Needed advice/opinions on DCC/MTH PS3

Todd,

I have one PS3 diesel and I run it with a Digitrax Radio DCC system. It works just fine.

I also have a DCS Commander for when I use this engine around the Xmas tree since it's fun for kids and I can't/don't want to uproot my DCC system.

I haven't noticed any problems in using the Digitrax system with the PS3 engines.

As an aside, I am in the process of installing a Loksound Select Direct decoder usually used in HO in my Atlas 2R MP15DC. I've got it wired up with two speakers but haven't done the lighting yet.

As you probably know the MP15DC is a horizontal drive engine (like and HO drive). I am in the process of doing a similar Loksound install in an Atlas Trainman GP15 in which I have wired the two, vertical motors in series. I'm waiting on the decoder to test that one.

Bill McBride

Welcome to the forum! I did a couple of videos on this a few weeks ago, check them out, you may find a couple of things useful there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJDefT8Udck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS9cRNkqQ7c

Basic operation is the same, but you do lose some feature control. For instance, in DCC all the lighting features except the headlight are controlled with F5, so you turn all on or all off. In DCS you have a command for the individual effects such as number boards or interior lighting. 

I have both DCC and DCS, but I got a DCC system so I could run Atlas locomotives. In general they perform very similarly I think. I absolutely love my ESU Ecos.

I have several and demonstrated one for a friend on his modular club layout. Ran flawlessly for several hours under an NCE 10-amp system. As said above, you lose some features such as individual lighting, but the rest of the features operate as well as under DCS.

Thanks guys for all the info. I can't wait to get started on the layout, I will post on Youtube when I do. Love the ESU ECOS system Santiago. Might be a bit pricy for my simple around the walls layout, but it sure looks nice.

-Todd

I have four MTH Proto 3/2 PS3 engines with scale wheels.  A pair of GP-35's, a SP GS-4 Steam Engine and a UP Challenger Steam Engine.  I run them all NCE DCC/2 rail on my home layout and DCS/3 rail on our club layout.

They run equally well under DCC and DCS.  As stated by others above DCS offers more features and is more user friendly and guides you through the less often used functions.

I have small laminated cheat sheets that I attach to the back of my NCE DCC wireless Cab's to help me remember what all the 28 function buttons do as it varies between the MTH DCC, QSI DCC, Soundtraxx DCC decoders (and others).  Only a few of the main buttons are the same between these decoders. 

For me the tipoff is in the paragraph above.  I use DCC at home because I can run any brand DCC decoder.  I might add, off topic, that the recently released/upgraded steam and diesel QSI Titan Magnum ET (Q3) decoders are my favorites at this time. 

Thanks Bill for the thoughts. I have always been a scale guy and after experimenting (and buying) some 3 rail stuff, although I liked it, I knew that I just couldn't dedicate a lot to it because of the track. Once I found out about PS3 3/2 and started looking around Youtube, I knew it was for me. I really like the device that Santiago shows in his video above, I just don't know if I need that much in a controller for what will be a very simple layout to most people (two main lines around a 10 X 20 room for mostly watching trains run). But the ability to run O scale on 2 rail track and use DCC to control them does lend itself to all kinds of options that I never knew were available.

Thanks again,

Todd

Thanks, Todd.

Hey, Matt.  That is a great video.  I envy you being able to run on their layout.  I only get to see it when I attend O Scale West.  Wasn't that Bruce talking in the first segment?