Getting Started in DCC - Choosing a DCC System

Getting started with Digital Command Control does not have to be either complicated or expensive. Many, many manufacturers produce DCC systems in all price ranges. You can buy a basic DCC system for between $100 and $200 that will equip the home layout very nicely. I have with me today examples of several manufacturers' DCC systems. They include the Lenz system. Lenz is a European company that actually originated Digital Command Control and allowed its patents on the DCC decoders to be used by the industry as a whole. It's very active in Europe and produces good systems for sale here in the United States. North Coast Engineering is another company that produces DCC systems. I have friends who use North Coast Engineering systems and they like them very, very much. I have a throttle from EasyDCC. EasyDCC is made by CVP Products. They are based out of the Dallas, Texas area. I have several friends who use EasyDCC and like it very much. It's a good system. It's readily available. The next system is made by Model Rectifier Corporation, MRC. MRC is making a number of DCC systems. They started with entry-level systems and they've since gone to more sophisticated and complicated systems. The next one and final one I have is by Digitrax. I have their Zephyr, which is an entry level system. And then I also have the Chief, which is their more advanced system and is suitable for any size layout, from the individual layout to a club size layout. How should you choose a DCC system? All the systems are good. They all have advantages and disadvantages but these are some of the aspects I think you should consider in choosing your DCC system. First, of course, is price. How much money do you want to spend on a DCC system? You can buy a basic system for under $200 or you can spend several times that on a more advanced system. What features do you want? Entry-level systems may be able to control only 10 locomotives. Higher end series can control 128 or more locomotives. Are you going to want to have routes within the system? And a route is nothing more than, for those of you who may remember the old diode matrix to run a yard throat or a yard track, you can do that now with routes inside a command station. Also, what scale are you using? For instance, if you are in G scale, you're going to need a system that puts out 16 to 18 volts on the track. Many of the beginning systems will not do that. They will not produce that much power. You're going to want to consider how much power you actually need to run your layout. Beginning systems may put out only two and a half amps. Now that's fine if you're just running a train or two. But if you have a lot of lighted cars or you have a lot of engines, you're going to need more than two and a half amps. If you're running a G scale system, you're going to need substantially more than two and a half amps. On my garden railway, I have a system that will actually put out eight amps to power the G scale trains on my layout. Go to train shows. Ask questions from the people you meet there about what they're actually using. At some of the larger shows, you'll actually find the manufacturers available. For instance, the NMRA national show will have representatives from almost every DCC manufacturer present. Ask them questions. Ask to look at their systems. Use their systems and see what you like and what you prefer. And another thing that I strongly recommend is to choose a system that your friends own. That way, you and your friends can share throttles. You can share ideas. You can learn to use your systems together. Just remember. Talk to your friends. Go to train shows. Look at systems. Find a dealer that supports your product. Take your time to choose the right DCC system for your layout, and then go buy DCC, install it, and have fun.