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How does DCC work? You use a throttle (cab) to tell the system what you want a train to do. The throttle sends the information to the command station. The command station makes a digital packet out of the information and sends it to the booster. The booster* adds power to the digital packet and sends it out through the rail. The decoders in all locomotives (even those that are not running) read all digital packets, and decipher them to get the address contained in the data packet. If the packet address matches the decoder address, the decoder uses the ...
The Digitrax Big Book of DCC is available for purchase on amazon.com. Most of the contents of the book are available at no charge on the Digitrax website and Tech Support Depot. Click here to go to the Big Book of DCC product page.
LocoNet is Digitrax's method of communication between LocoNet compatible devices on a model railroad layout. LocoNet compatible devices are designed to work together on the network, and in some cases can also accept DCC commands from the track, but often go beyond the scope of simple DCC train control. LocoNet is a peer-to-peer Ethernet type multiple access network. Because of its design architecture, it is very robust and powerful. Layout implementation is simple and wiring is free form with minimal limits. LocoNet is designed to run an unshielded 6 conductor ribbon cable. Digitrax recommends using flat, six-conductor telephone wire ...
Q: I want to buy the Zephyr. I have read the manual, read articles on the Tech Support Depot, but I still find it confusing. So, here's my question: Can you run multiple trains at the same time with the Zephyr, without additional throttles, each locomotive performing a different task, and if so, am I right in assuming that this can be done by punching in the locomotive address, adjusting the throttle and direction, and when I punch in another address, the previous locomotive will keep on doing whatever it was doing until I punch its number again and change ...
Companies that sell interoperable equipment compatible with the NMRA's DCC "Standard" often use the DCC logo to let customers know that they support basic DCC standardization by producing DCC compatible equipment.This symbol is seen on many DCC compatible products because the NMRA DCC "Standards and RP's" do not cover all DCC compatible equipment and therefore not all DCC compatible equipment is eligible for a conformance seal. Basically, command stations and decoders are covered by the "Standards and RP's". Throttles (or cabs), computer interfaces, boosters (or power stations), computer based programmers, cab buses, control buses, control networks, radio and infrared interfaces, ...
It means just what it says. "This Product Conforms To All Applicable NMRA Standards." An NMRA Conformance Seal is NOT an endorsement by the NMRA. It is NOT a guarantee by the NMRA or by the manufacturer. It is merely a statement that a particular product conforms to a particular test set up and administered by NMRA volunteers to assess whether, in their opinion, the product conforms to a particular NMRA Standard. Interpretations of this statement vary widely depending on whom you ask for clarification.The Real Issue is InteroperabilityInteroperability means that you don’t have to worry about a single source ...
The NMRA's definition of Standards, Recommended Practices and Data Sheets.An NMRA Standard: "As charged by the NMRA CHARTER and CONSTITUTION, NMRA STANDARDS provide the primary basis upon which interchange between equipment and various North American Scale model railroads is founded. Under this requirement NMRA standards include only those factors that are considered vital to such interchange. For less critical matters see NMRA RECOMMENDED PRACTICES"NMRA RECOMMENDED PRACTICES: "The RECOMMENDED PRACTICE category was established by the NMRA Board of Trustees in January 1957, to "a. Promote maximum interchange between and within units. b. Specify the details of major components to improve design ...
In response to questions about the differences among the DCC systems that are currently available from different companies, I offer the following comments & observations. You may have heard that all the systems are pretty much the same or you may have seen “comparison” charts in various DCC companies’ literature, in magazines or “analysis” on the Internet by “impartial observers.” Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to break down the system and company differences on a simple chart & the people who write the “impartial analysis” are usually not really impartial. As you read these comments, please keep in mind that ...
It is important to realize that the standard only covers the communication protocol on the track. As long as it is not extended further than the basic track level communications for train control, creativity will be encouraged rather than stifled. This protocol is very basic and does not require any particular hardware. The Digitrax Complete Train Control System incorporates the DCC protocols for interoperability reasons but has not been held back by them. Digitrax has developed and marketed automatic reversing boosters, decoders with 128 speed steps and user customizable speed tables, mobile decoders with onboard functions and lighting effects, stationary decoders with sophisticated ...
Only the basic communications protocols are covered by the " Standard" in order to ensure interoperability and backward compatibility with existing systems. The "Standard" defines the signal sent over the rails, the tolerances allowed in its generation, the tolerances that must be accepted by the decoders and the basic communications protocol used to convey information to digital decoders. Recommended Practices cover things like the locomotive sockets and "advanced" decoder features. Manufacturers are free to design and implement DCC hardware and interfaces that make sense for their customers. Manufacturers are also free to define how the DCC packets are handled by their ...
1. Digital technology gives extremely reliable operation and the technology is almost infinitely expandable without causing backward compatibility problems (analog systems are inherently more restrictive). 2. Digital systems make wiring simple and easy to install. 3. Digital systems encode information sent from the command station to the decoder as numbers grouped into packets, new types of packets can be added to a digital system to send more information thus extending the existing system without causing backward compatibility problems.
Digitrax Complete Train Control By Zana & A.J. Ireland Digitrax Complete Train Control makes reliable, realistic train operation and simplified layout wiring a reality. Digital Command Control is incorporated within the Digitrax system to let you control multiple trains independently on the same section of track without blocking. In the real world, engineers control the speed and direction of real trains. Engines operate under their own power independent of the track. Each engine has its own motion characteristics like how fast it speeds up (acceleration) and how long it takes to slow down (deceleration). A locomotive's performance is influenced by ...
By Zana & A.J. IrelandThis clinic is titled Digital Command Control: The Wave of the Future. Recently, I was asked the question: "DCC has arrived and is the technology of today, everybody's using it so, why don't you change the title of your clinic?" My answer is that digital command control is still evolving rapidly. Today's digital command control is moving beyond the basic NMRA DCC Standards and RPs to encompass many new technologies that will compliment and enhance the basic things we can do with the track format defined by the NMRA. It's an exciting time for model railroaders ...
By Zana & A.J. IrelandThis clinic is titled Digital Command Control: The Wave of the Future. Recently, I was asked the question: "DCC has arrived and is the technology of today, everybody's using it so, why don't you change the title of your clinic?" My answer is that digital command control is still evolving rapidly. Today's digital command control is moving beyond the basic NMRA DCC Standards and RPs to encompass many new technologies that will compliment and enhance the basic things we can do with the track format defined by the NMRA. It's an exciting time for model railroaders ...
Command Control systems, both analog and digital, allow you to simulate prototypical train operation on your model railroad. With Digital Command Control you can operate multiple locomotives independently at the same time on the same section of track without a computer and without blocking or other complex wiring schemes. Digital Command Control systems use digital data packets to communicate commands to decoders that control locomotives and turnouts on the railroad.