I am new to this forum and returning to N scale after 20 years. Back then I bought about $500 in locos. A few were DCC ready, but none had the DCC modules that are now standard in locos.
I am starting a new layout, benchwork will be in a U format, operator will stand in one spot as trains wrap around. For now I am planning to wire it in traditional cab control, two cabs.
What do you think? Should I get modern and do DCC?
DCC is far more fun. Less wiring to figure out and way more control. $.02
There is a swell site for n scale loco tips here;
http://www.spookshow.net/locos.html
I'm in HO, so don't know the N market like I do it. Most new releases tend to be DCC, although certainly not all. There are ways to use your DC pack to active the sound of those equipped with dual-mode decoders, but there are also special DCC control packs that can add on to your DC system (MRC Tech 6 is power and sound all in one, so quite popular) to get much of the same bells and whistles as DCC users do.
Or you may just decide you want DCC anyway. In N scale, amperages are such any wiring you do for DC should be good for DCC, so would be relatively easy to convert, especially if your turnouts have live frogs.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
DCC for sure. When I retired and jumped back into N Scale I went with DigiTrax and never looked back. Even my two old,(very old) RS3 Atlas's now have decoders and run perfectly. It is going to be a learning curve but stick with. You will appreciate the value of DCC as you move forward. So many possibilities. Doug
Unless you have engines that don't have the motor isolated from the frame, converting engines to DCC is pretty easy - and well worth the effort. In the past year or so, several manufacturers have come out with decoders with "keep alive" or similar names, that use a kind of built-in battery back-up so the engine keeps running if power is interupted. I would think that would be handy in the smaller scales like N.
Also, Soundtraxx makes a system where you can install speakers under the layout, rather than using onboard speakers. The system can recognize which engine is in which area, and routes the sound to that speaker, so the engine sound follows the engine around the layout. Again, that would be usefull in N where there is little space for onboard speakers.
http://www.soundtraxx.com/surround/
I am relatively new to the hobby and started with N-Scale and DC, just to make sure I wanted to stick with the hobby before making the investment in DCC. I have since made the jump to DCC and would never go back. The ability to independently control two locomotives (not to mention consisting them) anywhere on the layout is worth it. I bought the Digitrax Zephyr and took advantage of the jump port in the back to attach my DC power supply, giving me two throttles without any new investment and reusing my old investment. Works like a charm.
Richard
DCC is definately nice, I have to admit. Ateast from where i am standing it looks good. Just got back in the hobby myself and was faced with same decision.
For the ease, simplicity, and quickness of getting up and going quickly i decided to stay with traditional DC powered circuits. Its not like it cant be changed later.
I havent felt bad about the decision. And dont feel i am missing anything if this helps.
PM Railfan