Thinking about DCC and making life hard.

[Anonymous]

I'm at that fork in the road again and I'm thinking about taking it -- DCC.

The layout I really want to build includes kit-built interurbans with operating cantenaries, somewhat realistic operation over a single track and DCC decoders. I don't want anything fancy, just something I can control with a hand-held or pre-program routes and operations with my PC. I will have lighted vehicles and the trolleys will have directional lighting.

I want to be frugal but not short-change my abilities.

So, what do I need?

Ignatius. 

[tstage]

Ignatius,

If you are looking at controling your interurbans with a PC, both the Digitrax Zephyr and the NCE Powerhouse Pro would fit that bill.  I have the NCE Power Cab.  Unfortunately, the USB port for that hasn't been released yet.

I believe on both the Zephyr and the Powerhouse Pro, the computer port (RS-232?) is an extra item that needs to be purchased separately.  Both are good and reputable companies.  If money is an issue, the Zephyr would be the least expensive of the two - i.e. $150-160, discounted.  I think the computer port runs ~$60-70

Hope that helps...

Tom

[jktrains]

Ignatius,

If you are looking at controling your interurbans with a PC, both the Digitrax Zephyr and the NCE Powerhouse Pro would fit that bill.  I have the NCE Power Cab.  Unfortunately, the USB port for that hasn't been released yet.

I believe on both the Zephyr and the Powerhouse Pro, the computer port (RS-232?) is an extra item that needs to be purchased separately.  Both are good and reputable companies.  If money is an issue, the Zephyr would be the least expensive of the two - i.e. $150-160, discounted.  I think the computer port runs ~$60-70

Hope that helps...

Tom

Sorry Tom, but on the NCE Powerhouse Pro the RS232 port is built into the command station.  Regarding the PowerCab and connector - it is now being shown on the NCE website and pricelist.  It is my understanding that it is currently going through final beta testing. 

If you want automated operations you're going to need a lot more than a basic DCC system.  Additonal item needed include software, block detectors, and AIUs.

jktrains

[jbinkley60]

Ignatius,

If you are looking at controling your interurbans with a PC, both the Digitrax Zephyr and the NCE Powerhouse Pro would fit that bill.  I have the NCE Power Cab.  Unfortunately, the USB port for that hasn't been released yet.

I believe on both the Zephyr and the Powerhouse Pro, the computer port (RS-232?) is an extra item that needs to be purchased separately.  Both are good and reputable companies.  If money is an issue, the Zephyr would be the least expensive of the two - i.e. $150-160, discounted.  I think the computer port runs ~$60-70

Hope that helps...

Tom

With Digitrax you have the Loconet support.  Loconet is Digitrax's LAN like technology that connects the various components together like boosters, stationary decoders and more.  You can get a USB interface called Locobuffer II from RR Circuits (lists for $75 but generally sells around $65) that will interface to a PC.  A couple of nice things about Loconet is that since it is a LAN like technology you can extend it over distances (I have 50' of cable between my layout and my PC) easily.  Also Digitrax supports transponding, stationary decoder feedback and  more to allow you to know where trains are at, which direction switches are thrown to help automate operations.  Of course there are additional costs for occupancy detectors, stationary decoders and such but that would be the case with any system that supports this.  You can get Decoder Pro and Panel Pro from JMRI (free) for computer based operations.

 

[tstage]

Sorry Tom, but on the NCE Powerhouse Pro the RS232 port is built into the command station.  Regarding the PowerCab and connector - it is now being shown on the NCE website and pricelist.  It is my understanding that it is currently going through final beta testing. 

If you want automated operations you're going to need a lot more than a basic DCC system.  Additonal item needed include software, block detectors, and AIUs.

jktrains

jktrains,

Thanks for the correction and the update on the USB port.  That is good news!  Hopefully it won't be long before it's actually out on the market.

I also failed to mention the JMRI Decoder Pro software and other items.  Decoder Pro will not only come in handy for Ignatius for block occupancy but also for keeping track of/recording the CV settings on his decoders.

Thanks again for the corrections. 

Tom

[Anonymous]

Just a little more help getting together a shopping list...

My LHS sells DCC equipment, but they don't "deal" in it. The next nearest LHS, about 100 miles away, has a store full of pin-pricks who expect me to know what I want.

 My PC is a 2006 model. Dell XPS, pentium dual-core processor. I have the mid-grade video card. I ultimately think I will have about 30 to 35 feet of track including staging, yards and sidings.

HO code 83, some flex-track, some hand-laid rail on wooden ties. I'll use commercially made switches.  Scenery, mostly wide-open country with farms and small towns based in Appalachia/Mid-west about 1925 to 1930.

 What DCC computer programs and parts, controllers, modules do I need?

 Many thanks for all your help. 

Igantius. 

[jbinkley60]

Just a little more help getting together a shopping list...

My LHS sells DCC equipment, but they don't "deal" in it. The next nearest LHS, about 100 miles away, has a store full of pin-pricks who expect me to know what I want.

 My PC is a 2006 model. Dell XPS, pentium dual-core processor. I have the mid-grade video card. I ultimately think I will have about 30 to 35 feet of track including staging, yards and sidings.

HO code 83, some flex-track, some hand-laid rail on wooden ties. I'll use commercially made switches.  Scenery, mostly wide-open country with farms and small towns based in Appalachia/Mid-west about 1925 to 1930.

 What DCC computer programs and parts, controllers, modules do I need?

 Many thanks for all your help. 

Igantius. 

Your PC is fine.  For Digitrax all you need is Locobuffer II, for hardware.  For free software there is Decoder Pro and Panel Pro.  There are also commercial packages available.

 

[Anonymous]

You can have a proper PC from 10 years ago and still run the stuff. DCC systems being as they are are hardly the stuff of modern computing. I think all you need is a Pentium two CPU rated at 350 megahertz in speed.

We are still at least 30 years from experiencing gaming-like multiplayer lag on our DCC engines.

[simon1966]

Contact one of the expert dealers.  http://www.litchfieldstation.com/ or http://www.tonystrainexchange.com/  both are reputable, both have good prices, both deal in Digitrax and NCE and carry all the ancillary bits you will need.  They won't steer you wrong.

[claymore1977]

 What DCC computer programs and parts, controllers, modules do I need?

 Many thanks for all your help. 

Igantius. 

 

This is the part of your project where no one can really tell ya exactly what parts you need.  We can tell ya what the bare minimums are, but things like block occ detecters, power district equip, etc... thats all dependant on what you layout is/will be like.  My best bet would be to do some serious reading on the stuff presented thus far in the thread and develop more specific questions about individual peices of DCC equip.  Thats just my $0.02 though :)