OgreMike
Active Member
Not sure Gary. I’m at office today, but I’ll take a closer look when I get home. The largest radius is 22 in the plan, but I’ve had to fit in some flex track in a place or two in order to make ends meet.
Newbie question on DCC
- Thread starter OgreMike
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- dcc installation
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What do you think of the Digitrax ?
I sure hope so! The toughest part is going to be the scenery. For that, I have an artistic wife, a son in law, and a couple grandsons who’ll need to help out!
If you are talking true transponding, that is a Digitrax proprietary system. Not all decoders can transpond.
The NMRA recommended practice (S-9.3.2) for DCC reverse communication is called "Rail Com". It is brought to us by the same people that invented DCC, the Lenz company.
And just to be more clear, I don't know anyone who uses either. The museum uses the Bruce Chubb C/MRI system for block occupancy for the dispatcher.
On the other hand, if you are just talking about block occupancy detection that is generic across companies. I think every one makes a block detection that can be used in conjunction with other systems.
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OgreMike
Active Member
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
I borrowed a NCE, but couldn't get on with it, too complicated for my old brain.I’m a Digitrax guy too now, Smudge!
What do you think of the Digitrax ?
OgreMike
Active Member
Haven’t had a chance to use it yet because I’m still just building the mainline and putting in all the wiring leads. But from what I’ve read, I’m confident it’s the right choice for me also.I borrowed a NCE, but couldn't get on with it, too complicated for my old brain.
What do you think of the Digitrax ?
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
I've wired mine in like this, buss wire is wired in directly, the programming track (which is separate from the layout) just plugs in to the black socket, that way I can't get them mixed up, although I have, with some decoders, had to programme a loco directly on the layout, but my normal practice is to always use the programming track.Haven’t had a chance to use it yet because I’m still just building the mainline and putting in all the wiring leads. But from what I’ve read, I’m confident it’s the right choice for me also.
OgreMike
Active Member
Looks splendid, Smudge! I’m going to try to be a bit deliberate . . . want to build a control panel with layout diagram like the Atlas layout book portrays. Would like to have an occupancy light for each power district, though the PM-74s I’m hooking up have small LEDs designed to show occupancy thru transponders. Frankly, for a smaller layout such as this, I don’t think I’ll have too much of a problem knowing where a train is. But I suppose half the fun is in deciding how elaborate (or not) one wants to be!
BigGRacing
Aka. Gary Russell
Do you have a part # for that connector you used Smudge?
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
No, unfortunately I don't, I got these from fleaBay, just search 12v 2Pin Cable wire Connector will bring them up or any shop that deals with electrical equipment for boats or RV's should have them.
OgreMike
Active Member
Mainline is down. Just some tweaking needed here and there. Also put in all the power feeder leads at various places along the line. Coming along.
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
Looking goodjust
Just out of interest, what % grade is that ?
BigGRacing
Aka. Gary Russell
I love the look of that old steamer in your last photo! The layout will be awesome!
D&J RailRoad
Professor of HO
With any system that ya end up using, ya have to apply yourself a bit to understand it. Nothing on the market yet that will do what ya want it to do by just thinkin it.
While there are many systems out there, only a few have a wide community of users. Some claim to have the simplest means of selecting a locomotive that saves ya one step. For criminey sakes, one less step but ya have only one-person ya know who also has the system? Ya need to go back to DC. How the heck do ya use an ATM machine if you can't dial up a locomotive after 1 year of messing with a system? How do ya even find your way home?
Digitrax has a three-step process, push the loco button, punch in the loco number, push the loco button, but some claim that's too complex to remember. So they consider buying the other set that requires only two steps to do the same thing. OOOOhhhh, much, much easier and not as complex, then when something goes wrong, they can't get ahold of the guy who recommended it, so they ask the Digitrax guy or the NCE guy to help them. Yeah, I know two folks who have done just that and call me every once in a while, for help to figure out why their system isn't working. What happened to the guy who told you it was a piece of cake? Oh, he's out of town for a while.
Then ya have the ESU system. Ahhhhh yeah, it will interface with anything. Ummmm, oh ya need this card. Oh, ya need this box too. Ohh, and ya need this interface too. Ohhh, ya need this special secret computer file, etc., etc., etc. So much for the interface will anything.
While there are many systems out there, only a few have a wide community of users. Some claim to have the simplest means of selecting a locomotive that saves ya one step. For criminey sakes, one less step but ya have only one-person ya know who also has the system? Ya need to go back to DC. How the heck do ya use an ATM machine if you can't dial up a locomotive after 1 year of messing with a system? How do ya even find your way home?
Digitrax has a three-step process, push the loco button, punch in the loco number, push the loco button, but some claim that's too complex to remember. So they consider buying the other set that requires only two steps to do the same thing. OOOOhhhh, much, much easier and not as complex, then when something goes wrong, they can't get ahold of the guy who recommended it, so they ask the Digitrax guy or the NCE guy to help them. Yeah, I know two folks who have done just that and call me every once in a while, for help to figure out why their system isn't working. What happened to the guy who told you it was a piece of cake? Oh, he's out of town for a while.
Then ya have the ESU system. Ahhhhh yeah, it will interface with anything. Ummmm, oh ya need this card. Oh, ya need this box too. Ohh, and ya need this interface too. Ohhh, ya need this special secret computer file, etc., etc., etc. So much for the interface will anything.
OgreMike
Active Member
Not sure Smudge, but the book says the trains come up about 1 foot in total over about 45 feet of track to get to the top all the way from the lower level? If so, I guess it’s an average of a bit over 2%? In some places in the middle, it’s probably closer to 4, but I would guess 2 is average?
OgreMike
Active Member
That’s why I joined this forum DJ . . . to learn! I didn’t know anything about airplanes and all their complexities way back when, but I wanted to learn and master them! Eventually, with some help along the way of course, I did. I’m not thinking DCC is going to be as intricate as pilot training. If it is, then I’ve got yet another challenge in life, and that suits me fine.
OgreMike
Active Member
Thanks Gary!
I sure hope so! The toughest part is going to be the scenery. For that, I have an artistic wife, a son in law, and a couple grandsons who’ll need to help out!
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
4% is quite steep, you may need a fair bit of pulling power depending on how long the rake's areNot sure Smudge, but the book says the trains come up about 1 foot in total over about 45 feet of track to get to the top all the way from the lower level? If so, I guess it’s an average of a bit over 2%? In some places in the middle, it’s probably closer to 4, but I would guess 2 is average?
OgreMike
Active Member
You may be right! But this layout has been around since Atlas first published it in the 50s. So I’m hoping there’s locomotives around that are strong enough for the haul!
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
I'm sure there are, or maybe just do a consist.You may be right! But this layout has been around since Atlas first published it in the 50s. So I’m hoping there’s locomotives around that are strong enough for the haul!
Iron Horseman
Well-Known Member
Small Red Flag went up when I read this. It might just be the words you used, but just in case:
If you are talking true transponding, that is a Digitrax proprietary system. Not all decoders can transpond.
The NMRA recommended practice (S-9.3.2) for DCC reverse communication is called "Rail Com". It is brought to us by the same people that invented DCC, the Lenz company.
And just to be more clear, I don't know anyone who uses either. The museum uses the Bruce Chubb C/MRI system for block occupancy for the dispatcher.
On the other hand, if you are just talking about block occupancy detection that is generic across companies. I think every one makes a block detection that can be used in conjunction with other systems.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)