Hi, I saw a poll on Trains.com about how people feel about DCC. I wanted to share the current results with you. There are currently 575 responses to this poll. The questions asked in the poll are: Are you planning to use DCC in the future? Are you never going to use DCC? Do you have some equipment converted to DCC? Is your layout 100% DCC? Out of the responses so far, 310 responders are planning to use DCC in the future. 195 never plan to use DCC. 50 have some equipment converted to DCC. 30 have layouts 100% DCC. I for one am curious as to the reasons 195 people are not interested in DCC. DCC is by no means perfect, but it's far more realistic than cab control or any other method of train control that I'm aware of. Let's hear what you think. 2slim
A lot of people just don't have the money to invest in DCC. <marquee>North American Rail Alliance</marquee>
Catt, Would you say that's the biggest reason? The Atlas system is a fairly inexpensive way to get started in HO. 2slim
Most adults fear change. DCC is a paradigm shift. Education is what is required, show people what DCC can do because no matter how much you read, seeing is believing. Once you see the benefits of operating with DCC you are sold. I can think of no better way to enjoy my hobby than by using DCC to control my operating sessions. On the other hand expense is a consideration, I have a large fleet of Nscale engines, the decision to convert to DCC is a costly one, most decoders average around $25 - $30. I have decided to downsize to better equip my empire. All DCC advocators should attempt to be salesman and push the potential of DCC to the knockers and sceptics. People hate change, and DCC is change. My friend and I are exhibiting a fully operational DCC layout at a large Australian exhibition in May, I have no doubt we will be answering questions for three days with regard to the good and bad points of DCC, but as I said before, seeing is believing. A picture is worth a thousand words. So my advice to those who are anti DCC, you will not know how good it is until you try it.
I for one would love to convert to DCC but I just don't have the $$$$ no matter how cheap it is. Now if somebody would kindly give me the equipment!!!!
In the past week I have seen a change of opinion from a friend of mine (Brian). I have been talking about getting DCC for months (got an Atlas on order now) and another friend of ours (Clayton) just got an Atlas system. Up until a week ago, Brian has been saying he'd never get DCC because it would be too expensive to convert everything. On Saturday I was at Clayton's to help him solve a programming problem (turn off the headlight before going to the programming track!) and Brian showed up. He was impressed at the ability to run two trains (only had one decoder) and control features such as headlights. He mentioned that he could see himself getting DCC in a couple of years. Then on Sunday night, at our weekly building session at Clayton's, we had another decoder equipped loco there and were having fun trying to control three trains with one controller (not exactly relaxing!). Brian mentioned that maybe Santa could bring him a DCC system this Christmas! That's an example of how easy it is for someone to say they'd never want something when they don't really know or understand it. But when they see it in operation they get a whole new outlook! The expense is not so much a concern, especially when you consider that you do not need to outfit your whole roster with decoders right away. Just buy 1 or two decoders a month and before you know it you're done. [ 27 March 2001: Message edited by: sajay ]
Its sometimes more than just being afraid of change. I have a friend who has spent almost his entire lifetime in the hobby. One of those types who has worked strongly with NMRA, put on clinics, encouraged others and helped build other's first layouts. You have to understand that a lot of time and energy went into learning and building a larger basement layout using blocks, and "grabber" blocks. Most of us have seen the pictures in MR of some guys layout electical system that looks like something from a telephone company. He has spent thousands of hours both in the books, being taught by friends, then laying in all that wiring. Now some one comes along and says: "forget all that, just turn all your blocks on, and run your engines. All this block stuff is nonsense." You can appreciate they do get put out of sorts for a bit. Then you start to hear the excuses. First it is: "well when I was at Joe's house, the whole Digitrax system shut down when they had such and such a problem." Well, so does their block system create havoc when a short appears. My favourite line was: "its all black magic, I just don't trust it yet." Now the amazing thing about this objection is the guy is one of the head guys in the corporate computer system. He just doesn't want to move his sentimental attachment away from his blocks - to much psychological blood, sweat and tears invested into it. Or how about the objection that blocks are the proven way, this from a senior manager at CN whose's every effort in the hobby is a master piece. His benchwork shouldn't be covered it looks so good. All his structures are scratch built, all his tracks are hand laid, including the triple throw switch. He just feels DCC hasn't proved itself yet. Or how about this objection: "I have so many engines, it would cost a fortune to convert them all." For some this is a legitimate arguement; one that I can understand. But the person who said this was a person that one company had laid off on full pension, had been rehired at another large corporation and is on full salary. He has more disposable income than he has ever had; he just doesn't want to make the leap. Now the really interesting thing is that we were at my buddy's home where he runs Digitrax DCC with wireless throttles, and you could see all these guys (yes they were all there - we run in the same pack of fish) oggling it. The CN guy said: "look how little wiring there is." The guy with the large basement layout with the telephone company wiring complexity said: "maybe I could get into this some day." And the guy with lots of engines said: "maybe if I decode my fifteen favourite loco's that I run a lot, maybe that might work for the first year." Our layout is fully DCC. A requirement I will be requesting is that anyone who brings their own engine from home to run on our layout (I don't like the hum of engines running in non-DCC mode on a DCC layout), have it DCC equiped - we'll provide the throttle.
RSN-48 My Father (who is retired, recently visited Vancouver) is like all those guys you just described, I called him last night to come over and have a look at how easy it is. I run Nscale and have an old 5 x 2 exhibition layout I have hooked up DCC to before I go to an exhibition in may with a large Modular layout, so as to become familiar with it. I quickly explained the system, showed how to programme an engine, setup a consist, add an engine to an existing consist, turn lights on and off, delete an engine and so on. Within an hour he was aking me how much decoders where for his HO engines, prices for DCC systems etc. His argument has allways been price and whats wrong with my radio throttle. He now is another convert, simply because he has seen the benefits and features of DCC. We are probably preaching to the converted in this forum, perhaps we should have this discussion in the HO and Nscale forums, we may though attract a more lively debate. RSN-48 I currently have approx 15 Canadians from Montreal working with me in Australia, they are installing a Flight Simulator for my employer. They are enjoying our Indian Summer and our beaches.
>> Or how about this objection: "I have so many engines, it would cost a fortune to convert them all." For some this is a legitimate arguement; one that I can understand. But the person who said this was a person that one company had laid off on full pension, had been rehired at another large corporation and is on full salary. He has more disposable income than he has ever had; he just doesn't want to make the leap.<< I couldn't agree with You more. My layout is fully digital with 45 engines and climbing. I also use track section control (with live train recogntion and position), switches ( with actual switch position feedback to PC) and signals on DCC and full computercontrol for automatic functions. Boy is it ever fun!!! Now I admit it wasn't cheap. Especially that I started out with a cheaper system and then changed to one of the best systems, Zimo. (Thats my opinion and I don't want to start a war on which system is best) But then again every hobby costs money. That's the reason I have only this one hobby. A number of people I know rather have their money sitting in a bank than enjoing it. And some others just don't have enough money for all their interest. Not because they don't have enough money but too many things they want! Now don't get me wrong. There are people that simply can't afford DCC. And those are not the ones I ment. But there is hope. At least some european manufacturers will not sell certain engines without a decoder built in! This seems to be an increasing trend, atleast over there. As for me, modelrailroading matured from a toy to a serious hobby with the introduction of DCC. I wouldn't want to miss it! So enjoy what ever You can afford or are willing to pay for. Art
MRL Mick, If you are ever in Vancouver, email me and I will get you on some layout tours - most of them in the middle of being built: benchwork and tracks, but not much else. A couple are near completion. Of course by the time you come here, they will be more finished. Ours is starting to move along. Tell your buddies from Montreal they are missing the winter from "hell." I am the commanding officer of an Army Cadet Squadron (we are engineers) in North Vancouver, BC. I took 30 cadets and three officers to Ottawa Ontario recently and can you spell C-O-L-D!!! And yes, this discussion is in the wrong area because the DCC illiterate aren't going to come to a DCC site. Of course there are one or two lurking, but they are the exception that proves the rule....lol. In Vancouver we don't get much of a winter, our weather is almost identical to Seattle's. And this has been our dryiest (Yea!) since I can ever remember...I type this as it is pouring out. Vancouver is one of the few places where you can ski in the morning and barbeque in the afternoon: snow in the mountains and rain below. We have some of those types from jolly old E... and they went skiing yesterday and had a ball. Tonight there is a barbeque for them as they depart back to England tomorrow. They were here on an exercise held at Ft Lewis in Washington state (Exercise Cougar Salvo)...they are royal military engineers. By the way, the first guy to die on the beaches of Normandy was a 6th Field Engineer from North Vancouver, BC. What a lucky guy...lol.
Hello aluesch, It sounds like you have gone to the next level...wow! You are where I want to be in about 5 years from now. I'm not envious, I'm not envious...lol. By the way, my son is going to Vernon as an Army Cadet and wants us to attend his graduation, now if I happen to be driving by Kelowna this summer......????? [ 27 March 2001: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
Anytime, just let me know when..... and, not to disappoint You, I didn't say my layout was finished! Art
An unfinished layout...you mean people own another kind...there are actually finished layouts out there......lol. I'd just love to see you operate what you have set up...sounds great. And my son would love it too, he is even more of an operator than I am.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MRL Mick: Most adults fear change. ... My friend and I are exhibiting a fully operational DCC layout at a large Australian exhibition in May... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Agreed on the adult fear of change - it's something I deal with on almost a daily basis at work. So when and where is this exhibition? Post the details on the Aust/NZ forum [ 27 March 2001: Message edited by: yankinoz ]
Gentlemen, your statements are right on target. We need to start a post on HO and N that's where the potential converts are! Go for it Chris
Folks, I am a big supporter of DCC. I highly recommend it especially to someone just getting a good start on a serious layout. That said, I will not go to it myself. I have an older layout with 7 active locomotives, 4 stored ready to operate and 2 steamers under remotoring. In addition, I probably have another 15 or 20 in showcases that are runable and I have no intention of trying to convert 1980s (or even much older) equipment to DCC. I can see a heavy expense involved because I would not want the simple systems. Am I afraid of it? No, not at all. Is it a better way to go? Sure. Can it be expensive? Absolutely! Should I change to new locomotives? No, thanks. My old stuff has proven itself to me whether anyone else likes it or not. Sheesh, I have trouble getting downstairs to work on my 16 projects now, I don't need DCC for that. Maybe someday... but not today. Roger Roger Hensley - rhensley@anderson.cioe.com == http://cid.railfan.net/eci_new.html == == East Central Indiana Railroad ==
You west coasters have it so easy! Try living on the east coast for a winter! My brother lives in Vancouver and the only time he comes back to PEI is in the summer "When the weather is fit for civilized man!". I think it's great, more time for trains! Spring's around the corner though! Scott Jay Prince Edward Island Canada
You west coasters have it so easy! Try living on the east coast for a winter! My brother lives in Vancouver and the only time he comes back to PEI is in the summer "When the weather is fit for civilized man!". I think it's great, more time for trains! Spring's around the corner though! Scott Jay Prince Edward Island Canada
Out here, we consider anyone who lives east of Hope BC to be savages...lol. A heavy winter for us is a week of snow...at the end of the week...it is gone. This past winter, I think we only had 24 hours of snow and then it was gone. If you want snow, you go to the mountains, which is just out my back door. Within a fifteen minute drive from my home, I could be in 6 feet of snow if I wanted...more last night. But down below, where I live...I have put off cutting the grass and it is too long now. But BC RAil faces a challenge. A train can start out in the rain, go through a snow blizzard, enter into almost artic like cold, all within a 150 miles area. [ 30 March 2001: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
The reason I dont convert my HO to DCC is because almost all my power is NOT DCC ready. I have alot of Athearn power and in order to convert Ill first have to change motors to something that dosen't suck so much juice. and then buy the Decoder. Thats about $70 per unit to do that. N-scale however I started in DCC so that it will stay.
