I love building circuits. I've see the MiniDCC and others. I thought about it. But sometims you just gotta say 'uncle' and givein. While it might be fun at first to DIY, there is the issue of ever expanding it to do what most any current commercial system can do. If you want to play DIY, get a Zephyr and then check out the Loconet Hackers group and make allt eh extra stuff, liek block sensors and signal controllers, yourself. There and infinite approaches being talked about, using PIC or Aurdino chips, and many people offer boards. The basic interface circuit and code for processing packets has been throughly tested out and widely available. What you control ont he other side is up to your imagination.
There's nothing like this level of hobbyist development work for any of the other systems.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
$225.00 for the new Zephyr-Xtra ( DCS 51 ), but can be bought for about $165.00 USD ( new ) if shopped for. Zephyr-Xtra has a few more gadgets than the older Zephyr.
Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.
About 160 for the Power Cab and 170 for the Zephyr
Springfield PA
How much is a Zephyr or Power Cab?
Modeling the Maine Central in N scale.
tstageHow much does the MiniDCC system cost?
I don't know, it says that the parts order is temporarily closed.
CVP used to allow you to buy their EasyDCC system in part form and put it together yourself. Unfortunately, they don't do that anymore. I always thought that would be kinda a fun project to do.
If the MiniDCC system turns out to be the same price as a Zephyr or Power Cab, I wouldn't even bother. You'd get more function from the latter.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
WWtrain..is it worth my time.
I can't tell you if it is worth your time or not, but I can tell you it would not be worth my time, not considering the relatively low cost of a Zephyr or Power Cab. While I have not built the MiniDCC system, I have built a DCC system. It was functionally equivalent to MRC's Command 2000. I had plans to expand it's capabilities, but had to shelve the project for a while. When I got back to it, Digitrax had introduced the Zephyr and after looking at it's capabilities and price I decided it just wasn't worth the trouble to build my own system.
WW,
I could see it for routing/turnouts, as I'd liken it to an electronic toggle switch panel. It wouldn't tie up your DCC throttle while you're operating trains.
How much does the MiniDCC system cost?
After looking at it, I can´t find any reason why you should use it.....
Seems like it is 10 years too late.... Buy a real DCC system instead, wit many more functions and with a warranty.
My
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
My Railroad
My Youtube:
Graff´s channel
tstageAre you going to use this for operating trains or for route/turnout sequencing?
Mostly for operating trains (I won't have more than four) but I might do some route/turnout sequencing.
Are you going to use this for operating trains or for route/turnout sequencing?
Has anyone ever built and used the MiniDCC© system before? I am wondering how it works and is it worth my time.