Ossian

Just to update this thread, I got a loco (a Graham Farish Class B1 - part of the NE Freight set) and separately a Zimo MX617 decoder - cheap as chips and a big thanks to Kevin from Coastal DCC for his advice and excellent service. I ran the train briefly on the supplied analog controller, then, with heart in mouth, undid the tender and popped in the decoder - about 5 minutes once I worked out the right screws to use. Out came the Hornby Select and I had everything running on DCC. Its a bit of overkill for a single oval of track, but I'm happy to be back into running trains. (Even happier that the sprogs have taken an interest too and dug out various piles of Hornby they had never touched)

Many thanks for all the replies - I will certainly follow the advice. @JST - I don't see myself sticking with the Select - it is more of "something to get me moving" until I can afford a lot better - perhaps WiFi or with a walk-around controller on a lead. I am budgeting about 1K for track/fittings (8' x 3' maximum size) and initial rolling stock (perhaps an 0-6-0T and some sort of MT loco, plus a few coaches and wagons. The plan is to use Peco code 80 - not realistic, I know. @WIMorrison - DCC ready seems a good compromise, and I understand many online retailers will fit a suitable decoder for you (my worry is getting the correct socket, but not being able to find space for the decoder. I live in NE Scotland, so have no suitable shops I can visit within any reasonable distance. My local model shop will get me anything I want, but thats not the same as seeing it first. @RAF96 - many thanks. Do I need the firmware update immediately? (as I said, I see the Select as an interim solution to be followed by eBay as soon as I can replace it

I'm returning to railway modelling after many years, and looking for advice on DCC. I am going to work in N-gauge, and go for an early BR period layout. I know that DCC controllers should be compatible with any decoder chips, and plan to (start with) only DCC-fitted locos., however I have two questions 1) I have a Hornby 'Select' controller (R8213) which is about 12-14 years old. Would this be suitable as a short term solution? - my budget is initially focussed on track and rolling stock. I would probably have points electrically operated but not DCC at this stage. 2) In the long term (a couple of years), I would like to have some computer control together with a hand controller or two (moving points and signals to DCC operation ideally through a PC). What controllers would you recommend to give this capability?

Thank you, Hibelroad. I have been browsing and getting a lot already. Agree re simple, but there is a trade off with "too toylike" - I am happy to be more complex and still, if needed, rip it all up

Having been a keen modeller (plastic kits and OO-HO railways) in my (distant) youth, I am now, on the wrong side of 50, getting back into the hobby. By day I'm an IT Consultant, so want hobbies that keep me away from a keyboard and screen as far as possible. I live in the NE of Scotland Originally I had (and probably still have) a lot of Palitoy rolling stock, and about 10 years ago I made my kids a small (6' by 4') Hornby DCC layout - just the basic set plus extensions with a pair of 0-6-0 locos. Unfortunately they were more into PlayStations, so the baseboard is now propped up in a corner gathering dust.... I'm planning to get started with N-Gauge (and obviously DCC) to allow more realistic layouts in the space I have available (about 8' by 4'), and have been faffing around with various track planners to come up with something reasonable looking. I am going to have a vast number of questions, so please, please be gentle with me! Anyway, I'm looking forward to becoming part of this community, and getting to know members here.