Older DCC controllers

As far as I know, assuming they're all still mechanically sound, they should all work fine. I still use Digitrax components I bought back around 2004. I believe Digitrax has been good about new products being compatible with older ones too.

The DCS100 has a 'scale switch' where you can choose N, HO or O/G for the output. O/G sets maximum track voltage to 20 volts.

the nice thing about DCC is that the signal is standard, still is standard.

So if the system ran DCC 20 years ago, it still will.

My Digitraxx system is the original radio Simplex.   it still works fine with very new decoders. 

As for sound, most sound systems I am familiar with use "Function" keys or buttons to activate various sounds.    The default which I don't think is standard but is very common is that function 1 turns the bell on and off and function 2 blows the horn or whistle.    The different mfg diverge quite a bit after that.   Some of them use many function keys which are beyond my throttles.   My little UT4 throttle can control about 10-12 functions - 5 and then shift to  use the second 5.    My big 402 throttles can control about 14 on the keyboard and I think there is a way to access up to about 28.   

In my case, I don't  use more than about 4-5 different sound functions - Soundtraxx provides a short whistle blast with 3.    I have set some locos to blow an automatic grade crossing with function 5.   But basically the bell and whistle are mostly what I use.    The chuff and/or prime mover is automatic.   However, those things can be set to do manual controls too.

The bottom line is your system should be able to handle any decoders it sees.    The question will be does it give you access all the many many features some of the new decoders have.    And the corollary to that is, do you care?

@prrjim posted:

The bottom line is your system should be able to handle any decoders it sees.    The question will be does it give you access all the many many features some of the new decoders have.

This is my question. You phrased it better. Will older DCC controllers let me access the features of the newer decoders?

  And the corollary to that is, do you care?

I do.

Your command station will handle them as far as I know.     Your master throttle for the system will allow you to program if it is a 402 or newer.   I don't know about older ones.     DecoderPro by JMRI will program them.

You need to figure out how many functions the specific throttles will handle.    Then you need to figure out how many you plan to use.    That will answer your specific question.    The users manuals that came with the throttles will tell you that and you may be able to find copies of them on line.

My UT4R  and DT402 throttles will access 12 functions.    I think the 100 series may only access 4.

Remember functions are not CVs they are just used to access the various features, not program.    There are multiple CVs involved in programming many of the lighting and sound features on some newer decoders.    For example on  the headlight, only function 0 is needed to turn it on and off but some decoders have 4-5 CVs (Control Variables) that you can program to make the headlight do different things when on or when to go off or dim etc.