p.s. Per Aristo Craft's online catalog, Train Engineer only works with HO scale and larger, but I sent them an inquiry about N scale compatability, because inquiring minds want to know.
(sorry about the run on sentence)
MudekkAll this wiring & electronics is a necessary evil to me.
All this wiring & electronics is a necessary evil to me.
Your desires probably favor NCE over Digitraxx. NCE is more menu driven; Digitraxx is perhaps a little bit faster once you know what you want to do because it avoids some of the menus.
I have not experienced N scale sound, but I imagine that it's not very impressive compared to the real deal, so I'll just stick to county music.
In DCC, sound is a result of the decoder and speaker installation. The DCC control system can handle sound anytime you choose to install it in the locomotives (or not).
I do have two reversing loops, and I know from experience the frustration of failing to flip the switch for your route. It's a lot more frustrating to me than lining a switch the wrong way (the latter is real world). For the same reason, I hate missing a block toggle for a dc power district.
Given your other preferences, you will want to use automatic reversers for your reversing loop. No more worrying about lining toggles correctly.
Everything being said, I'm still leaning towards DCC (very basic), although decoder installation has me a little nervous. I've alrady got a roster of power to be upgraded; not as if I'm going out to buy all new power. Now, i figure it can't be too tough because "everyone" is using DCC, now, so I guess it's just part of the necessary evil.
Ease of decoder installation, particularly in N, is going to vary with the age of the locomotive. Some pre-DCC N locomotives will require milling of the frame and/or weight to get a decoder in (in addition to wiring the decoder). Many newer "DCC-ready" locomotives have a plug into which the decoder plugs. Depending on your experience and comfort with taking locomotives apart and re-assembling them, you may want to consider hiring out the decoder installations - at least in the more difficult situations.
One other point - if you have never tuned or lubricated your locomotives, doing so during decoder installation would be ideal.
Finally, I talked to a local vendor. He suggested Digitrax's Zephyr or NCE's Power Cab. I'm not sure how the Zephyr does me any good w/ a stationary cab when my layout requires something more mobile (he said to buy a tethered/wireless throttle, too). The PowerCab sounds more mobile out of the box, but I didn't think its 2amps was enough power for 8 n scale locos at 0.3 amps each (is my math right?).
Are you running all 8 locomotives at the same time? If the answer is yes, you will want more power when you get up to running that many simultaneously. NCE has their Super Booster, which would provide the extra power, and allow you to disconnect you Power Cab and plug in somewhere else without shutting down the layout. The later revision of the Super Booster fixes an issue with automatic reversers - which would be critical to you.
On the Digitraxx side, adding a walk-around throttle is going to be in the same ballpark cost-wise as adding the Super Booster to the NCE.
Anyway, I'm pretty sure DCC is the way for me. But, the whole "pick a system approach" makes it feel like such a big decision, where as DC seems less overwhelming, a more generic & simple purchasing approach, if that makes any sense.
Actually, the more pre-planning and knowledge of your desired end-state, the fewer unnecessary $$ and time, regardless of DC or Digitraxx DCC or NCE DCC or MRC DCC. Planning your DCC upgrade path to your desired end state (same as you detailed for your layout) will allow you to spread the cost as your layout progresses with less $$ lost to dead ends.
DCC does require a larger initial purchase than DC - and that always makes us nervous. And you are right, there is not as much manufacturer lock-in with DC. But for your stated preferences and operating styles and dislike of getting into the nitty gritty of electronics, the out-of-the-box operating flexibility of DCC would lead me to recommend that path for you.
Others with more extensive knowledge of particular DCC systems can (and will :-)) correct any errors I have made.
hope this helps
Fred W
Mudekk p.s. Per Aristo Craft's online catalog, Train Engineer only works with HO scale and larger, but I sent them an inquiry about N scale compatability, because inquiring minds want to know. (sorry about the run on sentence)
The Train Engineer does not come with a power supply. The power/voltage requirements of N and HO are basicly the same. By choosing the correct power supply and fusing it properly, the Train Engineer wil work fine with N scale. Several large N scale clubs and modular groups have used them for more than a decade now - a web search may find some of the info, I do not have it right at hand but could dig it up for you.
Reveres loops can be wired to eliminate the famous "master toggle reverse switch" and be made very much automatic. I will explain or give references if you are interested.
Signaling can be simplified to look prototypical but be easier to wire and more user friendly to operators. Are you familiar with "interlocking signaling"? These signals are actually more important on a model railroad than "block signals". By modeling the interlocking signals "first" and only filling in with a few block signals you can provide great visual effects, useful info to your operators, while still keeping operations moving and "casual". It is atually great for cab or walk around operation because a green signal confirms that routes are set correctly.
Basic DCC will be a good choice if you are willing to get into the decoder thing or pay to have it done, no question about it.
But, for the goals you have discribed a slightly advanced DC system could provide the operation you desire without installing decoders. Many of your concerns about DC can be made more user friendly than you realize. I don't use block toggles at all on my DC system.
Sheldon
Another thought or two:
A few years back I considered using DCC and did quite a bit of research. My research lead me to a point were if I had gone DCC, it would have been with EasyDCC by CVP products.
www.cvpusa.com
Their wireless throttle is simple and to the point and they have decades of experiance in command control even before DCC.