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Train control is individual and autonomous.
Run multiple trains with multiple engineers with NO need for toggle
switches to control track power. Simply select the loco you want
to run by its road number (address), turn the knob and go anywhere
on the layout without having to mess with toggle switches. Other
engineers can do the same with their trains, at the same time, with
their own throttles.
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Except for the Zephyr, walk-around
throttles are standard equipment. Walk-around throttles can
easily be added to the Zephyr. And radio and Infrared wireless throttles
are also available for all Digitrax systems.
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If you use fast clocks in your operating
sessions, you can have fast clock time shown in your hand-held
throttle, and have it synchronized to one or more fast clocks
on the wall if you want.
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Most locos generally run better on
DCC than DC analog. In addition, there are many features to
make them run even better, and to make each one run exactly the
way you want it to run. Refer to the Decoder Feature
List for more info.
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Control anything on the train that
is electrical. This includes lighting (more about this next),
smoke units, sound units, and some people are even scratch building
coupler controls, passenger car door operation, and other things.
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Special lighting effects to
simulate Mars lights, rotary beacons, strobe lights, blinking ditch
lights, and many more. In the past, devices to do this would cost
$30 or more. Now, it's standard equipment in most loco decoders
- some costing less than $20. These special effects are amazingly
realistic. A rotary beacon, for example, actually looks like a rotary
beacon - even though nothing is rotating.
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MU consisting on the fly. Select
a lead loco and back it up to the loco you'll be consisting to it,
and consist it - just like the real thing. Consist as many locos
as needed - elephant style, head-to-head, or tail-to-tail.
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Turnout control and/or feedback
if you want it. Be able to control turnouts from a button on the
fascia, from a master control panel, from your hand-held throttle,
by computer, or from any number of other available devices. And
even if you want to control your turnouts manually, you can still
have feedback that will reflect the turnout setting in your hand-held
throttle display.
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Route control with the Chief
or after-market boards designed specifically for this - no more
diode matrix or other complex wiring.
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Layout control for building lights,
turntables, transfer tables, even other animation. We have
one customer who built an operating tipple he controls with his
hand-held throttle - turning it on and off as coal cars move under
it for loading.
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Signaling made easier, with
several different devices to mix and match to achieve the signaling
system you want.
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Braking sections to go along
with signaling. You can wire/program your layout so trains will
automatically stop at red signals even if the engineer doesn't do
it with his throttle.
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Loco feedback (called Transponding)
so your computer can tell exactly where every loco is on the layout.
Useful for automated layout operation of routes and schedules, hidden
staging yards, and other esoteric applications.
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Simpler track wiring. Even though
some DCC wiring can become complex, that's only because more and
more advanced and exotic features are being added. In any case,
with equal features being used, DCC layout wiring is always simpler
and easier
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Easier throttle network wiring
(exclusively Digitrax's). One network of 6-wire phone cables (up
to 2000 feet long) and phone jacks is all it takes for multiple
throttles, wall-hanging fast clocks, block detection reporting,
track status reporting, signal control, turnout reporting, computer
networking, Palm Pilot usage, or anything else that needs communication
to or from the rest of the system.
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Just because all of these things
are available (can be done) doesn't mean you must to do them.
Model Railroading is supposed to be fun. And not everybody defines
fun the same way. That's what so great about model railroading,
and about DCC - you don't have to do it all.
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Pick and choose which features you
want to use, and forget about the rest. But because the rest
is available, you can always implement it/them later. That's one
of the nice things about DCC - its open-endedness. You don't have
to know or know about everything you will eventually do with your
railroad. Start with a Zephyr or Chief and you can add all these
other things as you want or need them - they can easily be added
in on the fly.
