Ok, I might get blasted for this, but this is MY web page so I can offer MY opinion! I get frustrated when I meet people who are interested in going with DCC, but feel compelled to do some research first and learn all there is to learn about DCC before making the big plunge. I say 'NONSENSE'! I prescribe to the 'KISS' theory... 'Keep It Simple Stupid'.

      Let's start off with the facts...DCC is great! It allows to run trains anywhere, anyway you want without the hassle of block wiring. It allows for more prototypical operations. It allows you to customize your locomotives with lighting and sound like never before. It makes detection, signaling and automation easier than before. So what's left to research?

      I have found that most people who need to do 'research' are the simple at heart. Like me, they know enough about electronics and computers to be dangerous. So they feel compelled to learn as much as they can. They read books and talk to the 'experts' and quickly become overwhelmed with all there is to know about DCC. Shortly thereafter, they put off making the change because there is still too much to learn. This is truly ashame.

      DCC can be truly as simple as it is advertised; connect two wires to the track and your up and runnning. Yes, you can make it as complicated as you want, but why? If you want to add all those features that DCC can offer, do so over time and learn as you go. Take it all in small steps. Become familiar with the basics, then over time, add to the system. That is the best way for a novice to learn DCC. Start off by buying the system of your choice. Install a decoder in one locomotive, then program it, run it and play with it. Then install more decoders.

      Ok, so you have questions. Let's see if we can answer some of them in a 'simple' way and get you started.

      Which system is best for me? A popular question and there are no right answers! It's really a personal choice. But here are some recommendations. First, see what everyone else around you is using. Selecting a system that is popular in your circle of friends will make trouble shooting easier down the road since they are already familiar with that system. Try to operate on layouts with different systems so you can try the various systems out. What kind of throttles would you like and what does that system offer? You will find that most of the systems out there offer all the same basic features. It is mostly a matter of design preferences and throttle choices.

      How do I install DCC into an existing layout? Again, this can be as complicated or as simple as you want to make it. Generally speaking, adding DCC can be as simple as replacing an existing DC throttle with your new DCC system. Yes, the old block controls can remain in place for the time being, and if at some point in time you decide to remove those block controls, you can.

      What about 'DCC friendly turnouts'? UGH, one of my favorite topics! Chances are, you don't need to make any changes. Period! Put simply, a 'DCC Friendly Turnout' is a non-power routing turnout. However, since most of the turnouts on the market are power routing, the next question is 'how do I make my turnouts DCC Friendly?' Well, let's start that answer with this; the basic rules of DCC are the same as with DC. With any power routing turnout, whether your operating DC or DCC, you want to ensure you do not 'back feed' block power into a power routing turnout. To prevent this, you need to cut gaps in the rails on both routes of the turnout. The gaps you cut into the track should be as close to the frog as possible. The idea here is to minimize the occurance of an engine crossing the gap, creating a short. Why? With DCC, when a short occurs, it shuts down the whole system, and in turn, the whole layout. This of course will be frustrating, so you want to minimize this occurance. Non-power routing turnouts would elminate this from happening, but then of course you stand the chance of a locomotive going through a closed turnout, derailing and causing a short anyway!
      I will note here that DCC is much more sensitive to faults in wiring than standard DC. You may have situations with double slips or crossing where wheels may cause shorts when they cross over the crossings. This may not have been noticed under standard DC throttles, but the DCC system, being much more sensitive, will quickly respond to these shorts and shut down accordingly. Each of these occurances will have to be dealt with on a case by case basis, closely examining the crossing to determine where the wheel is making it's contact that causes the short, and either widing the gap or carefully grinding down some rail to eliminate this problem.

      What about wire sizes and buss lines? This really applies to larger layouts. If you have a smaller switching layout, or a 4x8 layout, there is no issue. However, the larger the layout, and in turn, the more trains that are operated, the more this becomes a concern. Remember that one booster handles all the trains on the layout. The current draw, combined with the length of the run of your wiring can cause a voltage drop and in turn, a noticable reduction in performance. I'm not going to get into a long discussion here over wire sizes other than to suggest that your 'buss' wires should be a larger size, say 12 or 14 gauge wire, and your feeder wires can be a smaller size such as 22 gauge. If you feel compelled to research this further, than go to the various manufacturers web sites for their suggestions for their systems.

      "I'm not sure I can install decoders." Nonsense! Today, there are such a variety of decoders available, many of which are 'plug and play' decoders designed for specific locomotives that require little more than removing the body shell, removing a circuit board and replacing it with the decoder which fits right in. If you have older locomotives that are not 'DCC Ready', then there is a wealth of information on the internet on how to install decoders in various loco's. Essentially, you are attaching two wires to track power and two wires to the motor. But if you still feel intimidated and don't feel comfortable installing decoders, ask a friend, or if all else fails, most local hobby shops have someone available to install decoders for a small fee.

Now, jump in and have fun! If you get stuck, ask a friend for help or better yet, go to 'Yahoo Groups'. There are a variety of chat groups for every type of DCC device on the market today. The people in these groups are more than willing to help, offer advice and get you through the problems you might face.