PRR8259that approximately 55% of the new locos sold are dcc, with 45% or so plain dc.
I don't have a dog in this hunt, but purchases might not reflect how they are bieng used. Are the 45% dcc ready, whereby a buyer might then plug in a decoder.
Just sayin, most companies sell dcc/sound and dcc ready. So 55% would have sound, and the 45% might eventually have straight dcc, leaving actual dc lower.
I don't know how Bowser segments their product line as far as sound equipped, decoder equipped, dcc ready, or no dcc plug at all.
- Douglas
DoughlessI don't have a dog in this hunt, but purchases might not reflect how they are bieng used. Are the 45% dcc ready, whereby a buyer might then plug in a decoder.
Great point.
I do know one modeler that insists all of his fleet use the same decoder, so he buys the "DCC Ready" versions. There must be many more.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 Doughless I don't have a dog in this hunt, but purchases might not reflect how they are bieng used. Are the 45% dcc ready, whereby a buyer might then plug in a decoder. Great point. I do know one modeler that insists all of his fleet use the same decoder, so he buys the "DCC Ready" versions. There must be many more. -Kevin
Doughless I don't have a dog in this hunt, but purchases might not reflect how they are bieng used. Are the 45% dcc ready, whereby a buyer might then plug in a decoder.
There is no question that some percentage of DC (DCC ready) locos are bought by "fussy" DCC guys who install what they want. I'm guessing 5% to 10%. It has become a RTR hobby, especially regarding locos, for a lot of people.
To answer Doug's question, Bowser locos are now DCC w/sound or DCC ready, no other options.
But also don't discount DC users who buy/have bought DCC locos and removed the decoders. Of my current 145 loco fleet, easily 30 locos came with DCC, or DCC/sound, which I removed and rewired. Reason? The price was right or they only came that way.
Bachmann for one sold locos with non sound decoders for years and included an 8 pin jumper for DC users to remove the decoders.
I have seven BROADWAY locos, they no longer have decoders, and most now have Bachmann tenders.
Sheldon
While I prefer one decoder brand, I don't require all my loco's be that brand. So, if it's a "must have" locomotive, and offered with DCC/Sound, chances are I've purchased it with DCC/Sound instead of DCC Ready. (Because chances are that I cannot get a sound decoder and speaker for the amount that is different between DCC/Sound included versus DCC Ready.)
And, don't forget that certain manufacturers have some lighting functions that are only included with the DCC/Sound version locomotives. The same locomotive in DCC Ready does not have those lighting functions.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
ricktrains4824 SeeYou190 Doughless I don't have a dog in this hunt, but purchases might not reflect how they are bieng used. Are the 45% dcc ready, whereby a buyer might then plug in a decoder. Great point. I do know one modeler that insists all of his fleet use the same decoder, so he buys the "DCC Ready" versions. There must be many more. -Kevin While I prefer one decoder brand, I don't require all my loco's be that brand. So, if it's a "must have" locomotive, and offered with DCC/Sound, chances are I've purchased it with DCC/Sound instead of DCC Ready. (Because chances are that I cannot get a sound decoder and speaker for the amount that is different between DCC/Sound included versus DCC Ready.) And, don't forget that certain manufacturers have some lighting functions that are only included with the DCC/Sound version locomotives. The same locomotive in DCC Ready does not have those lighting functions.
And all that lighting function business only matters if you model an era to which that applies. Some of us model an era when the locomotive lights were on or off, front or back......
There is something to be said about sticking to one brand...IF...the brand doesn't also decide to re-engineer and reconfigure their decoders. I currently use the new Tsunami, factory installed, the first issue released in 2006, several stalwart QSIs, and LokSounds of at least three different versions. The QSI's and the Tsunamis are the same in every respect except the reset, but the LokSounds are quite different, and sometimes I have to figure out which function does what when I run a LokSound for the first time in a year or two.
Having the same make of decoders would be grand. I have such a mix from old Soundtraxx, QSI, Loksound from version 3.5 to the latest 5, BLI Paragon and Blueline, TCS WOW, and Tsunami 2. When I set up the decoders I function map sounds to a standard for Deisels and a standard for steam. It makes it easier for running them.
Pete.
wrench567 Having the same make of decoders would be grand. I have such a mix from old Soundtraxx, QSI, Loksound from version 3.5 to the latest 5, BLI Paragon and Blueline, TCS WOW, and Tsunami 2. When I set up the decoders I function map sounds to a standard for Deisels and a standard for steam. It makes it easier for running them. Pete.
Agreed on the convienience of a standardized decoder - my experience is similar to yours in terms of the variety of old and new decoders on the layout. I even have an old LC series decoder in a shay.
Most of my installs are sound and usually hardwired. It generally takes some time to complete the install. As a rule, I don't replace decoders unless they fail. This leaves me with a variety of different decoders running on the layout. As mentioned in the post above, I also use function mapping to create some continuity across brands and generations of decoders.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
wrench567I have a dream. Oh back to reality. I can envision a control system that has low voltage AC through the rails that is only used to charge a hi tech battery pack in each locomotive.
I can envision a control system that has low voltage AC through the rails that is only used to charge a hi tech battery pack in each locomotive.
Each locomotive would have a chip that receives a control signal wirelessly from a palm sized throttle with voice commands for functions and addresses.
Consists are linked to each other for speed matching, lights, horn and bell from the lead unit only no matter which direction.
I'd arrange for the wireless decoders to be "DCC compatible" because any fancy UI or IxD you code would be very easily ported to use with DCC track modulation...