This thread is not intended to start a heated debate over the differences between DC and DCC so please respect each others choice's.

I think its a fair question so it deserves a fair answer.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Myself and a couple of mates visited another mate last night for a look at his layout, he has the most awesome collection of HO locos and other Rolling Stock that is valued at around $30,000au or roughly 20,000 quid.

Fantastic watching his Union Pacific Big Boys and Gas Turbines with sound trundling their way round his layout with 50 or so Coal Hoppers trailing behind.

I was totally out of my depth when I found the layout was operated from a computer, two smart phones and two Digitrax control units, quite a bit of time was spent reading instruction books to find out what button to press to activate a particular loco function, it got very confusing when I found out that each different brand of loco required a different number to activate the same function.

I had a play with one of the smart phones but eventually lost control of which two locos I was supposed to be controlling, I guess I am not real smart.

Anyhow we all enjoyed ourselves and I left his house with my head spinning, today I put a diesel loco on my track and marveled at how easy it was to turn a knob and watch it move, the closest I think I will ever get to that type of model railroading is to fit the three Aussie Made sound modules into my controllers and play them through PC speakers, one steam and two diesel.

Back to my question how far are you prepared to go in this great hobby?, are you an electronics genius like my mate or a keep it simple modeller like myself?.

Hi Dave. I plumped for full automation from a laptop. I'm not planning to drive the trains, but i can use the mouse to change things or control things. I am happy just to sit back and see my trains stopping at the station and the signals changing without me doing a thing. Mine is pretty high tech.
In the end it depends what you want and what you're happy with. I wanted automation and an electronics project. Turned out well and i'm happy with it. That's the main thing.

Quote from: Mustermark on March 28, 2012, 02:20:58 AM
Hi Dave. I plumped for full automation from a laptop. I'm notplanning to drive the trains, but i can use the mousd go change things or control things. I am bappy just to sit back and see my trains stopping at the station and the signals changing without me doing a thing. Mine is pretty high tech.
In the end it depends what you want and what youre happy with. I wanted automation and an electronics project. Turned out well and i'm happy with it. That the main thing

That sounds fantastic Mark, crikey that kind of thing would be right up my alley if only I had the Brains 

I'm hoping for a bit of everything in due course!
Current layout is a slightly posted up train set type layout, with DC and hand operated points so we can all understand what goes on, for the ages 7 to 53 that operate it.
There's a simpler layout with more complex control brewing in my head as a next step...

QuoteBack to my question how far are you prepared to go in this great hobby?, are you an electronics genius like my mate or a keep it simple modeller like myself?.

I'm with you on this one Dave. For me I try to remember KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid    I don't always get it right. 

Being a complete numpty (especially where computers etc are concerned) I was raised on Cyril Freezers excellent tomes for DC Cab Control wiring. I am stuck in that vein as I have way too much motive power with no chips and it will cost me a fortune to have them converted.
Common return wiring is about my limit, so that's how far I will go :'(

It really depends on what gives you enjoyment. I know people who only build layouts but hate running them. I also know people who hate building but are excellent operators.

As regards how much I've spent, I didn't think I'd spent that much - until I added up all the stock for insurance purposes. SHBO has no idea and I need to keep it that way.

Quote from: GrahamB on March 28, 2012, 08:21:46 AMIt really depends on what gives you enjoyment. I know people who only build layouts but hate running them. I also know people who hate building but are excellent operators.

And that is the beauty of this hobby: there are so many different approaches and styles, and none of them are 'right' or 'wrong'. Each and every participant can take things to whatever level siuts them!

Quote from: GrahamB on March 28, 2012, 08:21:46 AM
It really depends on what gives you enjoyment. I know people who only build layouts but hate running them.

My enjoyment comes from the building of the baseboard (with sons help) and then seeing the layout develop in style and direction through to the scenery and  populating. After that it only runs occasionally just to prove that it does run 

Well Dave that sounds like a fantastic system your mate has, I would like to think I could drive all my trains via a pc or laptop, in fact it has me thinking when I get the track finished to put a couple of cameras in the shed and work the layout from the comfort of my armchair via the laptop, then I will probably come down to earth and think to myself could I ever do this.

In fact using a pc would give you a lot more control and variants like on a branch line place sensors so the train will come to a standstill at the station, and wait for points opening wow the list goes on, by the way Dave what software does your mate use to drive is trains?

Now my brain is hurting lol.

Personally I'd never contemplate PC control as the joy for me is in setting the routes using switches and driving the trains, not merely watching them start and stop on their own 

My layout is going exactly the way I want it to - trains controlled by a standard DCC controller in my hands, points controlled from a mimic panel, and the only techno bit I would like eventually is sound in whatever I can fit it into! 


Paul

I'd like to go as far as the shed and actually do something but I never seem to get there 

Quote from: Geoff on March 28, 2012, 09:22:04 AM
, by the way Dave what software does your mate use to drive is trains?

Now my brain is hurting lol.

I will have to get back to with the software Geoff, I will most likely see him on Saturday unless  he has flown off to the Coal Mines where he is an Electrician.

Quote from: Lawrence on March 28, 2012, 10:03:34 AM
I'd like to go as far as the shed and actually do something but I never seem to get there 

I sympathize with you Lawrence, I went through layout limbo for about 10 months which involved trying to work out what to do next, I had my heart set on a British steam and diesel layout but after a few loco problems which caused me to find an alternative I chopped and changed my mind for a while, thankfully I decided to build another American layout and now cant get enough of it.

Hope you get out and enjoy your layout again.

Quote from: Lawrence on March 28, 2012, 10:03:34 AM
I'd like to go as far as the shed and actually do something but I never seem to get there 

Suggest you lose the whisky