Is it better to buy a DC loco and a decoder sepperatly or buy one that already has a decoder?
It depends on the locomotive, Jacob. A low-end Bachmann "DCC on Board" locomotive will not have a very good decoder in them; whereas, a Bachmann Spectrum DCC-equipped locomotive will have a much better decoder.
If you're feeling ambitious, already have a locomotive, and want to give a decoder install a try, buy yourself a book about DCC decodeer installation. It should cover both motor and sound decoders. It would be a good investment, resource, and education for you. (Jacob, I'm over 4 times your age and I'm still learning things. )
Jacob, if you do decide you want to give a decoder installation a try, be sure to get a decoder recommendation for your particular locomotive. Some decoders fit better in certain locomotives than others. Some decoders also have different features, which you may or may not need.
Hope that helps...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Adding a decoder to an engine made in the last ten years or so is normally just a matter of unplugging a dummy plug, and plugging in a decoder with a nine-pin or eight-pin connector.
An advantage of adding your own decoders is you can use one company's decoders, like TCS or NCE or whoever you choose. That way, you don't have to learn the little difference and 'tricks' of each brand, but just one brand.
That being said, it's kinda nice to buy a small engine with sound already installed, and not have to later try to squeeze a decoder and speaker in. With steam, some companies like BLI have sound decoders where the "chuff" is synchronized to the turning of the drivers, so that's nice. With Spectrum, their version of the Tsunami doesn't have any cam or anything to connect the chuff rate directly to the drivers, you have to adjust the CV's thru trial and error to get it right (which eventually you can do). So...if I'm getting a BLI engine, I prefer to get one with factory sound; with a Spectrum engine, it isn't as big a deal as I'm going to have to spend time getting the chuff rate right whether they install it or I do.
That really depends. Most of the time, a loco with a motor only decoder runs $30-$50 more than the same loco with no decoder at all. You can get good motor only decoders for $12 if you buy a 10 pack, $15 or less even just buying one - so in this case I don;t think it's worth it to buy with the decoder already in.
When it comes to locos with sound and DCC though, usually it's only $100 or less more for the one with sound and DCC. The sound decoder alone costs that much, plus speaker and enclosure. If you plan to put sound and DCC in the loco anyway, then it is usually less expensive overall to pay upfront and get the sound and DCC version.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.