The individual system manuals will tell you how to perform given functions with that brand's equipment. ANd tell you how to interconnect that brand's equipment. The generic books are good for understanding the terms used in DCC, the overall concepts (while exactly which buttons you press and in which order will vary from system to system, what they send out on the track is essentially the same, per the NMRA standards). Wiring concepts, like having e heavy enough main power bus, enough feeders, and so forth, is the same regardless of the system used, so the generic books are good for this.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks so much guys. A lot of good sensible advice from some sensible modellers. Always looking for that perfect manual that will literally open your mind to completely understand what you were trying to accomplish. At the end of the day, I don't think anyone has written one of those yet.
Merry Christmas to all of you and a gremlin free 2013 in all your DCC applications.
Michael
Another thing to remember, DCC is continually evolving.
Those of use who been using it since it started off can attest to that. A lot will pretty much remain the same but the different systems and how they are used and upgraded is changing quite rapidly.
My NCE Power cab is going to have its second eprom upgrade by NCE. That is a new chip in the Cab with better software and an upgraded manual.
To quote, tstage, Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
"General" DCC books are a good read for the beginner, but as soon as you actually invest in a system and start using it, you will be much more interested in the manuals that come with the system. As an old geek from way back before pocket protectors were fashionable, I liked Lionel Strang's book a lot, because I enjoyed knowing how the DCC waveform looks and how it's interpreted by the decoder.
But, that "academic" knowledge doesn't help much once you've got the throttle in your hand. You need the book that tells you what combination of buttons does what, and that's the system manual. I've got a Lenz system, and all their manuals are available online, so you can browse them for free. I still like the dog-eared print version that came with the set, though.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
If you are totally new to DCC, then both books are great. Both speak to key issues related to track work such as wyes, loops and switches that are key points with DCC in addition to the basics of how DCC actually works. They also deal with installion of engine decoders for engines you might already have or acquire in future that have no DCC decoders in them.
Down the road, you will pick up engines that might need their internal decoders programmed. A lot of tips can be found in your master cab controller manual on doing this.
Finally, the decoder itself will have some sort of manual ranging from a rather sparse and weak single small printed page all the way to forbiding 100+ page manuals on the finest sound decoders.
Do not be put off, however, as all will come in time. Start simple while learning in simple, non-threatening baby-steps. Soon, you will be programming with the best of us.
One word of advice. Buy into an older, established DCC system like Digitrax or NCE, (there are others), that have their own complete line of full featured accessory modules warranted to work with their systems. Most of these better established makers have master controllers that will speak across platforms to other manufacturer's DCC accesories.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
Check Tony's Trains and download his "DCC For Beginners" file, which is free. That should provide enough information to start with.
Michael,
I never read it. I did though read Lionel Strang's DCC Made Easy (Kalmbach Books):
It's a little dated now (2002) but the basic concepts about DCC still hold true. I found that Lionel has a real knack for taking something and explaining it in very understandable terms.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
How would you rate Larry Puckett's 'Practical Guide to DCC ' as a learning and instructional tool in getting started and setting up your own DCC operation as compared to the rest of the manuals out there ?
Thanks