Took the plunge today

[cwclark]

Hello sports fans,

        Well,  finally took the plunge head first into a DCC system today.   After an extensive study program from some books about DCC, I went to Tony's Train Exchange website this afternoon and purchased the Digitrax Super Chief 8A R DCC system, a Magna Force MF615 power supply, a UT4R throttle, two extra throttle recievers and two 30 ft. sections of 8 pin phone wire,  an NCE  PS4 circuit breaker for 4 power districts,  an AR1 auto reverse circuit for my wye, and 21 NCE decoders for my locomotives ranging from BB Athearns to Atlas, and Proto 2000's...Whew!...$1150.00, my credit card was smok'in like an old coal burn'in shay when I got done and it ain't over yet!

     I still need about 5 or 6 more decoders, but like the dummy that I am, I threw the old locomotive boxes away and don't know whither the Athearn locomotives were Genesis or RTR  unless I tear into them and  I do hope the majority of them are RTR ... 

     I think i'm going to be real busy the next few months.  I have a 28 block DC layout to totally rewire....chuck

[jbinkley60]

You shouldn't have to rewire, just refeed the blocks from the PS4.  A number of us have similar systems, so don't hesitate to ask questions.  I don't know of the NCE decoders have dropping resistors or current limiting for the headlights.  I know that Digitrax decoders do.  It cuts down on installation time.

 

 

[selector]

Wow, that is a hefty wad of cash!  Smart move on the Never-never Card.  You know, never have to pay for it...?

I hope you get many useful hours out of that system.  I went with the old Klunk..the SEB last year, and must say that it is serving me very well.  I think I might upgrade to radio in the next couple of years, but not sooner.

[tstage]

Wow, Chuck!   I think you automatically get membership into Tony's "Gold" club for that order.   Keep us up-to-date when your package comes in...

Tom

[Medina1128]

WOW! After dropping that much 'kaching' at Tony's, he may be eyeballing you to get rid of a daughter on. Seriously, keep us posted on how it works. This is what prompts us old DC guys into taking the plunge, too. In hindsight, wouldn't the Nestea plunge have been easier on the plastic?

[cwclark]

WOW! After dropping that much 'kaching' at Tony's, he may be eyeballing you to get rid of a daughter on. Seriously, keep us posted on how it works. This is what prompts us old DC guys into taking the plunge, too. In hindsight, wouldn't the Nestea plunge have been easier on the plastic?

 

      I dunno about that Nestea plunge and all, but in the back of my head,  I've always wanted to go to DCC but could never afford it. Everytime i tried to save up some cash for a system, well...that new locomotive or piece of rolling stock always took center stage.

      I just had a bunch of stock mature and was forced to use it or loose it. (company policy) so I cashed it in and lo and behold; it was enough to get a system plus a little left over for this Christmas.

     My wife thought I was nuts for putting in that much cash for the system but what does she know about it? I can't even get her to take control of a throttle and see just how much fun MRRing is.

    The only problem i'm having with it now is all the "what if's"   I jump out of bed from a dead sleep dreaming about what could happen during  certain wiring configurations. It's 4 o' clock in the morning right now and why am I up so early?...Yep! another dream about how my new buss wire will run around the layout. Geez!..I'll be glad when I get this thing in and it won't get here until Friday....chuck

   

[jbinkley60]

Wow, Chuck!   I think you automatically get membership into Tony's "Gold" club for that order.   Keep us up-to-date when your package comes in...

Tom

Tony's never mentioned the Gold Club to me.  I'll have to call him to find out where my membership  card is

 

 

[Tom Bryant_MR]

Wow!  I know how you feel though.  Our annual bonus is due in a couple weeks and I've already spoke with the CFO and 1/2 to her (to take care of Xmas) and 1/2 to the RR.  I'm not complaining.  I've already notified my LHS to stock up cause "Christmas is coming".

Regards,

[SqueakyWheels]

WOW! After dropping that much 'kaching' at Tony's, he may be eyeballing you to get rid of a daughter on. Seriously, keep us posted on how it works. This is what prompts us old DC guys into taking the plunge, too. In hindsight, wouldn't the Nestea plunge have been easier on the plastic?

 

      I dunno about that Nestea plunge and all, but in the back of my head,  I've always wanted to go to DCC but could never afford it. Everytime i tried to save up some cash for a system, well...that new locomotive or piece of rolling stock always took center stage.

      I just had a bunch of stock mature and was forced to use it or loose it. (company policy) so I cashed it in and lo and behold; it was enough to get a system plus a little left over for this Christmas.

     My wife thought I was nuts for putting in that much cash for the system but what does she know about it? I can't even get her to take control of a throttle and see just how much fun MRRing is.

    The only problem i'm having with it now is all the "what if's"   I jump out of bed from a dead sleep dreaming about what could happen during  certain wiring configurations. It's 4 o' clock in the morning right now and why am I up so early?...Yep! another dream about how my new buss wire will run around the layout. Geez!..I'll be glad when I get this thing in and it won't get here until Friday....chuck

   

CW,

I think there are a few of us out here that can sympathyze with you over your better half's thinking in this hobby.

My wife freaked out over my purchasing a second locomotive- now I have twelve. Not only that, I told her she can help out with the scenery. Now she gets to do the scenery and I get to take care of the locomotives, and the rail beds. Life is much better now as I don't have to worry about getting beaten up over purchases made for what seems like a dream to me, and unnecessary expendutures to her.

[Dave Vollmer]

That's a huge chunk of change!

I would consider leaving the blocks for signaling purposes and for setting up power districts.

Seriously, I need to show my wife this thread so the next time I buy a new locomotive I can point here and say "Look, at least I'm not that guy!!!"

[jeep35]

Man, I only spent $168.00 the other day and I got the shakes. Its good that you were able to get everything you needed at one time. It stinks when you working on a project only to find out you're missing or forgot to get that one critical piece you need to finish. Good Luck with the project.

 

   Jim

[dl&w brakeman]

Welcome to the club. I did the same thing about 2 years ago with the NCE radio system and have not looked back once. I really don't miss all that under the bench work wiring! Buying decoders in larger lots does save a couple of bucks and the only negative thing about buying too much at once is that like most tech stuff advances can come quickly and you might wish you waited. I have a number of DA-SR drop in decoders that required resistors for led lighting, but now NCE has built them in to cut down on installation work. Oh well, mine are already in and functioning well. Best of luck and keep updating!

[jacon12]

Chuck, you're gonna soooo love DCC... it's so simple.  As was mentioned by someone, can't you leave the present wiring for other uses and just run your 4 new buss wires?

My man, you're gonna be on Tony's Christmas card list forever! 

JaRRell

[simon1966]

A decent set of golf clubs.

A re-build on a classic car engine.

Season tickets to the Cardinals in 07.

Putting it into perspective, $1k is a good chunk of change but as many have pointed out before our hobby costs really are not out of line for an adult hobby that provides so many hours of enjoyment.

Good for you Chuck. I hope you have many, many hours of fun with it.

[C&O Fan]

I used to have nightmares of filling the house with smoke from burnt wire

but once you get started all that goes away

I Guess I was just What Ifing myself

You're really gonna like DCC

[mikesmowers]

     WOW $1100+.... I thought I took the plung when I recently purchased 2 P2K Geeps at  around the $200.00 mark.    Looking forward to your next few post to let us know how it is going.      Good luck you lucky guy.     Mike

[jamnest]

Let me make one additional recomendation.  If you have access to a personal computer, purchase a USB LocoBuffer II and download Decoder Pro (free) from the JMRI web site.  It will make programing all of those decoders easy and with Decoder Pro connected to your Digitrax System you can use the PC as extra throttles.

JIM

[Texas Zepher]

I think i'm going to be real busy the next few months.  I have a 28 block DC layout to totally rewire.

Why are you going to rewire it?  Unless the wiring is really junk, just group the 28 blocks into the four power blocks and you're done.  Or better just use the four power blocks as four cabs and set the selectors for which block you want on which power section.

[Texas Zepher]

WOW! After dropping that much 'kaching' at Tony's, he may be eyeballing you to get rid of a daughter on.

Man, I only spent $168.00 the other day and I got the shakes.

That's a huge chunk of change!

  WOW $1100+....

No wonder DCC has taken so long to catch on.  What would everyone do if it was still expensive?  I remember when the command control stations cost $1000, and decoders were $50 each, which was at the time more expensive than the locomotive.  I believe our club spent about $8000 for its first system (a PNP112, with 12 power blocks, 12 throttles, NO radio, and 20 decoders) in 1983. Relatively speaking DCC is one of the best bargans in the hobby today.  It is the only item going up in quality and down in price.

[cwclark]

Let me make one additional recomendation.  If you have access to a personal computer, purchase a USB LocoBuffer II and download Decoder Pro (free) from the JMRI web site.  It will make programing all of those decoders easy and with Decoder Pro connected to your Digitrax System you can use the PC as extra throttles.

JIM

 

you got it!..right now i'm eyeballing some used laptops on e-bay so the decoderpro will be a reality...does decoderpro use UBS ports now instead of serial ports? I'd really like to have a laptop that's not too out of date.....chuck

[jbinkley60]

It's the Locobuffer II that needs the USB port.  The older ones did work on serial ports.

 

[rrinker]

Actually, it's the Locobuffer II-USB that is USB only. Dick Bronson's Locobuffer-II was serial, as was the original John Jabour Locobuffer, and the Hans DeLoof version.
All of them can use pretty much any USB to RS232 adapter if you have a serial port Locobuffer but no serial port.

--Randy

[jbinkley60]

Ok.  I had never seen anyone selling a Locobuffer II that wasn't USB only.  The serial model must be rare.

 

[simon1966]

The Locobuffer II serial was discontinued when the USB version was released.

[davekelly]

Chuck,

Congrats! Although you choose a system different than mine, I"m sure you'll love it.  The SC is quite the system!!  If you're worrying about creditcard/spouse shock, you may want to hold off buying that first sound decoder.  That is the real Nestea plunge!

Keep us informed of your progress.  If you're anything like me you'll wonder why you waited so long!

Dave

[NZRMac]

The AR1 might keep you up nights, I had a hang of a time trying to set mine up, every loco that draws more or less current either doesn't trip it or keeps tripping it!! I tossed it and got a Tony's reverser.

Ken.

[cwclark]

The AR1 might keep you up nights, I had a hang of a time trying to set mine up, every loco that draws more or less current either doesn't trip it or keeps tripping it!! I tossed it and got a Tony's reverser. Ken.

I'm going to wire it up in only a blocked section of the wye. Two wires from the track will go to the reverser unit and then to a blocked section of the wye were the bottom rail becomes the top rail.  I'll also install an 1156 bulb in series for shorts. If it does short,  then it will only affect the blocked wye section. I do hope there will be no problem with it, but since this is my first experience with DCC i'm sure i'll have a lot to learn....chuck 

[DavidGSmith]

I spent close to that to get my DCC. Think about radio control, I got it when I bought and have enjoyed never having to find an outlet to plug into when running trains.Operating sessions on other guys layouts con vinced me to go radio right away.

Have fun. Its a lot of work setting everything up but worth it.

Dave

[Cannoli]

Without trying to take this topic off track to much, I was looking at the description online for the Loco Buffer USB and noticed that it says it has a LocoNet Terminator for interfacing with other systems. Does this mean that I could use it with a non Digitrax based system, such as my clubs NCE or my own MRC Prodigy? I'd love to be able to add a PC interface for programming, etc.

[rrinker]

Without trying to take this topic off track to much, I was looking at the description online for the Loco Buffer USB and noticed that it says it has a LocoNet Terminator for interfacing with other systems. Does this mean that I could use it with a non Digitrax based system, such as my clubs NCE or my own MRC Prodigy? I'd love to be able to add a PC interface for programming, etc.

 It won't interface your computer to NCE (NCE has a serial port on the command station already - just hook it up and download JMRI and off you go). The idea is that you can use Loconet in a non-Digitrax environment - say a DC layout. Or another DCC system that doesn't do anything other than run trains, like CVP. Some of the Digitrax boards can be the termination as well, definitely the BDL-168 block detector and I think the SE8C signal controller. Normally the Digitrax command station provides the termination in a Digitrax system.
 The reason you might want to do this - good as it is, Bruce Chubb's C/MRI is pretty darn expensive. Not that signalling of any sort is cheap, but the SE8C from Digitrax is a great value, controller 8 interlockings for $100 street price. The Team Digital SIC24 is even less expensive. And you get to connect all your electronics together with handy 6-wire phone cords.
 As for programming, Dick at RR_CirKits has said he will release and add-on for the Locobuffer-II USB that will provide a standlone programming function. You could hook this up to a piece of track and use it with JMRI to program locos for your Prodigy system. Alternately there is the SPROG which is available now that is a standalone programmer and is designed to work with JMRI.
                

                                  --Randy