After operating 3 times at a buddys DCC controled layout , after a 20 year gap from HO , I bought a Digitrax Empire builder set , and a Atlas gold line diesel with DCC and sound , and read the begining of the instruction manual .
Hooked up the power supply , connected the track , turned it on , entered the loco number , and ...........AWAY we go , sound and all , I was worried about it all , DCC and all , but , not a single problem , everything worked fine right out of the box .
Thank you Digitrax , and thanks Atlas , for great products .
This is FUN
We told you so...........
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Hi!
Your posting made my day! I'm building another HO layout and its my transition to DCC. I have the Super Chief with additional booster & controller from the Empire Builder. BUT, I have yet to run a loco on the layout as the first trackage has yet to go down. Actually, the lower level trackage should be complete over the next week and then the wiring put down - and THEN, its testing time!!! I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit apprehensive about the whole thing, but I have done my best and taken all the good advice from the folks on this forum, soooooo wish me luck!
Yes, I will be posting when it happens (or doesn't)!
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I just installed a new Super Chief system on my new N-scale Indiana Railroad layout.
Hooked it up. Installed a decoder in my SD60M and everything worked very well.
Unfortunately, my next decoder install in my Kato SD90/43MAC is not going so well. Everything hooked up and I get nothing at all. But that is a problem for another day.
Glad to hear you made the switch!! I've mentioned in other posts that some people get intimidated by DCC because we talk about all the options you have by setting various CV's for speed, momentum, sound options etc. when really all you have to do is change the decoder ID to engine ID and then run it. The factory defaults are generally fine the way they are (although many sound engines are VERY LOUD out of the box, and people like to turn the master sound volume down a little).
You can always go back later and try out different settings when you want to - it's something you can do on your own pace.
I have been living with my SEB for about two weeks now and must say I truly enjoying it! Yep, I have pushed the wrong button a couple of times and engine would not move. It was a easy fix, and I am starting to enjoy playing with the CV's.
Real key of my enjoyment of the SEB is the DT 400 hand held controller. Its speed control is great. Before on my 3 line bench, I could only keep track of one line with 2 trains going at the same time. Run 2 engines on the other line at the same time, one train is going to catch another. With the DT 400 I have ran 3 trains on the A line, 2 trains on the B line and one train on the C line for a hour with out one mishap.
Only thing I don't like about the SEB is the small letters and buttons, with my poor eye sight I need a DT 400 the sizes of a shoe box!
Cuda Ken
Now, if Digitrax could just get my LHS the PR 3 I be a happy man.
I hate Rust
Dennis PaulsonHooked up the power supply , connected the track , turned it on , entered the loco number , and ...........AWAY we go , sound and all , I was worried about it all , DCC and all
I was in the same should I or shouldn't I boat a few months ago when I was getting back into the hobby. Decided to take the DCC plunge and got a Super Chief. It's one of the better decisions I have ever made. I have even gotten to the point where I have done some basic CV programming beyond changing loco addresses. My only complaint - I can't stop buying locos.
'there's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear' Modeling the Hard Knox Valley Railroad in HO scale http://photos.hardknoxvalley.com/
Really Dave , has anyone ever met a modeler ,who does not have more locos than actually needed to run his railroad ?
I know that I do , in both HO , and large scale
Texas Zepher Dennis PaulsonHooked up the power supply , connected the track , turned it on , entered the loco number , and ...........AWAY we go , sound and all , I was worried about it all , DCC and allYup, It is one of those things that some people insist on making it sound WAY harder than it is.
I call shennanigans - everyone KNOWS the Digitrax manuals are far too complicated for anyone to possibly figure this out.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.