ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll -November 13, 2003

[Anonymous]

I'm just now getting back into the hobby, not having been involved since I was a kid. The train hobby can be very expensive so I don't want to make significant investments and then find in a few years that I've got to do it all over again. DCC looks very exciting. The added realism it offers can't be underestimated. The disadvantage of course is it's cost but that will come down (look at the price of computers). To the extent I can buy gear that is at least DCC ready, as I can afford improvements, my gear will at least be compatible, minimizing future 'rebuys'.

Chris

[Anonymous]

I have a point to point at home with Digitrax and belong to two clubs that both have Digitrax layouts. I am electronix chalenged, so I will tend to look for a DCC plug equiped loco when shopping. HOWEVER, if there is a have-to-have that does not have a plug I will buy it and have a capable modeler install the hard wired decoder. Like a lot of modelers I know, I have more locos than I could ever use at once on the same layout, which has been pointed out by the family budget coordinator (spousal unit), so I only buy locos now when there is a have-to-have out there, like a CNW RS1, and stick to converting the ones I have to DCC. An article in Model Railroding about year ago had an excellant article on converting Athearn engines to DCC. It had pictures of every step of the process and easy to follow text. (Idiots guide to DCC, I call it) I wi***here were more such well done articles on other nonplug types. Most of the instructions for DCC installations seem to assume that I know what they are talking about when I don't. Enough rambling on already!

[Anonymous]

This hobby of model railroading is all that helps me keep my sanity (yea, right!!!). However, being on a fixed disability income since 1993, I have to save for what I want and be careful of what I spend. However, the majority of my equipment (electrical) was purchased pre-DCC, and therefore, any equipment following will be the same. Therefore, it really makes no difference to me if a power unit is DCC ready or not. Sorry all you DCC lovers, but as for me I don't care.

[Anonymous]

I'm currently building my HO layout and yes, I am going with DCC because of the simple wiring and the ability to control each locomotive. I consider price, dcc status(ready or equipped) and manufacturer when purchasing new locomotives. I believe the price is the first consideration. If the locomotive is not dcc equipped or dcc ready, then I expect the price to be lower than if it was dcc equipped or dcc ready. Second is manufacturer. I beleive the quality of some munufacturers to be less than what I want to put on my track so I will not buy from them,at any price. So, I prefer dcc ready but will buy dcc equipped if the price is right. I will buy a non dcc locomotive only if I can convert it to dcc for less than cost of the same locomotive dcc ready.

[Anonymous]

I voted no on this poll only because I do collect brass steam locos of my favorite road and I have yet to purchase one that came with a plug ...... I consider it a plus if it is "sound ready" so that my installer has a bit of an easier time of installing the decoder/s and sound unit. My RR is fully Digitrax equipped and when we have open house every November for National Model RR month the look on kids faces (both big and little) when that GS4 goes rolling by with coaches in toe and blasting away on the wonderful whistle is worth the cost! And if we are to grow our hobby this IS the next logical step and I for one say "it's about time!!!!" As for my diesel fleet ..... it does matter if there is a plug. I won't buy it if it isn't plug ready.

[vw-bug]

No. I do have enough ability in me to be able to wire for decoders, it ain't rocket-science.

[spken]

I definately only consider locos with DCC socket. Although I have wired several decoders in without any problems, life is to short to waste time when a simpler & quicker way is available.

spken

[Anonymous]

I voted no, but given the choice between having a DCC plug or not, I'd pick not.

[Anonymous]

Ditto that Amen to rsn48.
I proposed this very question to Bergie a few weeks back because I have recently heard a backlash against non-DCC ready engines. Folks literally taking them back to the store because they were not equipped with a DCC plug. I thought I was hearing things! Were talking HO engines here at that! I can understand the n-scale gang wanting plugs, but HO?
I'm a guy of average (if that) intellience, with some basic tools, 2 large thumbs, and enough knowledge of electricity to know how to hurt myself. I've never given a rats butt if an engine has a plug pre-installed or not. If I want to run a particular type of engine, I just find a way to do it. Now after about 5 years with DCC, I've put decoders in everything from Spectum 44 tonners to HO brass, Atlas, Kato, Athearn , P2K and others. I've got to tell you, you CAN do it too![:D]
Hey, here's an idea for MR! Either include with DCC corner, or make it a separate feature, but take 1 engine a month and install a decoder in it! After 2-3 years of articles, you can publish a book, and make Kalmbach even more money!! [;)]

[JoeUmp]

Amen to rsn48

[Anonymous]

I don't bother anylonger with locos that are not sound equipped and Dcc ready

[Anonymous]

Bergie asked about a DCC plug, not DCC equipped. I read in different forums all the time where non-DCC literate types confuse the difference between a DCC equipped loco and a DCC ready loco. Bergie's question was about a loco being DCC ready, not equipped. If you run DC, clearly you don't care, but if you run DCC you do care. If you are in N scale, you might care a lot.

So a DCC ready engine (or an engine equipped with a plug) means a decoder can be installed by any dummy (like me); it does not mean the engine is decoder equipped. So in my case I'm trying to figure out why a guy into DC would care whether an engine came equipped with a decoder plug, it doesn't affect DC running and doesn't affect the cost of the engine, except ever so slightly.

[Anonymous]

When I first went into DCC (Digitrax) about a year and a half ago I had sold off my equipment. When I went back in I first acquired some used engines (LifeLike FAs and GPs). Then I bought a couple of Bachmann 2-8-0s. (Bachmann's 2-8-0 accommodates a decoder very well).

The LifeLike units had to have the decoders hard wired in and the bulbs replaced. LifeLike has good detail on their engines and I wi***hat they could make them more ready for DCC. Maybe the newer Proto Steam engines are more ready for DCC than my older diesels, I hope they are!!

[Anonymous]

No!

[Anonymous]

I am not inclined to use DCC and have no intention of going that way in the future. I've reached the point in my life where the additional cost of a DCC board in an engine will not cause me not to buy the engine but, for a lot of people, a DCC board is superfluous piece of addotional hardware that can lead to a decision not to buy based on cost. Let's not price young people out of the hobby by offering them (read that forcing to buy) more than they can afford in order to obtain quality running stock.

[gwjordan1950]

As of right now, I don't have any of my engines ready with DCC. I do own 2 that have the plug for the DCC unit.I have run several times at a quite large layout wtih DCC. It was a SUPER experiance!!! Their is nothing wrong with either of the kinds of operations. If you enjoy DC ops., that's great. I do enjoy this operationas well as DCC> In the future, my engines will be equiped with the the plug installed or have everything in it. I am goig to change over my power to DCC. I own alot of athern, some Genises, and some Bach. Spectrum. As the time goes, they are improving the Chips more and more with the funtions their offering getting to numerous to say. It's a Great set up, for the people who want it. If you don't, that's what is Great about our country. We may do what we like, with in the limits of the Law!! Good nite and Happy Model Railroading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GWJ.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely! DCC, the future of model railroad operation, is here today. I started in the Hobby in 1948 and missed out on Astrac. Always yearned for a system such as DCC, now we have it.
Ross Meyer
President
Minnesota Northern Railway

[Anonymous]

I really prefere a DCC ready engine. I've done a couple of "interesting" ones (Rivarossi 2-8-4 and a Mantua Camelback) that really challenged my assembly/disassembly skills. I'm glad I did them but wouldn't do it again. Now ask me about changing lights so they work in DCC--it's a real pain figuring out the correct resistor without milliamp data (which isn't in the instructions) and melting a hole in a shell isn't what I want to end up with.

[eastcoast]

DC for ME. I run Tech II 2500 power packs cab control.
I rather prefer not to have a DCC compatible engine. I do
have some but will probably never have need for the circuit.

[nfmisso]

I am running DCC, and my purchase descision is entirely made by whether the model fits my era/location. A DCC socket is a nice to have, but adding DCC to a locomotive is not that difficult. A sound system is really nice to have (like BLI).

[Anonymous]

I have accumulated more engines over the past 25 years than most clubs have in their inventory. I have more than most hobby shops so I could never afford to convert everything to DCC. My layout will always have both types of operation so the DCC plug is not the main point to consider when purchasing my engines. Price and the engine model are my main concerns, plus quality of course.

Dave

[Anonymous]

I am currently in the market for a yard switcher in N Gauge. I like the looks of the Life-Like SW 8 but am going to buy the VO-1000 with decoder only because of the difficulty and change in performance (noise) of having a decoder installed in these little engines

[Mike4321]

I model in ho on THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY STEAM in the 1915-1940's era. The engines I have purchased in the past ddnt have DCC but now do. NO PROBLEM . ADAPT--IMPROVISE--OVERCOME. If you want it bad enough, you will do it, If it is knowledge about the subject or $ to purchase the item[s], you can do it. 'NUFF ON THAT_ thanks guys the site is great & the mage r fantastic!!!!

THE REDNECK FROM BUZZARD ROOST

[Anonymous]

C'mon people - DCC is a bad case of the emperor's new clothes! [;)]
I agree that it definitely is cool to run each train separately from all others on the layout without being concerned about block control, but that's really all DCC gives you -along with added cost for decoders, power boosters, controllers, etc. and making sure that your turnouts are all "DCC friendly". And don't forget the extra power supply for the accessory decoders....[xx(]
I'm sure that many model rails will consider me as being too cynical, but at the present time I see DCC as a self-propogating cash cow!

Whew, didn't know I had such an attitude on this morning...........[:)]
Mike O'B.
Beaver Creek, Midlakes & Eastern Ry.

[kaprod]

I would not be "limiting" it to just DCC decoders. I use an older and very reliable wireless command control system and have too much invested in it to jump into DCC. Some have argued to just jump into DCC anyway but for me that would still be an expensive switch, block detectors, power supplies, throttle system, etc. I am happy with my system as it is and love the way it operates. I don't want to be "forced" into DCC and I am glad people at Atlas make "decoder equipped" and "not decoder equipped". I hope it continues.

With that being said I buy locomotives based on the models I need and not whether it has a plug or not. If it has a plug, great! If not, great!

Thanks for listening.

Alan

[orsonroy]

I voted yes, but I would have liked to have been able to vote "Yes, sometimes". Buying an engine isn't necessarily a simple decision. If I'm buying a plastic diesel, I won't buy one without a DCC plug. Same goes for new-generation plastic steam. But there are exceptions. Brass steam universally comes without DCC anything, especially the used brass I pick up. Same goes for Bowser and Roundhouse steam kits.

When Athearn came out with their new 2-8-2 a few years ago, I said to myself, "Great! Now I can cancel my plans of assembling a roster of Bowser kits, and get my USRA light mikes cheaper, assembled, and easy to modify. And it's a bonus that they're DCC-ready!" I promptly bought 11 of them to fill out my roster. They worked great on my last layout, but I've sinced moved and begun building a new, three level layout with a 2% ruling grade. Guess what? I'm now in the process of selling off my non-pulling Athearns and replacing them with Bowsers and Powerhouse engines. Out with the DCC-ready, and in with Pittman motors!

So to sum up: yes, I prefer engines that are DCC-ready, but they'd better have all the rest of the features I want/need as well, especially where overall performance is concerned!

RAY

[sparkingbolt]

Nope, subject material dictates. I run dc. Maybe, someday dcc.

[Anonymous]

I am old enough to remember the advent of computers and the debate about DOS
vs. Windows. I liked DOS, but a wise person who clearly saw the future of operating
systems encouraged me to go windows. I think Model railroading has already crossed
over to DCC. In a few short years it will be your only choice. You might as well make
up your mind to begin DCC operations or get lost and forgotten like Radio Shack
T-80 computers. I still purchase non-DCC ready equipment if the price is right,
but I convert them to DCC. The day is close at hand when R-T-R DCC will be
the most cost effective.

[Anonymous]

I run "N" guage with DCC. It is very difficult to mount and wire the tiny DCC boards within the engine shells, and sometimes requires altering the shells. Therefore I only buy engines that are DCC ready.

[Anonymous]

Right now, I am just starting out (again) and want to keep is simple. I have an electronics background and will probably migrate to DCC eventually. I just want to get started with the basics and go from there.