has full voltage to it.
3 You are correct, the track see 18 volts and your passenger cars will be light.

Hope this helps
tom

[92hatchattack]

when u say the engine stays on until you power it down, does that mean that u can power the engine off completely from the the digital comand, or soes it stay on until you shut the comand off??? ... meaning , can i completly power the engines down from the cab-1???

how bout HO engine where there is not nuetral cycle like an O scale????

and just as a side note, is it bad to leave engines running in nuetral for an extended amount of time???

[spankybird]

HI Joe,

With DCS you can use the ‘shut down’ command on just one engine and the rest of the system is still on. So if you have a layout with a passing siding on it, you could pull one engine onto the siding and ‘shut it down’ and still run a second engine on the main loop.

You should be able to do the same thing with a CAB1, but I don’t use TMCC.

HO DCS operates just like O gauge DCS, again I don’t run HO so I can’t say for sure how DCC is.

As far as idling an engine in neutral, the only this go be careful of is to turn off the smoke unit if it has one.

[Jim Duda]

Joe / Hatch - I'm sure Chris will answer most of your questions at the show in March when you two hook up. If he can't answer your DCS questions, I'm sure somebody with him can...we all had a ton of questions while we were deciding about Command Control - keep asking your questions. Spanky is a great resource for DCS questions, as are others.

Having TMCC and DCS demonstrated to you first hand will answer most, if not all, your questions...a train show is the perfect place for that.

[92hatchattack]

wow, sounds like some pretty cool stuff... now my issue is that im living in an apartment and have no room to start building a layout yet! But i cant wait!!! This comand control sounds great..... Do any of you feel its easy enough to setup all the digital comand stuff on just a rug/on the floor layout for like Xmas????

Id also like to say thanks to everyone thats been helping here. This forum is really top notch and i think you guys seem to be the nicest people ive talked to on the net! Sure beats the hell out of some of the tools i find on the car forums i moderate .... lol


the only downside i can see thus far is the issue of lighted pasenger cars constantly remaining on since the track is always getting 18v..... i wonder if anyone has come up with away to fix this??

[spankybird]

Joe,

There are several member who use DCS on a floor layout or temp Christmas layout.

Chief has a floor temp floor layout with both DCS and TMCC.

Waltrap has a temp Christmas layout with DCS. I also help another forum member with his Christmas layout and DCS, just don’t remember his name now.

Some of the newer passenger cars have light for the 18 volts, also there was an article in one of the magazines about changing the lights to LED’s.

tom

[tschmidt]

I've used TMCC on a floor layout at Christmas. It is very easy to set up and take down. It only takes minutes. I believe some of Lionel's passenger cars have on/off switches that are easily accessible on the ends.

Tom

[jimhaleyscomet]

Both my TMCC and DCS started on floor layouts. The TMCC is EXTREMELY easy to set up. Just run a wire to ground and plug it in. DCS is a little trickier. Adding DCS is almost as easy. You just insert it on your power lines between the Track and the Transformer. Also adding a fuse or circuit breaker is a good idea.

Jim H

[Buckeye Riveter]

Chris, is doing a beautiful thing. [bow][bow][bow][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup]

[92hatchattack]

hmmm, cool, maybe i should make an investment this upcoming holiday season :) .... does anyone know of any possible upcoming advances in the systems that might make me want to put off getting it untill then???

[ben10ben]

Rumor has it that Lionel will announce TMCC II at April York, but don't hold your breath. I've heard something to that affect pretty much every York since I started reading these forums 2 1/2 years ago. There seem to be more people in on at this time, so it may be true.

I understand, though, that after the whole MTH fiasco of a couple of years ago, Lionel will try to make it as backward and forward compatible as possible. That means that TMCC II will completely control TMCC I locos, and TMCC II locos will retain at least some command control functionality under TMCC I.

Keep in mind that all of this is just rumor and speculation, and, if you want to buy a command control system, don't let that keep you from it.

[92hatchattack]

^^^ im not looking to but for some time ... not till round nov. or dec, so i guess ill just sit back and see hows things go ....

[eZAK]

92hatchattack,

Here is some added info. on TMCC.
You can power down any engine from the Cab-1.
It can be used on any layout, big or small.
Lighted cars will stay lit until power is removed from the track.
Bulbs will burn out quick if they're rated too low.
(Note: Check voltage rating of all bulbs in any cars you are unsure of when in a CMD. enviroment. Running or standing, regardless of Mfg.)

You can get started in TMCC (Cab-1 & Cmd. base) for under $100.
(Keep an eye out at hobby stores, internet shops, & shows)

An updated version of Cab-1 (Cab-2) should be out by Christmas '05.
It will be even easier to use with added features, BUT
Either remote will control All features of Any TMCC engine.

[92hatchattack]

very cool, knowing this (if its true) ill probaly wait for the updated version, and that gives me time to save up to get the components that will let me run MTH as well.
and just to clarify, i need a power source right??? and you guys say my postwar ZW is enough power to run 2 o scale trains in a reletivly small layout????

can the system hooked up with the dcs run both o scale and HO at the same time, through the same ZW power source????

[92hatchattack]

ok, i think i just ran into some confusion and clarified it for myself.... let me get this straight....

at first i thought u guys were telling me to buy the TMCC and to add the components from lionel to run MTH PS2.... i now read on the lionel site that while that is ok and dandy it only operates the MTH locos in conventional right????

but buy buying the DCS system and ading the TMCC component to it allows me to run both Lionel and MTH in Comand, seperatly or at the same time on the same track.. correct???

while i dont own and Comand engines yet(because i didnt really want to spend that much $$$ on one without beaing able to unlock its features,plus i have an infant here and im broke.. lol) i think the first i may own might be the MTH GG1 due to the fact that it has been reported to run decent on O-54....

so if i understand correclt, you guys tend to belive that going DCS na dthen adding TMCC to it is the best route to go???

[eZAK]

QUOTE: "so if i understand correclt, you guys tend to belive that going DCS na dthen adding TMCC to it is the best route to go???"

It depends, If you will deffently be buying MTH then YES.
If you are on the fence about MTH or do not plan on buying any then NO.

You can always add the other system whenever.

If you want lower priced trains with all the bells and whistles & TMCC equiped check out
http://www.k-linetrains.com/

[Anonymous]

Hatchattack,

I picked up the latest OGR on Mondat the first, and there is an excellent article by Jim Barrett about setting up a layout with both systems. I highly recommend it.

Some have stated that, if you are never going to purchase an MTH PS-2 locomotive, you should just go with TMCC. This makes sense on the surface, but never is an extremely long time.

As I have said many times, I would not go down a path now that might limit what you can purchase in the future. TMCC will allow you to operate Lionel, Atlas, K-Line and 3rd-Rail in command, but will not allow you to run PS-2 (DCS) locomotives in command. DCS with a Lionel Command Base will allow you to run virtually anything.

Why eliminate the possibility to run locomotives from one of the two top players, especially if you are just in the pre-planning stages?

Through DCS, I have personally run pre-war Standard Gauge, post-war O gauge, and MTH PS-1 in conventional, as well as TMCC and PS-2 in Command.

I would also highly recommend the OGR video/dvd on DCS. It is excellent, and will provide you with a great deal of information.

[92hatchattack]

whats ORG??? i keep hearing about it( usualy bad things about the forum or something, but i dont judge something unless i have a reason too)

do you have any links or something???

as for MTH .....even though i am patriotic to Lionel cause thats what i grew up with i have read some reviews and seen a few in person and i am impressed.... i will definatly be buying one in the future. Quality is quality regardles of who makes it....

as far as buying cheaper locos, im kinda a top of the line guy.... with any type or merchandise generaly.... I dont mind saving up those extra couple of months to get something that i really really want instead of just being content with something thats "ok"

right now im just researching, and then when the dough is in my hand im sure my mind will be set on which Lionel/MTH locos i will want..... then there just a trip to the train store away :)

but yeah, where can i get this ORG article/video???

[Anonymous]

92hatcattack,

Try this URL:

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x

The OGR Forum is an excellent source of information with a lot of great forumites. I have learned a very great deal over there.

Occasionally, when threads get nasty and personal, and no longer serve informational purposes, they get deleted. I have had a couple that I participated in get deleted, and truly feel that this was the appropriate action by the Webmaster. I did not take offense when this occured, but I did really think about what I said, and whether I should have said it or not (usually arriving at not).

The same thing happens occasionally over here.

Many of us get a little too passionate about our hobby sometimes.

It is, by the way, really nice to have two great forums on which to exchange information.

[Anonymous]

I have TMCC. All of the bottons on the Cab-1do not work. just the round speed control. Does any one know why? What can i do? the # for teck help dont work.

[Anonymous]

Fred,

I would contact Lionel. If it is still under warrantee, they will fix it. If not, they may just fix it gratis anyway.

[92hatchattack]

cool, ill be checking out ORG for myself then, hopefully i can find some good information over there as well!

[tschmidt]

I really enjoy TMCC. Easy to use, easy to set up and no problems. The extras that are coming out for it such as the TMCC Crane cars and now the boom cars, are great. I would expect more to come. Being able to run my switches and multiple trains at the same time is easy. I will not be buying MTH so that won't be a problem.

Tom

[ben10ben]

I just read some exciting news on the OGR forum. In his visit to a New Jersey train shop today, Jerry Calabrese reported that some prototype TMCC improvements will be unveiled at Spring York. That's good news for all of us!

Now, if they would ever actually make the Yard Boss, I would be a very happy man.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RAK402

The OGR Forum is an excellent source of information with a lot of great forumites. I have learned a very great deal over there.

Occasionally, when threads get nasty and personal, and no longer serve informational purposes, they get deleted. I have had a couple that I participated in get deleted, and truly feel that this was the appropriate action by the Webmaster. I did not take offense when this occured, but I did really think about what I said, and whether I should have said it or not (usually arriving at not).

LOL - You're in the minority with that opinion. [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[Anonymous]

Hello People: I just finished reading Jim Barrett's article in OGR, & I have to tell you after a few month's of deciding how to go with thing's this article made it perfectly clear BOTH ! Sounded strange to me at first , read the article a second time & a lot of question's were answered. Great topic people lot of good input. Steve

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ben10ben

I just read some exciting news on the OGR forum. In his visit to a New Jersey train shop today, Jerry Calabrese reported that some prototype TMCC improvements will be unveiled at Spring York. That's good news for all of us!

Now, if they would ever actually make the Yard Boss, I would be a very happy man.

Forget about TMCC. DCS is far superior. What happens when Mike Wolf gains ownership of Lionel? Do you think he'll continue with TMCC? Not a chance, the future is DCS!!!![:D]