Anyone with DC still?

[jfugate]

As time goes on, more and more developments will occur in DCC that will continue to give you superior loco performance over straight DC.

The latest such development is the addition of super capacitors (kind of like short-term batteries) that can give up to a second of power to a loco.

In practical terms what this does is it makes a loco almost totally impervious to dirty track or dead spots like at a dead frog turnout. The result is simply amazing. Lenz has this feature already in their USP add on decoder module. You can read about it here: http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/lz-powermod-rev.htm

So not only does DCC give you the ability to individually tune loco performance so you get the absolute best loco performance -- from a silky smooth ultra slow crawl to precisely the top speed you want to set -- all at the desired ramp up rate you want ... now the loco will run consistenly well, dirty track or not.

This is gonna spoil you real quick! [swg]

[Anonymous]

I would rather still use DC. Allan.
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[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rgroeling

Well, I am 14 years old, adn don't got the $$$ to DCC my layout, I will eventually.

Hell, I'm 40 years old and earn a very respectible income. I still don't have the bling for DCC. Real life comes first and it always seems that there's something else that the money is required for, so I currently just dream about having DCC.

Trevor [:)]

[AntonioFP45]

Thanks, Cacole.

I fixed it. Should work now.

[cacole]

Antonio,

Your link has a a typo in it -- "litchfieldstation" is missing a letter, so it doesn't work.

[AntonioFP45]

Actually Tom, don't be offended by the following as you sound exactly like me 3 years ago! Please----before making a judgment ..............Read about it............

Here's One of the Best Info links about what it is and how it works. Even an electronics klutz like me understood it clearly. You just need a PDF Reader like Adobe. Click on this link and save it to your favorites:

http://www.litchfieldstation.com/university/html/what.html

When you look at the diagrams, remember that you don't need everything that's shown, such as an infrared controllers, turnout controllers, etc. This is just trying to show you the full potential. Modelers can still run accessories through DC packs as before.

DCC is an established technology used across the board in various scales. No one is going to have to scrap anything. Upgraded products are designed to be compatible with previous items.

An example a friend pointed out are some of the decoders from a decade ago that "buzzed" and had no back emf. A lot of improvements have been made since then. But if modelers want to update to the newer, smoother performing decoders, they keep their control setups and boosters and just swap out the decoder in the locomotive for a newer one. Decoders today are cheaper than a few years ago. If those modelers happen to be satisfied with those older decoders, they're still compatible with the control systems of today. No Big Deal!

Regarding controllers? My friend has Digitrax, TCS, Soundtraxx, and Lenz decoders in his HO locomotives. He controls them all with his Digitrax Zephyr.

The club I just joined converted to DCC earlier this year. The control system: NCE. Again, locomotives with Digitrax, TCS, QSI, Lenz, Soundtraxx, all run on the club layout.........no problem. So the answer to your question is YES, YOU CAN CONTROL DCC decoders with a competitors controller.

Again, for those of you with DC, I'm not bashing you. But if you're just not sure about what DCC is all about, explore the link above and see what you think.

High Greens to you all.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

On my simple layout,I only need DC.It works just fine. Also with over 80 locomotives,it cost far too much to convert everything over to DCC.

How many locomotives can you have going at once?? Or how many blocks do you run with so much traffic? Could you see a benifit of having all these locomotives running assigned routes. Would this be the realistic operation we all strive to get?

[Anonymous]

You're right, niblick13bee, I would have been ridiculous to go DC to start off right now, but I already had two working MRC packs from years ago, so had to invest only in Atlas Selectors and Controllers to make this new pike work. I could have gone Digitrax for about twice the cost of those packs at today's prices, but some of us are on tight budgets. You're right, though. Go for the digital stuff if you can. It sure makes TV and photography more fun, too!

[TomDiehl]

I've stayed with DC because it is simple, two wires from pack to track. Two blocks, just do it again, three, etc.

And a HECK of a lot cheaper than decoders, encoders, learning how to program them, headaches installing them in 40+ older locos.

Have they ever standardized the units so you can run decoders from all manufacturers with the controller (or whatever it's called) from any manufacturer. I can just see me choosing one manufacturer, investing big bucks, and they go out of business and I'm stuck with a dinosaur.

[Anonymous]

In 10 years DCC has gone from an unknown technology to about 1/4 of railroaders using it. Thats a pretty good statistic if you ask me. I saved up $150 for a digitrax zephyr 2 years ago and have never looked back. To me anyway the advantages of DCC far outweigh the extra cost.

[Anonymous]

well I am still on DC for the simple reason I have too many locomotives to buy decoders for .I model Rock Island and have about 32 locos. The cost for that upgrade would be too much for me right now. Hmmm, now that I think about it the Rock Island suffered from a lack of cash also. hahaha

FAdkins
Route Rock

[espeefoamer]

On my simple layout,I only need DC.It works just fine. Also with over 80 locomotives,it cost far too much to convert everything over to DCC.

[nbrodar]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cthetrains

nbrodar..are you sure you didn't pick up my old club's layout by mistake?..that's exactly what we ran..branch line has to reverse-loop blocks, with the 3rd being the operating line...the rest is identical..scary concept, hey?

Great minds think alike. [8D]

Nick

[BRAKIE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainfreek92

still dc for me[:(!] will be going DCC when i am a lot older! But for now dc. Tim

Don't sweat it..By the time you can afford DCC there will be a new system invented for us to spend money on..[:0]

[BRAKIE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44

Simple? Simple??? I just looked under the layout, and that is simple??? With all the blocks, wires upon wires upon wires..cheaper, but not simple! And yes, comverting 40 locos, whether they are DCC plug equipped or not is a bit....yeah.

Lets see,DCC wiring calls for bus wire,feeders every 6-8 foot,reverse loop wiring,"power" blocks,programing track,boosters...

Nope so simple after all.[:D]

[Janafam]

The voting shows there is still a lot of DC out there. Many people don't like to change, and going DCC adds costs. But if you make the change, the fun of running trains instead of focusing on blocks is great. Walk around with a train adds to the enjoyment. I was DC but now I am DCC and see no reason to ever go back.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad to see that so many responded, and it's good to see so many who still have the craftsmanship ( or courage) to run DC and with such expansive layouts. Thanks to you all...I am not alone

[trainfreek92]

still dc for me[:(!] will be going DCC when i am a lot older! But for now dc. Tim

[Anonymous]

I'm re-emerging into active modeling after a 25yr hiatus. However during that time I remained an armchair modeler so I am familiar with all the new advances. Recently (early) retired I'm beginning a small room sized layout. The advances in technology are so profound that to not embrace DCC would be ridiculous. My layout will be rather modest but will include all the latest gear. DCC is no longer the domain of the electronic whiz/hobbyist but rather for everyone. Its tremendously exciting! I sure don't want to miss all the fun!

[AntonioFP45]

Joe,

Pretty interesting perspective. I think I understand. Sort of reminds me of the 80s when CDs were introduced. Cassette tapes ruled and guys like me had NO INTENTIONS of using anything else.........(o.k guys, stop laughing now)

Today, cassettes are still available, but most of us listen to music on CD or MP3 / IPOD type technology. The change was so gradual that I don't even think I noticed it until I bought a new stereo back in the mid 90s. I'm convinced that DCC will be in a similar spot in just a few years. Technology is advancing at a far faster rate than in years past.

[MidlandPacific]

QUOTE: As a teen I visited SCL's Uceta Yard

Brunswick, MD for me, on the old B&O main line. That was the 1970s, so they still had a roundhouse and used it, too - it's gone, now, but in those days it still had the grimy, sooty look of a real railroad. They dumped a Geep in the turntable pit once and actually had to bring a real crane out to pull it out: what a sight that was!

Which reminds me that I REALLY need to get that roundhouse built.....

[Anonymous]

Still DC here. I can run 9 engines ( one at a time, but thats all I want)...., with Quantum Engineer, I can access all sound functions just like DCC, also lights, etc....Switching turnouts and keeping them straight is one of the 'fun' things to me. Have no plans to go DCC. Only thing I've found to be missing from DCC is the ability to run more than one train at a time, but with two main lines, seperated with different controller, I don't miss that at all.

My two cents worth....

OkieRRr

[AntonioFP45]

Big 10-4 on that Rripperger.

As a teen I visited SCL's Uceta Yard a number of times. Friendly crews there. My favorite sight was seeing groups of locomotives lined up and idling on the ready tracks - awaiting assignments after having been fueled and sanded. Even with a wind blowing you could smell diesel exhaust in the air and the sounds, to me, were that of horsepower! GE U-Boats especially with their, "chug-chug" exhaust.

Yard service crews moved locomotives in and out of the shop as mechanics performed their inspections and repairs. I remember them testing headlights, turning them on and off.

This is a memorable scenario that I look forward in recreating in HO. DCC easily makes it possble.

Roger that.

[Anonymous]

Call me crazy, but I just finished installing Atlas 1950's style controls on a 3 by 6 foot N scale layout, with 2 reverse loops, 4 mainline blocks, and 6 Atlas #6 switches. It took 4 days to do that "simple" wiring. My son and I found it pretty hard to keep 2 trains running without mistakes in power block assignments and switch track routing, but we'll get better. We had some good laughs at our derailments and accidental power control hand-offs! My grandson, who's 5, will not operate on this layout until we convert to DCC in the far off future. That way, he'll have to think only about the switch tracks. This DC layout is fun to operate with only one person and one train, though, because you don't have to throw block controls.

[jfugate]

I went command control back in 1990 and then DCC in 1993 and haven't looked back.

DCC is great, but it's still in its upspiral as near as I can tell. Most people are still DC. My guess is we're somewhere around 25 - 35% DCC penetration at this point. But we're also only about 10 years into the widescale availablility of DCC.

From what I've seen it takes 20-25 years for a significant new technology to reach the point that it has saturated the market. That means we're looking at somewhere around 2015 - 2020 before DCC (or some derivative) will be *the way* you run trains.

I expect DCC in some form to be the normal way you run trains in the future just like radio control is the normal way you operate model airplanes today. There will always be DC holdouts, but they will at some point become an antiquated novelty -- at least that's my guess.

[MidlandPacific]

QUOTE: yet at the engine service facililty I want to have 4 or 5 sound equipped units standing by with diesels idling.

I think you're onto something there - one of the most impressive sights I've ever seen was Howard Zane's Piermont Division. Howard was kind enough to show it to me on an unusual day, so when we went downstairs and he flipped on the power, the whole thing came to life - right down to the locomotives exhaling on the ready tracks. That, to my mind, was the most attractive portion of it.

I get the impression that doubleheading is much, much easier with diesels than steamers - the published power curves and all that. So once you add up the negatives, particularly time and expense involved in installing decoders and speakers in brass engines, then developing and programming the power curves for consisting - you realize that it's a substantial project.

But as a Colorado Midland fan, I have to say that I would love to see a long train of ore cars roll out of the yard with the helpers spaced ten cars apart.

[railroadyoshi]

I currently use DC, but I really want to start DCC. I find it useful on layouts of all sizes because it vastly reduces wire complexity and quantity for large layouts and makes switching much easier on small layouts with locos close together.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CWClark - ...........I'm scared to put in DCC because I have a lot of electronic devices on my layout like train detection circuits............

A quick note. DCC works by sending signals to the decoders inside of the locomotives. It won't interfere with your other accessories. In fact you can actually set up DCC to control your accessories functions as well, if desired.

High Greens!

[Darth Santa Fe]

I use DC.[:D] Someday I might go to a mix, with DCC operating one track and DC on the other.[:D]

[Train 284]

I just got into DCC a few months ago with the Bachmann E-Z Command DCC system and I absolutly love it! So much better than DC!