The statement that one needs only two wires or feeders for DCC applies only to very small layouts, with no turnouts or non-power routing turnouts. 4'x8' is not as small as one might think. I filled a 4'x8' table with Unitrack and needed nearly 10 feeders. The length of the track required additional feeders at the far end of my table from the original feeders. Also each siding required its own, as Unitrack N scale turnouts are power-routing turnouts. My reverse loop required its own feeders, but it also required an auto-reversing unit between it and the DCC booster. Finally, one of my sidings was my programming track. I built a switchbox so that I could switch this siding between the programming leads and the booster. This allowed me to drive a train onto the siding, switch to programming mode for changes, switch back and drive it off. Best!
I think that sound in the locomotives is also a significant factor in favor of DCC. While many can justifiably say that N scale sound is not that great yet... the Soundtraxx Tsunami (16 bit sound) shows what is possible, and sound is only going to get better in the future as the manufacturers continue to improve their capability as the electronics gets better. Locos such as the Athearn Challenger and Big Boy show that factory sound is worthwhile. It's said that sound sells DCC and DCC sells sound. While your 4x8 N scale layout may not seem sound-worthy to you.... I'd say it's likely that within a couple of years, sound is going to be a worthwhile option. New locos keep coming that are sound-equipped, and the sound quality is bound to improve with time, just like it did with HO. (many justifiably say N scale locos are too small for good sound..... but sound is a function of the design, not necessarily of the small space in a single loco. Larger steam locos have tenders, of course, for the sound.... for diesel locos, us N scalers typically have two or more locos in the lashup, and I would guess that future N scale sound innovations will include ability to 'lashup' or aggregate together the sound capability of multiple N scale locomotives, in order to address the need for more volume and space with the speakers in a single N scale loco). I say all of this as a longtime DC user.... as a result of the sound PCM E7, I ended up springing for a NCE PowerCab ..... have never looked back. The NCE PowerCab has been well worth the reasonable investment and satisfaction, and a whole new world of interesting model railroad capabilities has occurred. Just my 2 cents worth, hope it helps.
Yes. However, almost anything using more than one engine will be edging into that "large or complex enough" zone. Anyway, it sounds like you've decided now, and having done the research and asked some good questions you have your eyes open and are unlikely to regret going for DCC.
I have a question for those of you who have sound spewing locos on your layouts; is it ever too much noise? I bought a Chief setup about 10 years ago and then my interest died. Lately, it has revived, but now there are lots more choices, sound being one of them. My question would be that with 2 or 3 or more locos all running and all producing sound, does it ever become too much? Does the sound of those locos make conversation hard or just get on nerves? As a sidebar to that issue, when you have a lash up consisting of an ABBA set or an ABA or even and AA, do all those locos have sound and are all of them on? I would really like to jump into the sound revolution, but have some reservations based on those questions. Stew
I have four HO engines with sound and two without. I prefer sound, but I only run two locomotives at a time with sound. Yes, I think too much sound could be a problem. I just manage around it. ... JD
It certainly can - not helped by manufacturers sending them out with the volume set at max But I wouldn't want to be without sound now, so mine get turned down to a background level; probably half or less. And I don't use things like the bell as much as the prototype might ...
