ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll – February 26, 2003

[sebamat]

I have several hundreds engines of all possible makers, a lot of them over 15y old. No way I will change to DCC and retrofit all of them..

Sound ... just one steam engine (a 2-8-2 from Broadway, it works also without DCC)to try it.
Fun, but often not so realistic, when it stop in the middle of a move. I would not buy more (at 70$extra cost)......

I really like the producers to continue to offer not 'overequipped' models, they are already getting more and more expensive.

sebastiano

p.s: I do not understand people who says DCC is easier... at the club converting the engine was a big work ok, these were older engines, it requested quite a lot of resoldering & rewiring), and fried decoders or programming resetted to 0 were really common!

[tomikawaTT]

While I just took delivery of four locos, three of which are DCC ready, I voted 'not interested.' Of those four locos, only one will go into operation pretty much as built. The others are raw material for projected kitbashes, and will bear no resemblance to the original prototypes when finished - in fact, only one will have the same wheel arrangement.

A pre-installed DCC chip, with or without sound, would just be something else in the way of the intended design.

Chuck

[Anonymous]

I voted not important at all. I'm not really interested in sound, first of all. Second of all, they're charging sometimes over $100 for a $20 decoder. I just can't justify that.

Kevin

[Darth Santa Fe]

Not important to me, because I only use DC. I wish some of Bachmann's newer stuff came with DCC and without DCC, so I could have a choice. But instead, I have to pay for a decoder, which is dual mode,(runs on DC or DCC) but why pay extra?

[on30francisco]

I prefer to buy a loco (in HO) that is DCC ready (and plug in my own decoder) that can run on either DC or DCC. I could care less about sound. The same goes for Large Scale, however, I do like sound as an option since it sounds much more realistic.

[Anonymous]

If having to choose between a non DCC (but DCC ready) loco or one with DCC+sound I'll probably go with non DCC and add my own decoder. To me the sound quality across the board does not justify an extra $100-$150 on a locomotive. I think people are getting gouged as I know the components don't cost that much. Heck you can buy a whole computer with speakers for not much more.

[Anonymous]

Love sound ! But my budget doesn't.[|(][|(][banghead][sigh]

[scubaterry]

I prefer preinstalled sound in my loco's. I have installed sound in 12 of my Loco's to date. They sound great but I would prefer not to have to do the extra work putting sound in. The only major drawback is the price.
Terry[8D]

[icmr]

When I get a so called permanent layout I will have DCC and sound so it is very important.



Victor

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[BAYOUMAN]

SOUND IS NICE WITH ONE OR TWO ENGINES ON THE LAYOUT. BUT MOST OR TOO LOUD AND SHOULD MORE THAN THREE OR FOUR BE ON LINE IT IS VERY DISTRACTING. I HAVE MY SOUND CUT DOWN TO WHAT I THINK IS PROPER FOR OUR CLUB LAYOUT ( ABLE TO HEAR IT FROM ABOUT EIGHT TO TEN FEET AWAY). OUR LAYOUT IS SOME SIXTH FEET LONG AND TWENTY FOUR FEET WIDE SO SOUND IS CONFINED TO A SMALL AREA. TRY HEARING A SD 45 WITH A SHAY LOGGING ENGINE CRAWLING UP GRADE .

[Anonymous]

A couple of years ago, i installed an MRC $60 sound system on the RR. This does a good job for diesels but the steam sound is for a loco at about 15 MPH. My problem is that I'm an old timer. Been in the hobby since 1948, have 8 brass Sierras,which I'd love to have good sound for, and over 50 Diesels. There is just no way that I'd consider rewiring and installing DCC. Without a doubt the no 22 feeders on the layout would be inadequate as well. If I was just starting out I'd be tempted to go DCC and sound, but if I had to pay the price for a decoder already installed, I would probably not buy the product. Jack.

[Anonymous]

My two cents worth. I am big fan of DCC, and I would prefer that the locomotives come with decoders and all associated wiring (lights etc) functional. Many of the locos I purchased required too much sodering and light bulb changeouts. Sound is not as important, a couple of locos with sound is plenty on the layout.

[Anonymous]

I've been in HO since 1953. With about 30 locomotives to retrofit DCC in, I don't believe its for me. Not that it isnt a wonderful option, but darn, I'm just getting too old to backtrack and start almost anew.


Don Tank

[Anonymous]

Probably everything that needs to be said has been, but just to throw my hat in the ring... I don't run DCC yet, but the advantages are clear. When I have my layout more complete, I intend to switch over. So, my first choice is to have sound equipped, DC/DCC switchable decoders installed. I'll make the investment now for the convenience and readiness later... because one of the things that worries me is installing decoders in all my locos.

Railroads were (are) noisy. It adds a lot of realism. So, I agree--you missed one option that should have been popular: provide sound without DCC. But for me, I'd much prefer to have both with defeat switches. Hopefully, if manufacturers increase the volume of installed devices, it will be less expensive too.

Michael

[Anonymous]

This is a response to technology being the "be-all, end all" Technology is a wondrous thing, but I think a distinction needs to be drawn between that which makes a locomotive operate better, and options which don't affect operability. How well a loco runs is an obvious criterion, ---and I understand that DCC can cause an engine to run better, ---but shouldn't be required for this improvement. Bettering the basic model to provide improved running characteristics, and looks, i.e., better tracking, smoother motors, finer details, lighting features. It is my belief that DCC and sound should be considered options, after these other things are attended to. Again, while DCC can make a loco run better, so will a five pole motor, more precise gearing, a better power supply, etc, and DCC REQUIRES A WHOLE NEW APPROACH. Someone with a hundred locos is NOT going to start converting to DCC, ----but then, that is not what the manufacturer's are looking for. I very much like the idea of sound, but want DC operation, and am not interested in paying more for "DCC ready". If technology can provide the engineer figure to step out of the cab of the dead loco, and walk over to the yard office, that is a terrific fillip, --but it is still a dead loco.

[Anonymous]

Only buy locos with sound now...Couldn't care less about DCC. Will no longer purchase silent locos.

[Anonymous]

sound in one steam and one diesel is all you need
i have dcc and would like to buy all my motive power with decoders installed

[DJM UP]

I have two PFM sound units and love them both. I never realy understood if DCC will work with them. Has anyone tryed ?? The advantages of DCC sure seem great to me. Thanks, Dave

[trainfan1221]

I never find sound to be that impressive, to me it seems like more of a gimmick than anything else.

[jjackso8]

It is very important that my loco's be DCC installed. I have only a bare minmum of electircal knowledge as it is. DCC makes Model Railroading fun for me.. I do not have to worry about all the wiring. In fact I have no powered turnouts wither. No sound is good enough for me as I just listen to the rail noises in my mind. My operating crew is satisfied as well with this sound system. That way we all get to hear the loco's and rail sounds we want to hear not what we have to hear.

[Anonymous]

DCC has the best option for multiple operaters on a small layout or a layout with a single track the present layout I am planning requires DCC for it to operate as a show layout other wise the layout would be out of my price range and time if I had to use DC with all the switches and wiring that I would have to do to put it up to the same standard that DCC can offer me!

[Anonymous]

I have several locos that are DCC ready but I also have been told that you have to alter them so that they don't blow out the lights. I like the idea of being able to have several engines hooked up togehter and running them on the board like the real ones do. Sound? to tell you the truth the engines already have sound why make themn louder? I like the quite that the Kato's bring myself.

[Anonymous]

Having sound is nice, but it would be nicer if you could not only control the volume, but also turn the sound off when you don't want it. Although my J1e Hudson is sound equipped, the fact alone that I cannot shut it off when I don't want or need it, results in less track time that my other units. Listen up you designers-why not an on-off switch? Incidentally, I (seem to be with) the group that stays the course-long time modelers without the $$$ to convert to DCC. Analog rules my layout, and will unless I hit the lottery, BIG!!

[lupo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by clack09

Does anybody spell check any of the comments made in the MR forums ?

not on relugar basics, but we all do our best[:D]

[Anonymous]

Does anybody spell check any of the comments made in the MR forums ?

[Anonymous]

I am building my current layout with DCC from the start. Wow, the wiring is so nice. I can run the trains, not the track. And sound. I don't have that yet, but my next engine to be converted will be done with sound, without a doubt.

[AggroJones]

Not important at all! I don't use DCC , and don't care for sound. They just drive the prices up. Neither feature is useful to me.

[Budliner]

when the museum of science (cambridge MA) had the full layout I bet nothing could have blown the crowd away more than if a loco with dcc pulling 12 blasted them with some realisticr sound!

B

[Anonymous]

At age 70, with dozens of DC engines, highly unlikely will ever get into DCC
anyway, but my Club has DCC and a couple sound equipped engines, and
they are great. If we had them all sound-equipped, it would be a nightmare!