Getting into DCC...???

[RhB_HJ]

Hi all,

Let me state at the outset this is my approach to the problem!

What I recommend is the following

• 1. Buy a copy of "Digital Command Control - the comprehensive guide to DCC" ISBN 91-85496-49-9
  That book will give you a good overview of what DCC is, how things are accomplished etc. as well as reviews on different systems with specs that will let you decide "this yes! that no!". Please note that the reviews are dated i.e. the book was published in 1998 and time doesn't stand still!


• 2. Find out who uses what in your neck of the woods, see if you can operate some trains running on DCC in order to get a feel for the handheld control and its features. Try as many different systems as you have the opportunity.


• 3. Obtain a list of DCC system manufacturers and download the manuals from the Internet


• 4. Read the manuals and compare the features. If you don't understand the lingo go to the different user group forums and ask the questions. Most groups operate just like this Forum i.e. we all had to start once, so be nice to the newbies.


• 5. Make yourself a list of which features you need and which features you would like to have.


• 6. Inquire with some of the dealers providing the list of "givens and druthers", the amount you have to spend.


• 7. Find out what the upgradeability of the recommended systems is i.e. best is: software update downloads from Internet (for any of the components i.e. control unit, handhelds, decoders, auxilliary units), worst is: have to buy the new, more advanced control etc. etc in order to use the new features.; in between is: have to send everything back to the dealer/manufacturer for an upgrade.


• 8. Take your time


• 9. Do as much reading as you can stand


• 10. Keep in mind that an inexpensive system will only go so far, the limitations are in upgradeability, features and expandability. If you get your feet wet with a low cost starter system and then find that you spend lots of money to get the auxilliary components which you require, wellllllll you didn' save any money but you're quite conceivably stuck with a system that has a sub-par architecture, plenty of quirky work-arounds and glitches, along with technical information that gives you fits.
  Do your research first, buy later and compare like/similar products!
  A $50 DCC sound decoder is not the same as a $150 DCC sound decoder, despite what some ads would have you believe.

[Anonymous]

I agree with everything except #9.

Once you have read as much as you can stand, read some more!

Also, In my research, I contacted several users by email and asked them what they liked and disliked about their systems.

I think the controllers play a large part, and I would definitely choose one of the more sophisticated systems rather than a "simple" system, since your investment will grow, and if you hit limitations in the system, you will be unhappy.

For example I chose NCE, they have several types of controllers, from simple to ones with lots of buttons. Lots of dedicated buttons makes simpler operation, rather than fewer buttons, which makes some operations multiple keypresses instead of just one.

Regards, Greg

[bobgrosh]

Absolutely great advice HJ!

The only thing I would factor in:
Is the company nearby?
If you can drive to the plant and get instant hands on help, that's a plus. If the manuals are all in a foreign language, that's a minus.


B0B

[RhB_HJ]

Hi guys,

True in both cases! [;)][:)]

OTOH I always keep in mind that the tolerance for reading varies with practice and experience.

In my previous job I had the "luck" of reading manuals in German, French and Italian- first issue for any given machine was certainly in the native language and Engli***ranslations were on the "To do" list for "When we get around to it and sales justify the effort".
Well, my school French improved considerably (at least in the reading department) and I started to understand a lot more Italian than I imagined possible - it is amazing what can be done when it needs to be done. That includes reading electrical and electronic schematics.

It's the old axiom: Where there's a will, there's a way. And if you're in the problem solving / problem shooting business you learn quickly that it will be up to you, to come up with a solution.

All that said, I understand why some people don't want to do all the reading, a hobby could become like a job. Unless curiosity is an innate characteristic.
[:)]

[bobgrosh]

I like item 4 the most. Read the manuals - Ignore the hype:
One companies site is intimidating and hits you with techno talk right from the first page, but if you read the manuals you find that selecting a loco with a 4 digit address is 6 key presses <LOCO> <4> <9> <0> <7> <LOCO>.

On another company site the home page touts the simplicity of their system but the manuals reveal a different story, To select a 4 digit loco takes nearly a whole page to explain, it involves twisting two knobs, pressing buttons, twisting them again and reminds user to pause while the system accepts the data between steps. There is no indication that the first half of the address is accepted and the system can vary greatly the time required, something like 5 to 10 seconds. Even with the two address knobs, there are more key presses than company one.

If you believe the hype about simple, easy and quick you can end up staring at your handheld instead of running trains.

So I second the motion to read the manuals.

B0B

[grandpopswalt]

DCC is in the "toddler" stage right now. It will require a couple more generations of equipment before it becomes as "user friendly" as analog. So grin and bear it and take comfort in the fact that your anguish will pave the way for future generations of GRR's to enjoy DCC as it was meant to be.

Walt