Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

would like to use digitrax at our club layout........others want nce....am i wrong

9593 views
36 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Christiana, TN
  • 2,134 posts
Posted by CSX Robert on Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:34 PM
KemacPrr

One thing to consider that has not ben mentioned is the capacity of the system. The Digitrax Super Chief has a capacity of 120 active locomotives at any one time. NCE has a capacity of 256. Since Digitrax uses universal consisting as their standard a consist can eat up 2-3-4 slots depending on size of the consist...

While not as convenient because you have to keep track of the consist addresses, If you use advanced consisting and program the consist by hand instead of using the throttle MU functions, each consist will take only one slot.
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Friday, January 16, 2009 11:44 AM

Phoebe Vet
If you have that many trains running at once, I suppose you could have to independent layouts on the same terrain.  Then you would have 240 slots.  Three layouts and you would have 360 slots.

Unlikely.  Do you really see more than 40 cabs at a time?  That's with ALL of the motive power in triple head consist with NOT using DCC Advanced Consisting....and they would all have to be really old decoders not to support that.

In all likelyhood to push the limits, you would have to have 100 or more running at the same time with 100 seperate throttles.

And there are programs out there which automatically remove "stack" elements based on the time the last command was issued.  Stopped locomotives get removed first. Then they are removed based on the last time a command was issued. 

If you have more than 120 physically moving at once, I would be impressed.  I would even fly to see that layout!

 

 

 

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Friday, January 16, 2009 1:17 PM

 Check the size of their layout. They COULD do it.

http://www.tmrci.com/

 

And here's Ken's. http://kc.pennsyrr.com/layouts/kmccorry/

Neither is you 'average' full basement layout, not by a long shot.

 

                              --Randy

 

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Friday, January 16, 2009 2:13 PM

rrinker

 Check the size of their layout. They COULD do it.

http://www.tmrci.com/

Apparently they aren't too worried about it.  I see digitrax components in the photos.

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Friday, January 16, 2009 5:10 PM

 Which is why I'm curious about their operating methodology since their layout is one of the few that's as big as or bigger then Ken's and it seems to work for them. Although I did once hear a rumor about a 'special' DCS100 with 255 slots.

                                               --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!