Bachmann DCC ON30 4-6-0 Question:

Nope, you need DCC for all that. I test ran all four of my On30 ten-wheelers when i bought each one, and found the same thing you did.

On DCC, the sync is pretty good...

Just so you know, the MRC Tech 6 does not have the ability to change the address on a Tsunami decoder.

HEY AL,

Now what does that mean?  My MRC is a Tech 3 model 9500, made in the Model Rectifier Company factory in Edison New Jersey, USA!

It's a 45-year-old MRC Analog Controller that allows me to select Air Horn and Bell on my Atlas GP35, which has a dual-mode QSI Quantum DCC and Sound decoder, enabling some functions (Air Horn & Bell), to be triggered just by blipping the direction switch on my Analog controller!

This doesn't disturb the speed or direction settings, it just sends a short pulse to the Quantum system, bringing on the effect I want.

I had a complete DCC system 2 years ago, with walk-around throttle yet!

It was the silliest way to control a train I ever saw, with its mess of 4 units and their interconnecting cables:  Power Supply, Computer, Main Unit, and Walk-Around Throttle, so I returned it for a full refund after fighting it for a few days.  Then I went back to my old reliable MRC Analog Controller, which has no electronics! 

Just a step-down Transformer, a Full-Wave Rectifier, a Filter Capacitor network for supplying pure DC to my track, which is monitored with a Voltmeter and an Ammeter and delivered through a series Rheostat, for the best control of a single train you can have!

I have a single train that just goes 'round and 'round on a folded dogbone, with no switches, no branch lines, and no sidings, so I'll stick with DC for as long as I can, and I'll be 80 years old next year.

RIPTRACK HAL

Here's my Pride & Joy, a 100% Analog Controller!  Not an Integrated Circuit Chip or even a Transistor inside!  

Just beautiful, and it has a Steel Case (not plastic), and is Made In America!

Those items below were what I got rid of in a hurry.

Addresses...Programming...CV's...Too many Buttons...bah!

All Plastic, and made in China.

The MRC Tech 6 is a DCC system that also lets you run a locomotive on DC also.

But for some reason it won't change the address on a Tsunami decoder.

It is pretty easy to set up and very user friendly. If you Google it I'm sure you'll find lots of information on it. 

If you're happy leaving the address at 3, the factory default address, then it doesn't matter.

Others on this forum know a lot more about DCC systems than I do, maybe they'll chime in.

http://modelrectifier.com/sear...uct-view.asp?ID=8267

Street price is about $180.

 Are you thinking of switching to On30?

Considering the street price on a Zephyr or NCE PowerCab is about $150, and these are full blown (although still entry level) DCC systems, it makes one wonder why anyone would spend more $ on the Tech Six in order to do less. The Zephyr is a great choice for someone who still wants to be able to run a DC loco for testing purposes, and it's hookup is quite simple, needing only two wires to the rails (plus you do have to plug in the included AC power supply). Long term operation of a loco using the DC mode (aka "zero stretching") is not recommended due to potential overheating issues with some DC motors.

Since Hal already has a good DC power supply, he might be able to use the simpler Whistle/Bell controller adapter from Broadway Limited that was made to be used with their QSI sound locos. It was a black box about 3 inches square, with two buttons (red=whistle, blue=bell) and four wires (2 to power pack, other two to track). Broadway also offered a larger (and more expensive) unit with more buttons, for controlling their Paragon sound boards. I recommend calling Broadway Limited to find out if these controllers will work with other brands of DCC boards, or if they are proprietary only.

Bill in FtL

Isn't the Bachmann DCC system just one unit with maybe a wall transformer? It has controls much like a conventional power pack.

HEY AL,

Yeah, I must be thinking of switching to On30, because yesterday I ordered 150 feet of Atlas HO code 83 Flex Track, and I just started pulling up my 136 feet of O-Scale 2-Rail flex track.  (Breaking off a few ties in the process...)  

RipTrack Hal  

Yes, the Bachmann DCC system is one unit, but it can only program single digit addresses, and can access only the first eight functions, and has pretty low power. At Bachmann's msrp, because it is so crippled, it is a poor choice compared to either the Digitrax Zephyr or NCE entry level systems, which have street prices of $150.00 or less, and are expandable as your layout grows.

Bill in FtL

I, too, fought DCC tooth and nail, mostly because I had never used it before, didn't understand it at all and had no clue hwo to set it up.

I found a screaming deal on a new MRC prodigy advanced DCC system in a box. For a 10X11 layout with 4 locos max, it's really all I'll ever need. I had some friends who understood DCC come over and in a day and a half everything was all wired up.

I'm still not 100% sure I 'get' all this, but the wiring is pretty simple, even for someone who doesn't understand wiring very well.

Now that I have the system, I now know why people swear by DCC as much as they do.

I've operated on layouts with Digitrax, though, and I would never dream of using it for how non-user-friendly it is. The MRC stuff is pretty simple to get the hang of.

All the DCC systems are pretty simple once you get the hang of them.    Each one has some unique features, so they all seem intimidating at first.   

I thought Digitrax was intimidating, but I got really good deal on full blown radio control system.   Once I got over the first hump, I feel comfortable with it and it has been rock solid.

HO code 83 track is the right gauge for ON30, but does not look right.   Peco and possibly micro-engineering make O scale narrow gauge track.   And you can lay your own.   The problem with HO track is the ties are too small and spaced too close together to be O scale ties on narrow gauge.   One compromise is to cut out every other tie to get better spacing.   The ties would still be too skinny and short, but would look a lot better.

HEY PRRJIM,

Atlas HO code 83 flex track would look proper for an HO layout, right?   I have 150 feet  of it on the way!

RIP TRACK 

HEY P-51,

I understand wiring pretty well!

I retired in 1998 with 36 years of service in Aerospace Electronic and Lab Test departments with McDonnel-Douglas and Boeing.  Here's a shot of my home lab where I'm  presently re-calibrating the sidereal tracking rate of one of my Astronomical Telescopes.

Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah

RIP TRACK