:hellosign:
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
:NGaugersRule:
:thankyousign:
par
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
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
:hellosign:
just a quick thanks for the reply
:thankyousign:
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. :drool:
you see everbody learns something on this brilliant forum
:thankyousign: par
:thumbsup: I'm always learning....and forgetting at the same rate! :smiley-laughing:
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
Luckily I have plenty left from my CCTV units. :) Soooo tempting.
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) (http://www,merg,co,uk)), the SPROG and track sit by my PC ready for action.
Quote from: par on April 18, 2014, 02:21:40 PM
:hellosign:
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
:NGaugersRule:
:thankyousign:
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 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Command-Control-Aspects-Modelling/dp/0711034990/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0129MX05QVRXBF8JKNB2)
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 (http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk) I posted earlier have a look at these.
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/nswmn2/DCC.htm (http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/nswmn2/DCC.htm) and video series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EAq1tpJXs_I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EAq1tpJXs_I)