DIGITAL COMMAND CONTROL ... WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT? Microprocessor technology has changed just about every aspect of our lives from the TVs and videos we enjoy, to the foods we cook, and communication systems we use. Now, we can use microprocessor technology to control the locos we run, the accessories we operate, and to increase the realism and enjoyment of model railroading as no other technology ever has. We've prepared a summary list of key questions modeler's have been asking us. We hope it helps explain the rudiment's of DCC and the advantages of MRC's Command 2000. HOW DOES DCC WORK? To control speed, a conventional power pack delivers variable voltage through the throttle to your track. In contrast, a DCC unit feeds a constant voltage to the track along with a digital control signal addressed to a "decoder" A decoder is a receiver that is installed (wired) into your locomotive. It is wired to the motor and lights. Each decoder is designed to read only those signals that have been addressed to it specifically. Using your DCC unit you will assign a specific address for each loco. WHAT SCALES WILL MRC DCC RUN? Command 2000 will run most HO, N, and G scale locomotoves. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF MRC'S COMMAND 2000? MRC's Digital Command Control system, The Command 2000, allows you to independently control the operation of up to 10 locomotives, on the same line, going at different speeds, in different directions WITHOUT conventional insulated blocks, without needing separate controllers for each loco and without switches to throw whenever a loco enters or leaves a block section. You can have one loco in a station, one just outside, all within a few track lengths of each other. You can manage track work previously impossible and enjoy more realistic yard operations without concentrating on rotary switches or throwing block toggles to deliver power to different engines. Consider multiple lashups. Problems usually occurred because different locos needed different starting voltages to overcome inertia. In turn, this often meant one loco was pulling and the other was being dragged. Using DCC you can easily program the starting voltage for each loco independently. So now locos can work in sync, running smoothly at the same speed. WHAT KIND OF CONTROL WILL I HAVE OVER MY LOCOS? For each decoder equipped loco (up to 10) you can control speed, direction, momentum acceleration rate, momentum deceleration rate, starting voltage, and turn locomotive lights "on" or "off." Or you can control 9 decoder equipped locos with all of the above features and 1 standard loco with all of the above features except for lights "on" or "off." You can even lash 2 decoder controlled locos together and connect them head-to-head or even tail-to-tail. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MRC'S COMMAND 2000 AND OTHER DCC SYSTEMS? MRC has made DCC affordable, simple to understand and enjoy, and less complex to operate. Most DCC systems are complicated. Their instruction manuals may discourage the average modeler. Some even boast they can control 99 locos or more. Few of us, aside from advanced clubs, need to control anywhere near that many locos. But with many systems you'll pay for the privilege and suffer through the instructions. MRC's system allows you to control up to 10 locos on one layout. More than enough for most modeler's. With other systems, installation of a decoder into each loco is difficult at best. With MRC's system, if you like, you need never wire a decoder into a loco. Just buy additional MRC decoder equipped locos. Or buy locos with the NMRA DCC connector installed and ready for a simple plug in of your decoder. This means you can immediately control two trains with your MRC DCC system as soon as you bring it home. The one with the factory installed decoder that conventional locos. Two locos ready to go. No Wiring. No waiting. We're aware that some model railroaders will want to install decoders themselves in new locos or in locos they already own. Our instruction booklet explains how to do it. Programming is much easier. FAQ Continued