Hi all,
I find myself needing half a dozen, maybe 7, top-mounted switch machines for a small project layout, and a buddy of mine mentioned MRCS's MP5 (MP5). These offered frog polarity switching and bi-color LED switching, which in my case would be mounted on simple signal heads on the layout to indicate turnout position. Great, no problem, seems an easy solution.
As I don't want push-buttons or anything fascia/edge mounted, I started looking at DCC stationary decoder options to control the turnouts from my throttle. As I'll eventually be needing this for my primary layout, it seemed like a good opportunity to gain some experience in this corner of the hobby. Since I run on Digitrax systems, the DS64/74 was my first knee-jerk thought, but at $80 MSRP and needing two of them to cover my needs, I started looking elsewhere. And low-and-behold, MRCS offered a solution in their 8-channel MPD8 controller, which was designed with their MP1 and MP5 in mind, was cheap, and fit my needs exactly (MPD8).
Unfortunately, my plans for this layout missed out by a month; MRCS discontinued their MPD8 in December. And their available alternatives, their Intelligent Turnout Controller or the older Remote Stall Motor Controller, don't seem to offer DCC control. Or if there is a way to control these via DCC, it becomes a whole lot more complicated than what I want by requiring other components.
So, am I back to looking at the DS74 as my best one-stop option?
I'll fully admit, electronics are NOT my wheelhouse. I can look at a track plan and visualize it and how I'd build its benchwork; I can open up a complex craftsman kit and see how it goes together. But I start reading about or listening to YT videos on detection, signaling, complex DCC interfaces, etc., and I start hearing Charlie Brown's teacher in my ears as it's all Greek to me. I'll get to those aspects of the hobby eventually, I'm sure, but for this project I'm just looking for simple: switch machines, a driver, and a Loconet connection. I COULD follow the simple instructions for the MPD8, and (although it's only 4 channel and three times the cost) the DS64/74, which is what led me to each of these products.
In summary, I'm looking for advise on a possible, lower-cost alternative to the DS74 akin to the now unavailable MPD8 in simplicity.
Thanks,
-Jason
Quick update: I opted to try out the DS74 with the MP5 switch machines. The previous Digitrax stationary decoder, the DS64, had been successfully implemented to control these switch machines, so I'm at least somewhat confident my tests will also succeed. If it doesn't work, I can always find a use for a stationary decoder somewhere else (assuming I don't fry it during my testing, of course.)
Once the components all arrive and I get a chance to rig things up and test the system, I'll post my results here for anyone else considering such a DCC controller lash up for these super low-profile switch machines.