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Hmm, nothing on the poll that I could vote for either. The Hairy Otters has 4 DC cabs and I am certainly interested in computer operations but I can make no sense of DCC1 or DCC2. DCC3 seems to finally be a useful development of Command control but it is a bit pathetic as outlined in the new NMRA standards. Now that the dudes at MTH have put the kaibosh on feedback it looks like the useful part is still going to be missing. Without feedback it's just a fancy remote control. It's not like an embedded system with an IP address is difficult to put together. Yeah yeah, it won't fit in a locomotive without spending lots of cash but it will fit in a tender or box car and it is free of proprietary restrictions. All of the so called advantages of DCC 1&2 can be achieved easily and automatically using electronics with the exception of head on collisions. I have no tolerance for this behaviour on my layout. A computer in each train however can prevent that from happening, the train can know where it is, how much fuel and water is still on board, where the other trains are, set turnouts and signals and of course unlimited light control and sound, mp3's anyone. Panning and tilting the onboard camera would be trivial, not the nonsense that I have to go through with RC. The train will know which monitor to use for video and which for engineers info, timing, orders and lists. How do-able is this? Certainly within my reach, resources and abilities.YMMV. I had a look in my train room and figure if I had to purchase at retail all the parts used in my DC system I could have bought a few DCC systems. Getting hold of old used electronic parts for free or little cost is trivial. One more thought, a few DCCers seem to think they need the system to get a reversing loop to operate automatically. I have a circuit that uses Atlas snap relays that accomplishes this task for about $10.
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