DC or DCC??

DC or DCC


  • Total voters
    75

iis612

Member
I am well beyond elated! I am willing to bet that at that price it was sold to me for below their cost.

Matt
 

dawg70

New Member
I am just getting back into the hobby after a 18 yrs absence and plan to start with DC and then once I get up and running I will make the change over to DCC.
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Dawg...

There are many who take this approach, and my question is always - why? If you plan to create a basic DC-controlled layout with only one train running, then the switch over is straightforward. If you intend to go for full block control allowing for multiple locos and using multiple cabs, then you will be doing a lot of work for DC control that is not necessary, or not exactly what's needed for DCC.

Tell us more about your plans... and welcome to The Gauge!

Andrew
 

steamhead

Active Member
Actually, if you use common wiring in a DC cab control setup, the conversion to DCC is pretty straight forward. Just plug your DCC system into one of the cabs, DISCONNECT the other cab and put it far away...
Then you can set all your blocks for the active cab which is now DCC. You can use the existing blocks as "parking" spots for trains/engines you don't want/need powered up all the time, by just setting that block to the inactive cab position.....
 

dawg70

New Member
I am working on the bench work for a set up in my garage it will end up being in a space of appox 18ft by 21ft. I am going with early 1900 logging industry and working on modeling it after the Crossett Lumber Company here in Arkansas. Still a lot of work to be done but also alot of fun. I might just go ahead and make the plunge into DCC right off the bat but I really haven't made that decision yet. I am trying to find which issue of Fine scale modeler had the building a skelton log car in it but haven't been able to yet. does any one happen to know?
 
Since he was the one that bumped the thread, I'd assume so :D

BTW, I never posted why I chose DCC. One of the main reasons was to have sound, since my layout will be mostly a single operator affair. I guess I chose DCC too because I thought the experience with it might give me more options in the future.
 

steamhead

Active Member
ScratchyA....Guess I'll have to check the dates on some of these threads....I thought it was a current thread 'til I went back and checked it just now.....:eek:
 
L

lester perry

I like the DCC because I am now having op sessions. I couldn't imagine doing that without DCC. If you think you will ever have more than one operator you should go DCC.
Les
 

iis612

Member
I am actually a bit suprised by the results of this poll. I did not think that so many people were using DCC. The reality of it is that DCC, while adding a new level of operation and realism, is cost prohibitive to a lot of modelers.
I am looking forward to using it myself, but I have alot to learn about it before I start converting all of my locos.

Matt
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
I am actually a bit suprised by the results of this poll. I did not think that so many people were using DCC. The reality of it is that DCC, while adding a new level of operation and realism, is cost prohibitive to a lot of modelers.
I am looking forward to using it myself, but I have alot to learn about it before I start converting all of my locos.
Matt

I agree and I'm a bit surprised too (I thought it would be more 50-50).

I'm putting off going DCC for now mainly b/c of the cost & I'm sure I'd run into problems. But I already spend far too much on this hobby without spending $40-50 per loco converting them! I'm still open to it down the road though.

Rob
 

rogerw

Active Member
Rob I think ,imho that it would only cost about 17 dollars or so per loco. Still if you have alot of locos it will add up
 

Russ Bellinis

Active Member
Basic decoders are less than $25.00 each. If you buy locomotives that are dcc equipped rather than just dcc ready, the price is probably less. On the other hand if you want sound to go with your dcc, the cost is considerably higher; but the cost of sound & dcc equipped locomotives is less than the cost of everything sold separately.
 
L

lester perry

In my opinion it is a good Idea. I have been getting decoders one at a time for about 3 years.
out of 50 Locos I have converted about 10. I only use the DCC ones. I can easily run the DC with the flip of a switch. I used DC about 1 1/2 years ago so a friend could run a DC loco on my layout. I am using sound decoders only at about $50 each with the exception of 1 tsunami which sounds awsome but to much money @ $100 plus. So I have spent around $600 over 3 years. And not looking back. I am now having monthly operating sessions. the most people so far at one time is 5 and nobody was just sitting around. I could handle one more with no problem except for controllers known as cabs in DCC. I need another one. I could never do that with DC. If you say I would never do a operating session, try it. It is something to see your layout come to life. oh yeah I am the dispatcher I just write orders and watch and love it
Les
 
Agree about the sound making it pricey. For my first foray it's under $40 for an Atlas loco and $25 more for an Aztec frame for the speaker and about $60 for the decoder, so the decoder and milled frame are more than 2/3 the cost. Hopefully this weekend I'll get a chance to solder the speaker lead back to the board and actually be able to run it on the test track.
 
L

lester perry

Agree about the sound making it pricey. For my first foray it's under $40 for an Atlas loco and $25 more for an Aztec frame for the speaker and about $60 for the decoder, so the decoder and milled frame are more than 2/3 the cost. Hopefully this weekend I'll get a chance to solder the speaker lead back to the board and actually be able to run it on the test track.
What is an aztec frame?
 
Aztec's Online Catalog - DCC Frames in N Scale

Aztec's Online Catalog - N Scale Plug and Play Frames for DCC with Sound

They exchange the metal bits of the frame for ones that are milled out for the decoder and the speaker. They do ones for non-sound too, but it's the speaker milling that made me use them; I have too many thumbs to try to mill out a nice oval shape in an N-scale frame. It's probably easier to make/find space in the larger scales. Nice guy on the phone, and instant turnaround time. I think I mailed one off from WA to NV on a Thursday and had the milled frame on Monday or Tuesday.

Jason
 
L

lester perry

OK. I see why. I am HO and having trouble seeing to work on locos. I can't imagine N guage.
Les
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Rob I think ,imho that it would only cost about 17 dollars or so per loco. Still if you have alot of locos it will add up

One model railroader suggested financing this by selling one loco for every loco that you convert. Most of us have too many already and this would be a way to pay for the conversion while whittling down your stock. Not a bad idea, but I would be stumped on which ones to sell! :eek: Rob
 
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