help and advice

par · April 18, 2014, 02:21:40 PM

I am in the process of building a shunting layout which I think will probably have two or three loco in use .not got round to wiring yet but I would like to go down the dcc route so I am after advice about which make to go for iam looking for something that is easy to use also can anybody recomend a boook on dcc like the idiots guide type

par

REGP · April 18, 2014, 03:06:05 PM

Hi Par

You might want to look at the Sprog3 kit which costs around £ 75= including power supply.

You download free JMRI software to your PC or Laptop.

Connect the Sprog to the track and PC and you can :
Read and programme the DCC chips
Open a throttle to control locos

There's also free app to use on an iPhone or iPad which allows you to operate a throttle form that device.

Hope this is of interest.

Ray

bluedepot · April 18, 2014, 05:47:03 PM

hi

one of the current magazines has a dcc booklet with it I think? it might be Hornby magazine.

bachmann e-z command seems like the cheapest controller (60 quid or so). never used one. I'm sure it would be fine for a small shunting layout though.

anyway good luck

tim

par · April 18, 2014, 05:51:03 PM

just a quick thanks for the reply

Tank · April 18, 2014, 06:38:03 PM

I must admit, I hadn't realised that the Sprog 3 was that cheap. I think it's quite 'flash' to be able to use your iPhone as the controller, so I'm very tempted to buy one myself now.

par · April 18, 2014, 06:55:13 PM

you see everbody learns something on this brilliant forum

par

Tank · April 18, 2014, 07:21:22 PM

I'm always learning....and forgetting at the same rate!

REGP · April 18, 2014, 07:59:35 PM

Yes Tank

Sprog 3 without power supply currently listed as £60= byWickness and maybe others.

Power supply costs another £15 or so £ but as Only Me said if you have a redundant lap top power supply you can save on that.

Ray

Tank · April 18, 2014, 08:11:46 PM

Luckily I have plenty left from my CCTV units.

Soooo tempting.

trainsdownunder · April 18, 2014, 11:39:33 PM

Cant'go wrong with a Sprog really. Very underrated for its price

I bought mine as a temporary measure when I first dabbled in DCC but found it so convenient. I ended up with fixing it and a section of track to a piece of timber to give me a portable prg/test bed.

Despite the fact I now use MERG DCC (another good source of "cheaper" DCC control see www,merg,co,uk), the SPROG and track sit by my PC ready for action.

EtchedPixels · April 18, 2014, 11:52:56 PM

Quote from: par on April 18, 2014, 02:21:40 PM

I am in the process of building a shunting layout which I think will probably have two or three loco in use .not got round to wiring yet but I would like to go down the dcc route so I am after advice about which make to go for iam looking for something that is easy to use also can anybody recomend a boook on dcc like the idiots guide type

par

Sprog is great if you are a computer person. Bachmann intro controller is cheap but very basic so its easy to use. It's also very popular for those with junior operators as it's just got a button to press for each locomotive rather than entering numbers etc - limits you to 9 locos though.

Bookwise you can pick up Ian Mortons book for about £8.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Command-Control-Aspects-Modelling/dp/0711034990/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0129MX05QVRXBF8JKNB2

trainsdownunder · April 19, 2014, 12:15:40 AM

Some links for DCC info etc

QuoteNot aware of any DCC fro Dummies Books but there are plenty of good reads - take a look in the Wiki Section of the Forum. As well as the Brian Lambert link www.brian-lambert.co.uk I posted earlier have a look at these.

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/nswmn2/DCC.htm and video series

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EAq1tpJXs_I