New to DCC

[BlueLightning]

Hi All,

 

I am planning to purchase my first DCC system at some point in the next 2 weeks. I was originally planning to get a Hornby e-link as a "cheap" entry system to be upgraded to something else later once I was defiantly happy with it. However I have been advised that Lenz systems although expensive would be much better and last a lot longer.

With that in mind I have looked at the Lenz system and am quite confused about what I would need to buy for my requirements. So would anyone be able to tell me what I would need to buy as I would like PC Control that can be used for my locos and points which is relatively simple so that my 6 year old can work it out using a touch screen monitor I already have a PC with a 22" touch screen to use for this purpose, and a sperate hand held (preferably wireless) walkabout controller with an emergency stop button. I would like enough power to run 3 or 4 trains at the same time (minimum) as well as power my points with future expansion for signalling and additional locos as the layout grows.

I also need advice on what decoders I should get for my locos I currently have 23 locos that need fitting a lot of which are pre-1980 and fitted with the Tri-ang X.04 motor so need a higher stall current. Some are fitted with Hornbys 3-pole ringfield motor I am not sure what the required current for these locos is. I am not worried about sound. I can post a list of all my locos with model numbers if this would aid in helping me.

Also for this pretend that money is no object as I would rather start with just one loco than have to replace decoders in 6 months.

Thanks in advance
Gary

[Nigelcliffe]

I'm not convinced that the advice to go for Lenz is good given your requirements (touch screen panels, etc.. ). Lenz is well made, but other makers are much further ahead on touch screens etc...     Suggest you look at Roco's Z21 system instead (note there are two Z21's, a cheap entry one and the full-feature one). 

 

And, given your state of knowledge, making a decision in two weeks is probably a bit fast (and could be very very expensive if wrong).  Suggest you slow down a little and try to get to some demonstrations of systems on your shortlist;  that probably means travelling to one of a handful of specialist dealers who really understand what is possible. 

 

As for decoders, well, money no object top-notch, probably Zimo (really really good and very configurable) or ESU LokPilot V4.   But there will be effective and cheaper options.

[BlueLightning]

Thanks for the advice. A little background so you understand why the 2 weeks and the requirements.

 

When I was younger (in the early 90's) my Grandad set up my mums old 60's Tri-ang stuff in her loft for me. I had 5 locos 3 coaches for each of them a lot of trucks and 3 14 ft x 14 ft loops with lots of sidings. This setup (steel track in a damp loft) obviously required a lot of maintenance to keep running and so over time I learn about that. I moved out of my mums about 10 years ago unfortunately the loft in my house isn't even big enough to stand up in so the layout stayed put.

 

Last summer my mum decided to have a clear out of her loft and I got given a large box of trains and very rusty track. I began thinking about ways I could get it running at my house with no spare rooms and no usable loft space, in the mean time I spent a lot of money on eBay. I now have about 500 ft of Peco track (unsure of what code, its the same height as Hornby track if someone could tell me), 23 trains and appropriate rolling stock for them to pull. Knowing that I was restricted on space I tried to make sure I got older stock so that I could use first radius if needed.

 

In November I had the idea to put a layout on my kitchen wall which would fold down over the dining table with a cupboard next to it to store my stock and have a slide out shelf for a controller. I also decided to go with DCC at this stage. Having not had much experience with DCC I decided on e-link hooked up to a PC with a 22" touch screen monitor, as I own an IT firm the PC and monitor were not hard to come by hence why that has become a requirement at the time I was also going to get a cheap android tablet to run the RailMaster app so that when my kids were playing I could take control via that and stop everything if required The reason I want it to be wireless is so that I dont have to be tethered to the cupboard when they are playing.

 

I am now about to receive my quarterly bonus which is going to pay for the rest of the layout to be finished (Cork underlay, professional service for every loco, Last couple of bits of track and the DCC system) I should in theory receive this on Monday and so want to purchase everything ASAP as I am terrible at saving money and if I don't get it now it will be another 3 months before I can afford it. I think at most I can put off the purchase by 2 week as I should be able to keep myself busy and therefore off eBay for about that long laying track etc.

 

So finding out now that Hornby's DCC is not very good (a few 4 letter words were used to describe it) has left me in a bit of a panic to find a better system that can last me for many years of abuse. However there are no model shop near me any more the last one closed about 3 weeks ago due to the owners health.

 

I shall now go and spend some time looking at all the suggestions made here and hop I can come up with a solution I am happy with.

[richard brown]

You don't say where you live but it could be worth see what model railways show are on near you and see if any have dcc sellers or dcc demonstrations on as you normally get to try the systems hand on.

 

Richard

[BlueLightning]

Hi Richard. I'm in Hailsham, East Sussex. near Eastbourne. About halfway between Brighton and Hastings

[richard brown]

Hi bluelighting with where you are located I can I suggest that you visit http://www.morris-models.co.uk/index.php-sid-36133-lang-en-act-page-id-144327 they are at north lancing I visited them a few years ago and found them quite good and they say the stock lenz rocoand Hornby you could also visit gaugemaster at ford who might de help.

 

Richard

[BlueLightning]

Thanks very much Richard. I shall have to get myself to both places ASAP. I had completely forgotten about Gaugemaster being based in Ford despite having visited there a few times when I had my old layout.