Thanks to all that helped out on my first question . When I had to sell off my N scale stuff years ago DCC was in it's infancy . My layouts were the old fashioned way . I had everything wired into blocks . This time around I am going to go with DCC , which is all new to me . I have a couple of questions . One question is basically which is the best to start out with on a small layout that I can run 2 or 3 trains with ? I want to keep it as inexpensive as possible but not so cheap that it's garbage . Another question is , if there are 2 loco's pulling a train how are the codes made the same and if I split them up how do they differ . I have done a bit of searching but cannot find a website that gives the basics of DCC, is there such a site ? Sorry if these are stupid questions .
Thanks in advance , Don
Here's one site for beginners: http://tonystrains.com/tonys-dcc-primer/ Just google "DCC for beginners" and you'll get a whole bunch more.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Most of us get pretty ambitious as we gain more modeling experience. In my own experience, I purchased one of the very early DCC systems which had far less ability than those offered by the full-featured systems of today. Unfortunately, this early system was also limited in its expansion and upgrading options. I eventually ended up abandoning this system and buying a newer full-featured system that could easily be expanded and upgraded as my layout(s) grew. While even some of the entry level DCC systems offer more features than the early system I originally bought, not all can be expanded/upgraded in the same way. Personally, I would choose a "complete" full-featured system (including a power supply) that can be purchased inexpensively with at least two handheld throttles (it's hard to walk around with your train using a base station-style throttle). "Expansion" should be the ability to plug in additional throttles without having to buy more than the additional throttles. Any need to add boosters for new power districts should be viewed the same way. Investing in the right system in the first place can prove to be less expensive than buying several of the wrong systems.
Hornblower
If the Tony's site gets to complicated for you at first, here is an easier one to start with: (No technical lingo.)
http://www.waynes-trains.com/site/dcc/basics.html
The two best brands of DCC systems are NCE and Digitrax. Both of these are made in the US and provide excellent support. For NCE, look at the Power Cab. For Digitrax, look at the Zephyr. Both are beginner systems and are expandable as your needs grow. Both have websites and you can download the manuals for each at their respective websites. In a nut shell, the NCE controller has bigger buttons than the Digitrax one. NCE now also makes a stationary system similar to the Zephyr.
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.
Don,
I am only about three months ahead of you, having recently bought a starter DCC system. I bought a Digitrax Zephyr. No specific reason why I picked it over the Power Cab. I just picked one and so far I have been happy. As for your second question, with the Digitrax systems, you create a multiple unit address, which basically an address without a real locomotive. You then add specific physical locomotives to the multiple unit, and then "drive" the MU address and all of the locomotives in the unit respond. When they are part of the unit, you cannot control their speed separately, but can still address the individual locomotives to control lights, sound, etc. Hope that helps. (And hope it is all correct--I am still pretty new at all of this.)
Richard