QUOTE: Originally posted by Susquehanna And Rimouski First, you need to dedicate a computer (usually a cast-off through upgrades) to your layout - another computer to maintain.......
QUOTE: .......Then, if you're not a solder-jockey, what do you do? Spend MORE MONEY to get someone else to do the job, or prey upon a "Friend" who will hate you for asking him to do the nasty job of installing decoders on over 40 locomotives. Then, every locomotive you purchase in the future you need to lay out more cash for the decoder to come equipped.
QUOTE: DCC. What for? So you can run as many choo-choos on the same track at one time? Neat. You can do that with Cab Control for a fraction of the cost. Guess what will never happen with Cab Control that you can have with DCC? A head-on collsion. WAY TO GO, GOMEZ!
QUOTE: I will stick with DC unless I hit the jackpot and hire a staff to help me with a larger railroad. Manufacturers will NOT force me to go DCC, and I appreceate the choice now of either DCC ready or DC as is. It had better stay that way, lest my pike be truly confined to a time period!
QUOTE: Originally posted by simon1966 QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831 Ah, but the rub here is that the number of incoming newbies (which I agree are better off starting out with DCC) is really quite small nowadays, so it will taken a couple of decades for them to become even a simple majority in the hobby. CNJ831 Is it that small a number? There seem to be new folks showing up here all the time. Also, at the "World's Greatest Hobby" show Bachmann DCC sets at $99.00 were selling like hot cakes!
QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831 Ah, but the rub here is that the number of incoming newbies (which I agree are better off starting out with DCC) is really quite small nowadays, so it will taken a couple of decades for them to become even a simple majority in the hobby. CNJ831
Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
QUOTE: Originally posted by kchronister QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831 QUOTE: Originally posted by Peter Armond Estimates are that less than 10% of those in the hobby are using DCC in UK, although there is no scientific basis on which this is based. What is the percentage of DCC users estimated to be in USA? And did it generate the same type of debate when it was first introduced? Peter - In spite of all the hype DCC has recieved, Model Railroader magazine did post figures in one of its editorials a couple of years back that gives a reasonable idea of just where DCC is at relative to DC. They indicated 15% of those they surveyed had converted to DCC and that a further 10% said they were, "considering perhaps doing so at some point in the future." So, given that a couple of years have elapsed since their survey, the percentage currently into DCC in the USA likely doesn't yet exceed 20%. Far too many established modelers are happy with their DC layouts and, as manufacturers are starting to offer devices that will allow many of the features DCC offers to be available with DC, future conversion is likely to continue at a slow pace. CNJ831 Time will tell. I think the post about new hobbyists has it right. If 20% of the 'established' base uses DCC, but 80% of the people coming in start with it... It's simply a matter of time. Personally, if they were stocks, I'd invest in "Digitrax" rather than "Throttlepack"
QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831 QUOTE: Originally posted by Peter Armond Estimates are that less than 10% of those in the hobby are using DCC in UK, although there is no scientific basis on which this is based. What is the percentage of DCC users estimated to be in USA? And did it generate the same type of debate when it was first introduced? Peter - In spite of all the hype DCC has recieved, Model Railroader magazine did post figures in one of its editorials a couple of years back that gives a reasonable idea of just where DCC is at relative to DC. They indicated 15% of those they surveyed had converted to DCC and that a further 10% said they were, "considering perhaps doing so at some point in the future." So, given that a couple of years have elapsed since their survey, the percentage currently into DCC in the USA likely doesn't yet exceed 20%. Far too many established modelers are happy with their DC layouts and, as manufacturers are starting to offer devices that will allow many of the features DCC offers to be available with DC, future conversion is likely to continue at a slow pace. CNJ831
QUOTE: Originally posted by Peter Armond Estimates are that less than 10% of those in the hobby are using DCC in UK, although there is no scientific basis on which this is based. What is the percentage of DCC users estimated to be in USA? And did it generate the same type of debate when it was first introduced?
QUOTE: Originally posted by jecorbett I think DCC is probably still in the minority but I suspect that will change in the not too distant future. It's like any new technology. It takes a while for the public to warm up to but eventually, almost everyone comes around to it. I suspect DCC will someday be almost universal. The few remaining DC holdouts will have to remove decoders when they buy a new locomotive because decoders will be standard equipment.