QUOTE: Originally posted by MAX-trains What kind of decoders should I use?
QUOTE: Originally posted by MAX-trains Thanks JPM335. Since you say it I do have another question. I dont know how to install decoders! I saw tonys trains exhcange mentioned on here but they charge so much for a decoder to install. Is there anyone that does it for cheap?
QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher QUOTE: Originally posted by MAX-trains What kind of decoders should I use? That is the wonder of DCC. Any kind you want. I would recommend the one that fits your locomotive and budget best. I keep a wide assortment of Lenz, Digitraxx, NCE, and Soundtraxx on my work bench at all times.
QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335 QUOTE: Originally posted by MAX-trains Thanks JPM335. Since you say it I do have another question. I dont know how to install decoders! I saw tonys trains exhcange mentioned on here but they charge so much for a decoder to install. Is there anyone that does it for cheap? MAX, that depends what "cheap" means to you. There are some places that do it cheaper, tonys is very well known so they can charge a lot. The cheapest I have seen is Discount DCC. They charge about a third of what tonys charges. I sent a couple engines to them before i got to installing decoders myself and they seem to do good work. Here is thier website: http://www.freewebs.com/discountdcc/index.htm
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker The Big Book of DCC is currently out of print, supposedly they are working on a revised and updated version since there have been many new things since the book as originally published - DT300 and DT400 throttles, the Zephyr, the SE8C signalling system, Series 3 decoders, etc. The basic information is still valid, it's just that there are many new things that didn't exist at the time. --Randy
QUOTE: Originally posted by MAX-trains QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher QUOTE: Originally posted by MAX-trains What kind of decoders should I use? That is the wonder of DCC. Any kind you want. I would recommend the one that fits your locomotive and budget best. I keep a wide assortment of Lenz, Digitraxx, NCE, and Soundtraxx on my work bench at all times. Are some decoders better than others or are all brands pretty much the same?
QUOTE: Originally posted by jdtoronto QUOTE: Originally posted by MAX-trains QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher QUOTE: Originally posted by MAX-trains What kind of decoders should I use? That is the wonder of DCC. Any kind you want. I would recommend the one that fits your locomotive and budget best. I keep a wide assortment of Lenz, Digitraxx, NCE, and Soundtraxx on my work bench at all times. Are some decoders better than others or are all brands pretty much the same? When I help friends install decoders we have found DigiTrax decoders are low cost and have a good mix of features, I use them for size (DZ123 and DZ143) unless I need the features of the Lenz. The new Lenz Gold (and the Gold-micro) have some nice features. I put Lenz in my own equipment. NCE is very good also, but they dont have the tiny decoders I often want for N scale gear. But for HO and larger they are excellent. The only sound decoders I have used so far have been LOK-SOUND, they are very nice. But I am expecting to see a handful of Soundtraxx Tsunami in the hands of friends over the next few weeks as deliveries get under way. Haven't seen one yet, so can't pass an opinion.
QUOTE: Originally posted by MAX-trains Great news! My zephyr came today[:D][:D][:D]. I have only been able to run DC locos on it though. Now I see what people mean about that whining sound. I belive you guys that decoders arent hard to install, but Im going to send my wathers F unit to Discount dcc. When I get it back I will see how they installed it and try to copy. Thanks again for all the great advice.