ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll – February 26, 2003

[CJBeard]

I am in total agreement about using DCC. I would not mind paying the extra to have it come factory installed. I don't see myself buying sound, as yet. TOO darned expensive.

[Anonymous]

Really one more answer needs to be put in there... Not interested in DCC at all.

That is really the choice for me.... to much money to invest for a turnover costs for a new system... if I'd do that in the costs, I could have some top of the line Ham Radio gear.

Too much RTR, Plug and Play type stuff, detailed out... the hobby got lazy of the days of when it was affordable to do, kits were the thing, and add on the details you wanted...

Biggest thing is the less Amps the new motors pull over the older ones sure are nice, and I repowered a few of my old engines to new motors.

Remember, this is a hobby to me, and it comes after other mandatory things in life... if I get some time to do some work, then I get it done. Items I have had for 15-25 years still works great for me.

DC forever.

Ron

[Anonymous]

I think that on my model railroad I might add sound to helpers but that would be it.

[Anonymous]

DCC is most important tp me and as I am starting a new layout it will be wired for DCC only. I hate throwing toggle switches from block to block and fined it very annoying and non prototypical especially on a small layout. I like custom sound especially if it produces the sound of the loco that its in eg articulated vs non articulated etc. But I can install my own DCC and sound if necessary so locos that come equi[p[ed with both are not quite so important.

[rhettsease]

At present I don't have DCC on my layout, but I may want it in the future. Then it would be nice to have all the bells and whistles that go with it.

[JoeUmp]

While I don't have DCC yet, it is something I plan to add later. So DCC ready is an option I like. As for sound, I'll burn that bridge when I get there.[:)]

[mecovey]

I'm building a large railroad and have numerous DCC equipped engines. I have one engine with sound, a Broadway Limited 2-8-2. The smooth running quality of this engine has been a real pleasure and the enhancement of sound that is already installed is most appreciated. The time I save over installing decoders (sound or otherwise) allows me to work on other parts of the railroad. I plan many additional locomotive purchases (mostly steam) and I will ONLY purchase those that have sound decoders installed.

I applaude BL for their efforts in introducing cutting edge engines able to run on both DCC and straight DC with sound included. Kudos also for keeping the price down. I got an excellant performing engine with DCC and sound installed for not much more than the price of some sound decoders The Mike that I bought is the first of many.

I agree with the previous post that when a number of engines that are sound equipped are runing if can be an assualt on the ears but if the volumne is turned down to a "scale" level it's a fantastic expansion of the WGH.

[Anonymous]

I like the idea that they may/are come DCC and Sound preinstalled. I am planning additional purchases because of this feature.

[ShaunCN]

I still run DC. no need to have dcc and the price of instaling decoders woud be high as well.

[bikerraypa]

I'll be Mr. Cop-Out and say "all of the above". I'd like to see most locos offered with three options: DC, DCC, and DCC w/sound. That keeps them acceptable to everyone. For the tinkerers who want to save a buck, buy the DC one and install your own stuff. For the techno-dolts like me, buy the fully-loaded option. Since most new locos are DCC ready anyway, this wouldn't be a terribly complicated thing for manufacturers (or even retailers) to do.

[orsonroy]

I voted for very important. In fact, it may wind up being "mandatory" for me.

I finally got my new BLI USRA mike about a month ago, and it's changed the way I look at modeking steam. Since I haven't converted to DCC yet, this was my first sound-equiped engine. Previously, I had heard sound at train shows and thought it was a neat toy. Shortly before I got my BLI, I had the chance to operate on an all-steam, all sound-equipped layout, and my impression of sound moved to "one of these days..."

Now that BLI has allowed me to enter the sound realm without having to move to DCC, I want it bad! I'm eagerly awaiting the eventual day that QSI releases their sound boards as seperate sale items. I'll buy boxes of them! I'm also waiting for them to come out with more steam and 1st generation diesels that are more friendly to mid-sized layouts (ditch the articulateds, BLI, and start coming out with consolidations!) and whi9ch are more correct for my layout locale.

Sound is now a virtual must-have for me, especially with steam. I love steam because of it's mass and raw power, much of which is it's sounds. We'll never see effective steam effects in HO scale, but sound is possible. With sound, HO scale steamers transform from another plastic box on wheels to almost the real thing. Besides, being able to blow the whistle and ring the bell is fun! I'm glad the Lionel guys aren't the only ones to have this sort of fun any more!

[Casey Feedwater]

I have avoided moving to DCC up to this point because it's been my impression that there was a lot of soldering involved with decoder installation. And that did not appeal to me at all. But now that more manufacturers are moving to offering locos with decoders preinstalled, I may make the move to DCC sometime within the next year or so.

[lupo]

DCC Yes, sound; if it is HIFI: YES PLEASE, but because the sound is very LOW FI no thanks, to get a realistic diesel or steam sound you also need the very low frequencies of the audio spectrum, but the tiny speakers inside a locomotive are not capable of reproducing these low frequencies so IMHO it degrades a very nice model.
Maybe if there was a hookup possiblity with a pair of separate sub-woofers you could add somewhere underneath your layout or a complete computerdriven sound system that works on digital feedback about speed, brake etc. from the locomotives involved, that would be nice, you could hook up normal speakers and FEEL your locomotive drive by!

[Anonymous]

At age 70, with dozens of DC engines, highly unlikely will ever get into DCC
anyway, but my Club has DCC and a couple sound equipped engines, and
they are great. If we had them all sound-equipped, it would be a nightmare!

[Budliner]

when the museum of science (cambridge MA) had the full layout I bet nothing could have blown the crowd away more than if a loco with dcc pulling 12 blasted them with some realisticr sound!

B

[AggroJones]

Not important at all! I don't use DCC , and don't care for sound. They just drive the prices up. Neither feature is useful to me.

[Anonymous]

I am building my current layout with DCC from the start. Wow, the wiring is so nice. I can run the trains, not the track. And sound. I don't have that yet, but my next engine to be converted will be done with sound, without a doubt.

[Anonymous]

Does anybody spell check any of the comments made in the MR forums ?

[lupo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by clack09

Does anybody spell check any of the comments made in the MR forums ?

not on relugar basics, but we all do our best[:D]

[Anonymous]

Having sound is nice, but it would be nicer if you could not only control the volume, but also turn the sound off when you don't want it. Although my J1e Hudson is sound equipped, the fact alone that I cannot shut it off when I don't want or need it, results in less track time that my other units. Listen up you designers-why not an on-off switch? Incidentally, I (seem to be with) the group that stays the course-long time modelers without the $$$ to convert to DCC. Analog rules my layout, and will unless I hit the lottery, BIG!!

[Anonymous]

I have several locos that are DCC ready but I also have been told that you have to alter them so that they don't blow out the lights. I like the idea of being able to have several engines hooked up togehter and running them on the board like the real ones do. Sound? to tell you the truth the engines already have sound why make themn louder? I like the quite that the Kato's bring myself.

[Anonymous]

DCC has the best option for multiple operaters on a small layout or a layout with a single track the present layout I am planning requires DCC for it to operate as a show layout other wise the layout would be out of my price range and time if I had to use DC with all the switches and wiring that I would have to do to put it up to the same standard that DCC can offer me!

[jjackso8]

It is very important that my loco's be DCC installed. I have only a bare minmum of electircal knowledge as it is. DCC makes Model Railroading fun for me.. I do not have to worry about all the wiring. In fact I have no powered turnouts wither. No sound is good enough for me as I just listen to the rail noises in my mind. My operating crew is satisfied as well with this sound system. That way we all get to hear the loco's and rail sounds we want to hear not what we have to hear.

[trainfan1221]

I never find sound to be that impressive, to me it seems like more of a gimmick than anything else.

[DJM UP]

I have two PFM sound units and love them both. I never realy understood if DCC will work with them. Has anyone tryed ?? The advantages of DCC sure seem great to me. Thanks, Dave

[Anonymous]

sound in one steam and one diesel is all you need
i have dcc and would like to buy all my motive power with decoders installed

[Anonymous]

Only buy locos with sound now...Couldn't care less about DCC. Will no longer purchase silent locos.

[Anonymous]

This is a response to technology being the "be-all, end all" Technology is a wondrous thing, but I think a distinction needs to be drawn between that which makes a locomotive operate better, and options which don't affect operability. How well a loco runs is an obvious criterion, ---and I understand that DCC can cause an engine to run better, ---but shouldn't be required for this improvement. Bettering the basic model to provide improved running characteristics, and looks, i.e., better tracking, smoother motors, finer details, lighting features. It is my belief that DCC and sound should be considered options, after these other things are attended to. Again, while DCC can make a loco run better, so will a five pole motor, more precise gearing, a better power supply, etc, and DCC REQUIRES A WHOLE NEW APPROACH. Someone with a hundred locos is NOT going to start converting to DCC, ----but then, that is not what the manufacturer's are looking for. I very much like the idea of sound, but want DC operation, and am not interested in paying more for "DCC ready". If technology can provide the engineer figure to step out of the cab of the dead loco, and walk over to the yard office, that is a terrific fillip, --but it is still a dead loco.

[Anonymous]

Probably everything that needs to be said has been, but just to throw my hat in the ring... I don't run DCC yet, but the advantages are clear. When I have my layout more complete, I intend to switch over. So, my first choice is to have sound equipped, DC/DCC switchable decoders installed. I'll make the investment now for the convenience and readiness later... because one of the things that worries me is installing decoders in all my locos.

Railroads were (are) noisy. It adds a lot of realism. So, I agree--you missed one option that should have been popular: provide sound without DCC. But for me, I'd much prefer to have both with defeat switches. Hopefully, if manufacturers increase the volume of installed devices, it will be less expensive too.

Michael

[Anonymous]

I've been in HO since 1953. With about 30 locomotives to retrofit DCC in, I don't believe its for me. Not that it isnt a wonderful option, but darn, I'm just getting too old to backtrack and start almost anew.


Don Tank