TexasSP First off checking what the local club uses is a great idea, if you plan on joining a club. I didn't and still don't so that wasn't helpful to me. I found most clubs to be friendly but too anal for my taste. My layout is circa 1950's but if I want to run modern equipment on it I do. If I want to do something non prototypical I do. It's my fantasy land and I do whatever floats my boat and most clubs don't operate that way.
I think you might be missing the point about why checking with a local club could be a good idea.
In the context of "Which DCC system?", the main reason isn't to join the club, but rather to have an opportunity to try out the DCC equipment in an actual layout setting instead of a more sterile and controlled hobby shop environment.
That lets you see (and feel) the system in action, with all it's good points and bad, and get opinions and viewpoints from someone who isn't necessarily interested in hawking the brand they have in stock.
I'd even go a bit further, and suggest checking with a couple local clubs, if you have the option, so you have the opportunity to try more than on brand, and under different conditions.
I went to the various website and downloaded all the manuals.
After reading them and comparing I bought Digitrax.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
TexasSP Steve, I will answer your question without the sarcasm and bitterness from some of the other posts. First I remember being in your shoes and not being able to make heads or tails of anything and being told rudely on forums to search or read a book and so on. The problem people seem to forget is that when searching and reading the books most of the time it's "information overload". It's difficult to decipher and decide what means what and how it affects you. The search tools are great, but when you don't really know what you're looking for or the right words to use it is difficult and many times futile. It can also be some what intimidating. First off checking what the local club uses is a great idea, if you plan on joining a club. I didn't and still don't so that wasn't helpful to me. I found most clubs to be friendly but too anal for my taste. My layout is circa 1950's but if I want to run modern equipment on it I do. If I want to do something non prototypical I do. It's my fantasy land and I do whatever floats my boat and most clubs don't operate that way. The real issue I had is that I have to get my hands on something to really get the idea of what I am doing and how it works. So basically I went to the hobby shop that offered the most support and checked out what they had. Mine used digitrax and let me work it and answered all my questions no matter how repetitive and dumb they may have been. The basic thing I would recommend is either Digitrax or NCE because to me they are the best. Either way I don't think you can go wrong and your local hobby shop will definitely carry one or the other if not both. So the short version is I went with Digitrax and have been extremely pleased for the past 7 years with it. Good luck with your search!
Steve, I will answer your question without the sarcasm and bitterness from some of the other posts. First I remember being in your shoes and not being able to make heads or tails of anything and being told rudely on forums to search or read a book and so on. The problem people seem to forget is that when searching and reading the books most of the time it's "information overload". It's difficult to decipher and decide what means what and how it affects you.
The search tools are great, but when you don't really know what you're looking for or the right words to use it is difficult and many times futile. It can also be some what intimidating.
First off checking what the local club uses is a great idea, if you plan on joining a club. I didn't and still don't so that wasn't helpful to me. I found most clubs to be friendly but too anal for my taste. My layout is circa 1950's but if I want to run modern equipment on it I do. If I want to do something non prototypical I do. It's my fantasy land and I do whatever floats my boat and most clubs don't operate that way.
The real issue I had is that I have to get my hands on something to really get the idea of what I am doing and how it works. So basically I went to the hobby shop that offered the most support and checked out what they had. Mine used digitrax and let me work it and answered all my questions no matter how repetitive and dumb they may have been.
The basic thing I would recommend is either Digitrax or NCE because to me they are the best. Either way I don't think you can go wrong and your local hobby shop will definitely carry one or the other if not both.
So the short version is I went with Digitrax and have been extremely pleased for the past 7 years with it.
Good luck with your search!
Steve,
First, I will second the post about this being a great answer - it was - and some of the responses you got back are the very reason why I rarely, if ever, post a question on this particular forum.
Anyway, I was in your boat about a year ago and I began my research by purchasing two Kalmbach books - DCC Made Easy by Lionel Strang and DCC Projects and Applications by Mike Polsgrove. I found both of these to be very helpful in not only learning the basics, but also the jargon that goes along with DCC. Around the same time I remember MR running an article about the various DCC systems - tried to find it for you but maybe my dog ate it - then I spent time talking to the DCC guy at my LHS and visiting the web sites of the systems. In addition wrote down what I wanted now and in the future and, from consumer standpoint, what I would expect in terms of warranty and service. All of this took me about two months of research and reading before I settled on a Digitrax system and I have been extremely satisfied.
My advice is to research the various systems, read materials wherever they are available, if you have a chance, actually work with various systems before buying anything and decide what you want your system to do for you. All of them will support the same features but there are other considerations like ease of operation, documentation, customer support, etc. Then when you do decide to buy a system, shop around to get the best price.
Good luck in your search.
H
There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.....
There is a best system, the only trouble is that it depends on what is best for you! I have friends with various systems and the one that likes one doesn't like the other and vice versa. To find the best for you decide what you want the thing to do.
cacole This is the fourth time this week someone has asked what DCC system is best -- do some research on these forums under the Electronics and DCC portion, and go to a web site such as Tony's Trains and download his "DCC For Beginners" file. Then go to each manufacturer's web site and research their manuals to see which system you think will meet your needs.
This is the fourth time this week someone has asked what DCC system is best -- do some research on these forums under the Electronics and DCC portion, and go to a web site such as Tony's Trains and download his "DCC For Beginners" file.
Then go to each manufacturer's web site and research their manuals to see which system you think will meet your needs.
BINGO!! You advance to the bonus round for identifying the biggest issue on this forum. People who don't want to spend their own time doing a little research (either on this forum or on the internet) before asking a question. Instead, they simply ask the question here and wait for someone else to do the research for them, post a few links or tell them where to find something and give them all the answers. Why should they waste their time searching for information. LAZY LAZY LAZY.
REMEMBER - GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND!
steve65I do not know which system is best.
I do not know which system is best.
Information-Station PDFdownload, Getting started with DCC, is a nice soup-to-nuts DCC primer, and includes DCC comparison charts with 15 features for 13 DCC systems. A later chart compares DCC wired & wireless controllers.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
When I was back in R/C plane modeling in the 80s,we all(the guys who flew R/C in town) bought similar equipment so we could pool our expertise and parts. I think if you have a local modeling community you shoul check with them on what to use.BILL
You can ALWAYS lay the track with all metal joiners, no insulated joints, DC or DCC. You then cut any required gaps with a Dremel and, if you're worried about the gaps closing, glue in thin pieces of styrene and then file it to the shape of the rail.
What DCC is best is like Chevy vs. Ford vs Mopar. I prefer Digitrax, but you can't go wrong with either a Digitrax Zephyr or NCE PowerCab to start and add on more later.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
A lot will depend on your plans. Bigger layout, lots of operators may lead you down one path, smallish layout you run by yourself maybe another. The size of your budget enters into it, as does the size of your room, and the size of your dreams.
Study hard. There will be a quiz later.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Steve, unfortunately, your questions can only get general answers, even evasive and defensive ones as some of the responses already suggest to you. Ford vs. GM, great taste, less filling kind of perspectives fill this and other forums over things DCC.
There is such a thing as a best DCC controller, but none of us has any idea what that may be. We know nothing about you, your HO or other scale experience, what kind of operations you like when you play with your trains, how large and/or complicated your track system is going to be this time, how big your hands are for holding which ergonomic geometry in the throttle, what functions in CV controls you would prefer, what price range you have in mind, what features you want out of all that DCC is capable of affording you, etc., etc., etc. Bottom line, we're in no better shape than you are for your questions.
So, at the right sidebar, find "Search Community". Enter a suitable word group and start reading the archived threads. You'll get about 200 at least, many going for pages and pages, and filled with the same people arguing the same points. If you are perceptive, you'll notice that some even change their minds over time. They have more open minds, and I would commend that orientation to you right away, and for the duration of your quest for the right system....as you define it.
-Crandell
steve65 Can I lay all the track without using plastic couplers?
Couplers are the things that hold cars together.
The stuff you use to join two rails are called rail joiners.
You do not have to use insulation joiners made of plastic - but you do need to have an insulating gap of some kind between two pieces of rail that sometimes will have opposite polarities. You can make those gaps later with a cutting tool, and fit in a piece of styrene or something insulating, if you prefer that.
That is not a DCC specific issue - it is exactly the same in DC.
You might want to browse around a bit in the book section of the Kalmbach store. Here:
http://www.kalmbachstore.com/modeltrains-railroading-model-railroading-books.html
Smile,Stein
I agree with Cacole. just recently got into DCC and found that most of my questions were answered in various websites that are readily found by searching this forum. A very good place to start with the basics is as Cacole suggested the Tony's DCC Primer : http://www.tonystrains.com/tonystips/dccprimer/index.htm. Download it and read it through.
Joe
Then find a local club and see what they use. Try to get some hands-on touchy-feely experience with the controllers and see what you like.
Everyone who has DCC thinks the one they own is the only logical choice, so be prepared to hear a lot of biased opinions.
I'm new/returning to hobby as well, and I just started laying track a month ago, and I have PECO insulfrog turnouts, no need for plastic couplers.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
I'm starting from scratch. I have used dc control and have a many controllers. I have not been in model railroading for about 15 years. I do not know which system is best. I will be buying a DCC system shortly and would like to know how to lay track. Can I lay all the track without using plastic couplers? Cut in later?