DCS OR TMCC

[Anonymous]

Wow - what a cool looking layout. I see you have three lines and a streetcar. The buildings look great as well.

[jimhaleyscomet]

I would not sell the conventional loco's till you had DCS or TMCC for at least one year(if then). I like to run all three systems (conventional, DCS, and TMCC) together and they all run just fine together. Command control sounds and remotes are fun but there is just something about moving the transformer handle and hitting that direction, whistle or bell button!

Jim H

[Anonymous]

If you want TMCC and DCS together, is it necessary to buy everything or can you do the following:

DCS remote and special cable for command base. Lionel command base.

or do you have to do the following:
DCS remote, TIU, Lionel command base and special mth calbe.

[nblum]

"If you want TMCC and DCS together, is it necessary to buy everything or can you do the following:"

The DCS TIU and handheld are both necessary for DCS. The TMCC cab-1 and command base are both necessary for TMCC. If you want to use the DCS handheld to control TMCC you need the TIU, cable and command base, plus the cab-1 if you want to do certain functions in TMCC or do any trouble shooting of problems. So yes, you need the whole shooting match to operate both systems. Each system largely functions independently of the other, whether you are using the DCS handheld alone, or the DCS handheld and the cab-1 together. The cheapest initial investment is the cab-1 and command base for $150 MSRP or the TIU and DCS handheld for $300. The TIU to command based cable costs around $20 if I recall correctly.

The short answer is yes to your second point, but you really need the cab-1 if you're using TMCC, so the long answer is yes to your first point.

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by duamau

Anyhow, I can not understand how (first of all) you can have both DCS and TMCC and (Secondly) how could anayone aford both?

Bonus Question for $10,000 dolloras - Can the MTH Locosound locomotives be upgraded to DCS. Darn ebay and my impulsive buying...

I have both and I'm retired. You buy some and add some as you go along.

You can mail me my $10,000 dollars. I take the old engines and the PS1's and convert them to TMCC and Railsounds [some the Equalizer by Digital Dynamics will convert to TMCC]. Its cheaper and fun to do.

Just budget.

[spankybird]

Chief - he was asking if it could be upgraded to DCS not TMCC

and the answer is

YES

It can be up graded to either.


So send the $10,000 my way ! ! !

BTW - you won't like the price of the upgrade.

[ChiefEagles]

I can do the TMCC upgrade at half the price of DCS. Send me the check. [;)]

[Anonymous]

Are not airlplanes a less expensive hobby - or maybe dolls. I am confused!

Just kidding of course. So I can upgrade an MTH Locosounds loco to PS2. Can this be donse cost effectively? Anyone out there intrested in being paid to do so? I will even barter some lionel locos in exchange.

[spankybird]

QUOTE: Originally posted by duamau

Are not airlplanes a less expensive hobby - or maybe dolls. I am confused!

Just kidding of course. So I can upgrade an MTH Locosounds loco to PS2. Can this be donse cost effectively? Anyone out there intrested in being paid to do so? I will even barter some lionel locos in exchange.

IMO No it's not cost effective. An upgrage kit may cost you about $150.00 and another on$125.00 or so to have it installed. I only paid $$150.00 for the RTR engine that I posted above.

[Anonymous]

Since I started buying MTH Proto engines I went with the DCS system. I was also told that the DCS would run any TMCC engines that I might buy.

After setting up the DCS system and buying the TMCC Command Base, I found that I could indeed run the TMCC engines. It is a hassle to do this and I eventually bought a Cab1 controller for my TMCC engines. Much better result.

Steve Tapper
Northern Central High Railers

[Anonymous]

"I know this kind of like looking into a crystal ball but I just don't have any idea of whether to wait or just go ahead and make the purchase."
----------------

No point at all in making the purchase now. Wait until the stuff comes out and goes through a bit of "field testing" by actual operators. Then make your decision. I'm not sure even Lionel knows what the features are going to be, since they don't seem to be able to list all of them in one succinct list with any degree of certainty.

[Bob Keller]

Seems like Excedrin Headache No. 42: Which Command system to buy?

Glad I keep a big bottle of Wal-Mart asprin in my desk. Oh, and a bottle of Nexium, too.

[nblum]

I think it's simpler than folks realize Bob. If you have primarily conventional locos and just want a remote, either system works fine, with TMCC having superior conventional control, unless you're using PS2 locos, in which case DCS makes better conventional control for PS2 locos. If you have primarily PS2/MTH locos to be operated in command mode, it's DCS, obviously. If you have primarily TMCC command locos from Lionel, Atlas, Weaver, K-Line, 3rd Rail, it's TMCC all the way, and, if you have the patience, perhaps wait a year or so for the TMCC 2.0 (Legacy) system to be introduced and consumer tested.

[1688torpedo]

My Command system consists of one of Two Transformers: A 275 Watt ZW or a Type V 150 Watt Trainmaster Trainsformers as I've both in my collection. I used a V as a kid to run my Trains & had as much fun then as now. Never understood the rush for the latests & greatests when it comes to Command Control & Electronics in Trains today. Especially after reading about how annoying the sounds are after a while if you run two or three trains at a time. Or, Electronics that give up the Ghost after a short or at worse a Fire! If I want a fire on my layout; I'll build a minature Fireplace for it & not have some electronic gizmo start one! Take Care all

[ChiefEagles]

Like I said earlier. Buy both. After two + years of running them, I find that the DCS runs PS2 enignes great and the CAB1 runs TMCC engines great. I will say, the CAB1 does run conventional [with the Lionel TPC, which you do not have to buy with DCS] better than the DCS remote. When using the TPC and CAB1, the boost and brake buttons raise and lower the voltage on "notch" so you can fine tune speeds. Also the air whistles seem to blow better. When I used DCS to run conventionals, I just used the fixed voltage and the transformer handles and buttons to operate them. Ran fine. I started with DCS and saved the $$$ and then bought the TMCC and CAB1. Now I have added the TPC.

[Anonymous]

Screw DCS, get Lionel, it is better.

[MartyE]

Bottom line in my book and I have both...if you want to get the most out of your Lionel TMCC equiped get TMCC. If you want the most out of your PS2s get DCS. If your looking to find out which engines to buy... I say both.

[spankybird]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RR Redneck

Screw DCS, get Lionel, it is better.

Maybe you should review all the features of DCS and tell me how TMCC is better [?]

But then at your age I can understand how little you really know [8D]

[Anonymous]

[%-)][:)].......Hi Eric........ I gota question for you. If you owned a Z 4000 that's running 2 mth engines and 1 lionel conventional engine and wanted to get a DCS or TMCC system which one would you choose? The reason that I am asking is that I am fairly new with o guage and I see that you have so much more experience that I have in this matter. I would like to hear from you of what your thoughts are. Here is a picture of my engines.[img.nr]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6db39b3127cce89160933d92d00000016100ActG7Ru0ZsWJg[/img.nr]

[csxt30]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RR Redneck

Screw DCS, get Lionel, it is better.

Come on CTT, It's about time to ban this 15 year old ! In my opinion ! I have a son & grandchildren reading these posts & I don't think it helps the hobby with this kind of language . The adults don't even use this kind of talk here.
AND RR, DON'T DARE SEND ME A NASTY EMAIL AGAIN !

[ChiefEagles]

John, if he was born in May 1991 [see profile], he is not old enough to be a PI. Guess I'll call my Texican buddies and check his license. [;)]

[csxt30]

Good work Chief !!

[Anonymous]

Anyone in here still run layouts with isolated blocks? Is this easy to do with O guage?

By the way,
I can not believe someone is posting nasty emails... Come on, this is train talk. Good grief Charlie Brown, have a conscience.