I like the radio controlled set up but I see most people like the standard dcc set up. One of the reasons I was considering the radio controled one was the easy way to run 2 or more locomotives together. Not sure how you match speed on the dcc ones. Any help in the right direction would be great. Thanks
In DCC each loco has a decoder so you can run multiple locos together. Each decoder has it's own address. Each decoder has CV's you set for various functions. Speed of the loco is one. Most good DCC systems offer radio throttles. There are 5 CV's in most decoders that effect speed: start voltage, top speed, mid speed, acceleration and deceleration. I use a speed table to speed match mt locos. Joe
watson,
Here's a good DCC primer from Tony's Train Exchange that may answer a number of questions about DCC. It even has a section about consisting under "2.5 Decoders"...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Watson, noting your previous thread about the Rail Pro system, the ability to run locomotives together in a very simple way is one of the big benefits of Rail Pro. It essentially has an automatic speed matching function. With DCC the speed matching is more manual, more time consuming, but not impossible. Most DCC systems have radio throttles available, but this is not direct radio communication with the loco, but radio to commnad station, which then sends singnals out over the rails.
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
That said, I will not that I have in general not had to do a darn thing to speed match any of my locos. The key is good decoders with a good implementation of BEMF - I use TCS. Remember there is no speed matching in DC< but people ran 2,3 or more locos together anyway. The only time it gets trick is when the locos are way off in speed, like a switcher than goes no more than 40 at full throttle and a road loco that can hit a scale 70 or better.
Some people go through elaborate steps with speed traps and lots of decoder programming to get each loco in absolute lockstep - thing is, this is NOT needed, your locos won;t burn up or anything as long as they are reasonably close - the do not have to be exactly perfectly speed matched.
There are two ways to adjust speed, you can use a 28 step speed curve int he decoder or you can use a 3 step method using 3 CVs for start, mid, and top speed. Not all decoders support the mid (one of the reasons I dislike Tsunami sound decoders - in fact of the decoders on the market today I think they are the ONLY ones leaving out CV6 for mid speed). Using those 3 is generally enough for all but the most severely mismatched locos.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
As to the question of the best DCC system, the top two are NCE and Digitrax. Both are made in the US, and both have low cost beginner systems that are expandable later. If you do a search on this site about which system is best, you will find many posts. Use something like NCE vs Digitrax.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Zimo is probably the best. They had today's features years ago.
http://www.zimo.at/web2010/products/startsets.htm
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zimo.at%2Fweb2010%2F
Digitrax and NCE are the best American made systems and the two in my budget. Both have the capability to upgrade without making your existing equipment obsolete..I chose Digiotrax 17 years ago.Made plenty of upgrades over the years. The original set was sold for close to original purchase price. Mainly because I didn't need all the extra equipment. Money went to buying more trains.
Martin Myers
If you want a low cost starter set, you might want to consider the NCE DCC Twin. Two throttles in one box that looks very much like a regular MRC type power pack. Additional throttles can be added as you need more trains. At this time I do not know if those additional throttles can be wireless or not. I do not see why they could not be.
If you are looking to purchase a full power DCC system from the start I would recommend either the CVP or NCE PRO wireless systems. I own both and like the English like command panels for controlling the trains. CVP has a brand new wireless system that is the best yet. NCE's wireless was upgraded a couple years ago that made it on top of the game.
Then there is the Digitrax Zephyr in the starter system category. It also has a panel with English like command buttons. I believe the Zephyr also can have wireless throttles added to it. I've not tried that on mine yet.
The bigger point is that any system that you get, if you read the manual and follow the directions it will be easy to learn and understand. I even figured out my LENZ system after I actually READ the manual.
Don't forget the NCE Power Cab, NCE's other entry level system. Full featured throttle, command station and booster, all in your hand. And it's expandable in small or big steps, all the way to the Pro wireless systems, while protecting your original investment.
Andy