Well, it is now time for Digital Command Control (DCC). After months of reading and asking for expert advice, I chose the DigiTrax Zephyr starter system. This system includes the DCC command station, the power booster, a smooth throttle and a 2.5 amp power supply all in one package. The only thing else that is required are DCC mobile decoders in each locomotive.
I went to my new friends at The Freight Yard in Phoenix to purchase this system, as well as the first batch of decoders. Their price was excellent, and having technical support from the LHS (local hobby shop) is really hard to beat.
I also settled on the JMRI suite of software products (DecoderPro & PanelPro) to manage the decoder programming and layout control requirements. This is a suite of Java applications that will run on Mac OS, Windows or Linux, making it very versatile as well as FREE. How can you beat that?
My first project was wiring the layout for DCC and installing the decoders. Both of these tasks went really smoothly and I was running trains under DCC in no time. Next, I deployed DecoderPro to make some configuration adjustments to the decoders. The main task was to speed match the locomotives that usually run together (A/B or A/B/A consist) and lash them together electronically in a multi-unit configuration. Again, this went rather well for my first effort, but still has a ways to go before I am completely satisfied.
So, I have opened another chapter in this great new hobby, and challenged my old brain with another set of tasks. Thanks to all those who gave me advice and counselling.
