DCC and NEWBIES TO THE HOBBY

[Chompers]

Don Gibson I am going Out doors on a medium sized rail road.

Also a very small indoor storage track and loop.

i really like the lgb engines ( feild rr engines, I have a nice Lgb mogul) right now i have an LGB Mogul and a Bachmon spectrum mogul.


what system would be the easiest to install in my engines?
I won't be running any dubble headed dash- 9's only feild RR engines Lgb mogul, BAchman spectrum Mogul and posable a USA GP_30 ore some thing like that.

I asked Lgb about decoder instalation and they said that it would be very hard to install a decoder in my C&S #6 mogul. because you would have to rewire every thing.

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chompers

hi i am modeling in G scale and i think that after 9 years of modeling i am ready to switch to DCC. ... what i really need to know is what brand of DCC should i go with. Also money is a bit tight, but i would like a good quality system.:0 :D :) :) :) :) :( :( :) :( :):(

IF YOUR GOING OUTDOORS ...

I think wireless control would be my first consideration.
(2) SOUND in 'G' Scale is awesome.

[Don Gibson]

Pricipal advantage of DCC is it's simplification of wiring. Specifically eliminating individual blocks in favor of 'regions'. There are others: multiple Cabs; programmable operation.

Biggest disadvantage is engines require installed control modules. There are others: cost of multiple cabs; additional power districts to distribute short circuit shutdown.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I like the Digitrax and NCE systems. They both offer 8 amp versions /systems for larger scales. I choose Digitrax because it was cheaper to start initially. If I had the extra cash, I would have choose the NCE system. I like the look and feel of the hand held controller better than the DT400 that came with Digitrax.

There are a lot of places on the web to research DCC. Take some time before you buy. And if you have the extra cash, spend it up front.

[Chompers]

hi i am modeling in G scale and i think that after 9 years of modeling i am ready to switch to DCC. i will be runing 3+ engines simotaniusly (pardon the spelling) and i have an lgb mogul that i have ran heavaly for 9 years strate so it pulls about an amp. if i want to controle a bunch of trains then i will need more than 5 amps ??????

what i really need to know is what brand of DCC should i go with. Also money is a bit tight, but i would like a good quality system.:0 :D :) :) :) :) :( :( :) :( :):(

[jwmurrayjr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nfmisso

Mike & James;

read http://www.dcctrains.com/tonystips/dccprimer/index.htm

More good information from Nigel, as usual. [^]

Don't worry! DCC is easy. You don't need a computer (Or even much of a brain.[:I])

Just read some stuff and try some DCC systems if you can.

[Anonymous]

As far as the PC hook-up goes, no you won't need one initially, just a DCC system and a decoder equipped loco. As for the milling work required on existing engines, you could install the decoder in a coupled car running the wires between the car and the engine with the decoder in the car. Steam N scale locos are the easiest to accomodate because the decoder can go in the tender, but you could also use a box car behind a diesel as well by putting the decoder in the box car. This way you can use DCC right away without significant modifications to your engines. Of course, the particular car you pick will always be connected to your engine. I would guess this is a lot cheaper, and requires very little, if any modifications to your locos.

[nfmisso]

Mike & James;

read http://www.dcctrains.com/tonystips/dccprimer/index.htm

[BRAKIE]

As far as using DCC in N scale you will need to buy the locomotives already equipped with the decoder or mill your frame so the decoder will fit..Now there is a company that sell frames already milled for a decoder..You send your frame and the price of the milled frame.Sadly I can not recall the name of the company...
As a suggestion since you are still learning the hobby I I suggest buying decoder equipped locomotives from Atlas.You see you will need to take your locomotives apart in order to mill the frame or to send it in on trade for the milled frame like I mention.
Another suggestion is to check with your local hobby shop to see if there is anybody that installs decoders locally...Good luck! I know you will like DCC once you get it up and running!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the question Mike. As I am new to the MRR hobby I will be very interested in the info provided. I have just started an N gauge myself and can't wait to be running trains around it.
Cheers
James[:)]

[conford]

You may want to check out some of the sites that include basic information on DCC:
www.wiringfordcc.com
www.tonystrains.com (vendor with beginner info)
www.litchfieldstation.com (vendor with beginner info)
www.digitrax.com (manufacturer with basic info)

I'm sure there are plenty of others I have missed. You can use DCC with Kato unitrak. In its simplist application, all it takes are the two wires from the DCC unit to the track, although a bus wiring system capable of handling 5 amps is better. Each of your locos needs to have a decoder in it (sometimes tricky in n scale). You need to have the DCC throttle(s), booster and power supply. You can buy Atlas N scale diesels that have DCC decoders installed, and run them on DC until you're ready to make the leap.

Anyway, good luck and check out some of the sites above.

Regards
Peter

[Anonymous]

In the short time that I have been involved in the hobby, I have seen many articles about DCC, but I have never really seen anything on the basic setup. I am an N scale modeler, and I want to do DCC, but i am at a loss at how it works (except the fact that you can run your trains by remote, and more than one at a time.) I want to start in that direction, but I don't know where to start. What do I need? Can I do this with Kato Unitrak, do I need a pc hook up etc. If anyone can help I would be eternally thankful
Mike