Some questions from a newbie

[WF72]

Very sorry, I'm a newbie with no experience in N-Gauge before but I really want to get into it b/c my apartment is too small for HO scale.
So I do not plan at this time to use DCC (Those are the more advanced controllers, right?) and was looking to buy a few engines. One I was looking to buy was, and I quote straight from eBay, "Custom fitted with a Digital chip".
I think that means it was converted to DCC? Idk.
Anyway, If that does mean it was converted to DCC, is it still possible to use the train with a DC controller? Thank you. I'm sorry I'm dumb, I'm a newb.
Thanks.

[silly moo]

Hi, welcome to the forum. If you can find out from the seller which decoder the loco has been fitted with then someone here will be able to tell you whether the loco can be run on DC. Most of the newer decoders have that capability but some of the older decoders don't.

[Webbo]

Hi WF

Welcome to the NGF and N scale. Don't worry about asking questions even if you think they are dumb. We all started at the beginning without knowledge in railway modelling.

As for your question, what Silly Moo has to say is right. However, in the dual capability locos that I have, the motion on DC is not as good as it is on other straight DC locomotives that I have. You will pay more for DCC capability. Unless you are looking at a special locomotive on EBay, I would be not be in a hurry to buy. There will be more for sale sooner or later.

Webbo 

[Bealman]

G'day from Australia, WF72, and welcome to NGF! 

I am an old DC dinosaur, and I note you do not plan to go DCC.

So really there is no worries to just buy unchipped locos?

Having said that "word of wisdom,' if I was just starting out, I'd go DCC straight away.

Once again, welcome! 

[Ian Bowden]

If you run DC you can only run one engine on a section of track and need to segment the track feeds for multiple engines. With DCC you don't have the problem, and it opens up other avenues such as sound and being able to set routes. I switched and although DCC has its own different set of problems, it is the future. Modern DCC ready engines are the best buy as they can be chipped later fairly cheaply. Conversion is harder with the older engines.

As already said most DCC chips do allow the engine to run on DC however that function of the chip can be disabled to improve the running. You should avoid hard wired DCC chips if you don't intend to run with DCC, they can have the chip removed but unless it is a special engine you really want it is a waste of time.