|
|
 Posted - July 15 2010 : 8:10:23 PM
|
Has anyone here tried the DCC trains that are avalible now? My nephew was telling me about them yesterday and he is going to order a large set of them. I guess they are computerized and he was infoming me of what all they are capable of doing. I had not heard about them and since I am kinda locked in to old Tyco & life-Like products, I don't have much interest in them yet...
Walt
Luck, usually comes dressed in work clothes...
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 6279 ~
Member Since: February 18 2009 ~
Last Visit: March 04 2022
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - July 15 2010 : 8:40:21 PM
|
I talked to some guys at a show who were running DCC on a club layout. They seemed to love it, but they also seemed like they had plenty of money to spend. I discussed upgrading my Athearns (I knew better than to mention TYCO.) and they seemed to look down even on those. To me, it looks like fun but not enough to invest in the control system and loco upgrades. Besides, I like things that are simple and fixable. When you get into the "digital" area the repair factor starts to go down. Kind of like modern cars vs. old cars.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 1166 ~
Member Since: October 18 2009 ~
Last Visit: December 23 2018
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - July 15 2010 : 9:03:30 PM
|
Well it looks like you can get a starter system of a engine plus a controller for about $140 made by Bachmann. I've been curious about these. I've heard people say these systems are crap and not any good but I haven't really looked into it to see if the DCC system really doesn't work on these cheaper unit or if those with deep pockets look down on them because the rivets are not in the right place and they have fewer options than the hugely expensive system. I would think motion control, lights and sound would keep most people pretty busy. I realize though that there are systems than can control hundreds of trains, make them uncouple, control scenery, give you a smooth shave, etc.
Anyone ever try out one of these Bachmann EZ command centers?
Here's Bachmann's page about it.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/ezcommand.php?ezpage=1
Here's the deal on a controller and a SantaFe GP-35 engine for $140.
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/bac/bac44904.htm
~CamdenLine
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 178 ~
Member Since: July 02 2010 ~
Last Visit: August 22 2023
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - July 15 2010 : 10:15:03 PM
|
quote:Has anyone here tried the DCC trains that are available now? I guess they are computerized and he was informing me of what all they are capable of doing.
Originally posted by walt - July 15 2010 : 8:10:23 PM
|
Ok, here's the expense involved in the DCC type of control. There's tethered version, and there's radio versions. The tethered are cheaper, but the radio are the E-ticket if you want walk-around control with no leash. I'll list the Radio type only, as that's what I have.
1 - Decoder that goes into the train, for control - $25-100, depending on complexity, sound and light options, etc.
2 - 2nd decoder for sound and effects, usually $100 plus, some cheaper, some WAY more expensive. Not necessary for start-up operations
3 - Throttle - cheapest radio is around $125 for the Digitrax type. More for those with programming and other functions (which if you have your own setup, you'll need).
4 - Base set of programmer, and power supply - About $300-500. If you have a large layout, and need more power modules, then expect an additional $100 each.
As you can see, just getting started is expensive. I belong to a club, so I put $30 decoders in engines, and with the cheapest radio throttle I could afford from Digitrax,which cost me $125, I can run on my club's layout, which is strictly DCC.
Personally, if you don't have the need for multiple train operations, you can stick with variable voltage throttles. The DCC runs a full 14v, which is then pulsed to each engine through the Decoder circuitry to slow or speed up the train (in a nutshell ). So you can run accessories and lights all the time with 14v on all the time, and the decoders just varies the voltage to each individual engine via the throttle, AND allows multiple engine usage all the time through digital addressing . THAT is the best part of it, no block wiring and operation hassles. But if you don't need that, why bother?
It is expensive to get it started, rewire your layout for it, etc. Doing it the way I did, just convert some engines for public/club use, and you can still operate them on analog layouts, too, is much cheaper. If you don't belong to a club, you'll have to decide if the expense is worth the gain in operational control and multi-consist operations. A few guys in my club have personal DCC on their home layouts, but not all.
That's it in a nutshell, any other questions fire away.
Jerry in Virginia, partial DCC user.
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3974 ~
Member Since: January 04 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2019
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - July 15 2010 : 10:25:48 PM
|
quote: made by Bachmann. I've been curious about these. I've heard people say these systems are crap and not any good but I haven't really looked into it to see if the DCC system really doesn't work on these cheaper unit
Anyone ever try out one of these Bachmann EZ command centers?
~CamdenLine
Originally posted by CamdenLine - July 15 2010 : 9:03:30 PM
|
Bachmann has a past history of iffy quality(4-5 years ago), from their engines to the DCC. Most guys I know are running the Digitrax system. The newest Bachmann engines, though, are much higher quality and reliability than the ones from 5-7 years ago. I own several Bachmanns and they work fine. Just bought one off Ebay, a FT-B Unit, with decoder, for $23.
I've not tried out the EZ command system myself. I only use the club's Digitrax programming setup occasionally, and it's having problems right now, too. It is about 3-4 years old, though. Can't help with that setup.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3974 ~
Member Since: January 04 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2019
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - July 15 2010 : 11:34:48 PM
|
I'm running an MRC Prodigy DCC system on my layout. I like it a lot. It started as a tethered unit but I upgraded it to wireless 2 years ago. The main reason I went to DCC was to try out the sound equipped loco's. They are pretty cool. I have a mixture of Athearns, Bachmann, Atlas, and Broadway Limited DCC loco's. The decoder costs vary depending on what you want and or need them to do. Most of my Athearns are blue box converted to DCC. Digitrax makes a Z scale decoder that handles HO, I have used this many times for 2 reasons, cost and ability to fit it into the loco.
I also like the DCC's abiltiy to have stationary decoders. Each stationary decoder has 4 addresses. I have 4 under the layout that control all of the switches on the layout. No need to run wires back to the main control panel.
Forgot to mention some of the loco's with factory DCC are dual mode decoders, will sense DC or DCC and run on either.
Edited by - eaglerock109 on July 15 2010 11:46:15 PM
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 636 ~
Member Since: February 03 2008 ~
Last Visit: March 22 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - July 16 2010 : 06:08:12 AM
|
quote: The main reason I went to DCC was to try out the sound equipped loco's. They are pretty cool.
Originally posted by eaglerock109Â -Â July 15 2010Â :Â 11:34:48 PM
|
Yes, I agree, and that is one of the MAIN draws of DCC now, is that you can have such a realistic sound Decoder installed in your engine, it makes the appropriate chugging steam sounds, bells, whistles, brake squeals, etc. that it makes a HUGE difference just piloting a unit around a layout silently, versus having a fully accessorized Big Boy chugging along and providing realistic and prototypical sounds ( and they even have operating smoke stacks in HO, not just for Lionel anymore! LOL ). Many of my club members have sound decoders installed in their steam and diesel loco's, and to hear them, it's just wonderful. I power my diesels silently as I can't afford the extra expense involved right now, but it makes a huge perceptional difference to hear them as well as see them move around a layout. - Jerry -
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3974 ~
Member Since: January 04 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2019
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - July 16 2010 : 08:45:52 AM
|
( and they even have operating smoke stacks in HO, not just for Lionel anymore! LOL ).
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â July 16 2010Â :Â 06:08:12 AM
[/quote]
Hey Jerry,
I have smoke on a few steamers with DCC, another good aspect of DCC is that you can map the decoder outputs to control what you want. The output I use to power the smoke unit is the rear light output, I dont have a rear light on the steamer so I remapped the out put for the smoke unit.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 636 ~
Member Since: February 03 2008 ~
Last Visit: March 22 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
