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

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

 
just a quick thanks for the reply

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.

you see everbody learns something on this brilliant forum
  par

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

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),  the SPROG and track sit by my PC ready for action.

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

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