Portal:DCC/DCC topics

Understanding the basics

• Introduction to DCC - DCC Tutorial
• DCC advantage over DC - Why DCC is better than DC power.
• DCC versus Radio Control - Why DCC is better than R/C.
• Selecting a system - Help you select a DCC system right for you.
• Terms - Terms used throughout this website.
• Components of a standard DCC system:
  • Command Station - Controls your DCC layout.
  • Boosters - Getting power and signals to trains.
  • Decoders - Includes stationary and mobile types.
  • Power supplies - Getting power from standard electrical outlet to your booster.
  • Throttles - Control your trains.
    • Throttle Network - Connecting your throttles to the layout.
      • LocoNet - Digitrax's throttle network - used to connect various components of a Digitrax system together.
      • XpressNet - Lenz's throttle network - used to connect Lenz, and compatable, components together.

Intermediate Topics

Should include things like layout wiring, typical decoder installations, helper operations, basic decoder programming.

• Decoder installation - How to install a DCC decoder into a locomotive.
  • Specific decoder installs - How to install a specific decoder for a specific application.
• Stationary decoder wiring - How to wire various stationary decoders, etc.
  • Stationary decoder wiring#Wiring switches - Wiring switches

Advanced Topics

• Animation - Controlling animation with DCC
• Configuration variables - How a decoder stores data.
• Connecting your computer to DCC - Introduction to getting computers interfaced with DCC layouts
• DCC Software - Software for DCC - operations and/or programming
• MU consisting - Running more than one locomotive in a train.
• Signaling - How to wire signals, crossing gates, etc.
• Software - Software for model railroading
• Sound - Bring realism to your layout with sound.

Expert Topics

• Do-It-Yourself - Building DCC components from scratch - boosters, command stations, etc.

Appendix 1 - FAQs

• FAQ - Frequently asked questions