After consideration, research, and saving my shekels, I have finally taken the DCC plunge and laid down money for a new DCC system- namely, an NCE starter set. It was for sale (my favorite price) online, more specifically off a certain e-auction site. I have 3 DCC-equipped locomotives, plus a couple of DCC-ready diesels (mostly Frisco) that need decoders (thank you, plug-n-play), so all I need to do is wire the layout for DCC when that chore comes along. So, come Wednesday, the brown truck should drop off my new control set, and I will bid farewell to the DC (Digitally Challenged) era.
One of us! One of us! Weeble Wobble Gooble Gobble! One of us! One of us! Weeble Wobble Gooble Gobble!
By golly, what will be the next step forward? Retiring the little house out back, after switching to indoor plumbing? This hyar fancee newfangled stuf are too much fer me!
This thread title is a little frightening. I was afraid I was going to get a picture in a speedo or something. Charlie
In truth, I shelled out 150 bucks for a 200-dollar set. As a firm believer in the Primary Rule of Buying Stuff (Thou Shalt Not Pay Full Retail), it was a price I couldn't pass up. This retires two MRC TechII power packs and a small battery of Atlas Block Slectors (several slide switches screwed onto a piece of painted plywood). I'll keep the power packs, since they've served me well for 30 years, but the selectors will go out the door. Plus, since I'm still in the early stages of tracklaying, I don't have to do any rewiring. From what I've seen from friends in the Tulsa area, wiring for DCC looks fairly easy.
I would definitely keep at least one power pack as they can be helpful in testing locomotives and troubleshooting problems. I am glad you're saving them.
Boy this thing got here fast- I bought it early (way, way early) on a Saturday morning, and today it arrives at my door. Tonight, when I get home from work, I'll set up a short test track & see how this rascal works. Should be fun to make that FM H10-44 run & sound like it's supposed to......
I am struggling with an engine right now. The problem is very apparent on DC but I would never have figured it out using DCC alone. DC is good for the initial check for proper decoder installation. Also check to see if the engine runs at all before you install a decoder! Two cents, you know?
Welcome to DCC. I got the Power Cab about five years ago and it has served me well. Consider turning off the DC option. I have seen in different forums that the loco can take of at full speed when there is a short and the short is removed. I run the Tsunami I put in myself and those are not in dual mode yet. It has to be done by the user. That confuses some who install their own Tsunami and do not have a DCC set at the time of install or buy a Tsunami equipped loco from a private source that had the DC option disabled. Also, some sound equipped locos do not have all the features of the sound decoder you install yourself. You have to check the documents closely or ask in a forum. I see that a lot. Some never do any research before buying and think they are being cheated. My first factory sound loco was the Spectrum 4-6-0 and I knew before ordering that some features are missing compared to the Tsunami I installed. The documents spelled that out very clearly. That loco was less cost than the 4-6-0 DCC ready that I bought and then installed my own Micro Tsunami. One important thing to consider, do not make assumptions when it comes to DCC. Like me, all you had for experience was DC operated layouts for a background and I am sure you know by now, there is a learning curve. Rich
Yes, it did- the moment I set the switcher on the rails, the OP prime mover cranked up, and it settled into a nice little idle. The basic features (air brakes, bell, horn, lights) all worked well, and it crept tie-to-tie at slow speed. And the GP7 I tested (that I suspected had a decoder) also ran nicely. SO, for now, I have the power I need to run once the track is all laid. I am one happy little model railroader! (Well, OK, one chunky, middle-aged happy little model railroader)
