What Is DCC?

What Is DCC Or Digital Command Control?

What is a digital command control?

DCC is an acronym for Digital Command Control. To explain what command control is, some historical background is needed. Command control systems, both analog and digital, allow you to simulate prototypical train operation on your model railroad. With digital command control you can operate multiple locomotives independently at the same time on the same section of track without a computer and without blocking or other complex wiring schemes. Digital command control systems use digital data packets to communicate commands to decoders that control locomotives, turnouts and other devices used on the railroad. There are many different digital command control systems that you can find at TrainWorld.

What will it do for me and my railroad?

Simply put, DCC and other command control systems will let you "run your trains, not your track." DCC gives you the freedom to bring your railroad to life with truly prototypical operation at your fingertips!

Why use a digital system rather than an analog system?

Because digital technology gives extremely reliable operation and the technology is almost infinitely extendable without causing backward compatibility problems (analog systems are inherently more restrictive). Also, digital systems make wiring simple and easy to install. Because a digital system encodes information sent from the command station to the decoder as numbers grouped into packets, new types of packets can be added to a digital system to send more information thus extending the existing system without causing backward compatibility problems.
 

Which Decoder is right for me?

Brands

DCC Technical Support

DCC Help Videos

How To Operate A NCE "Power Cab" DCC System

SoundTraxx Explains How To Install a Decoder

Digitrax Zephyr Express 3.0 Amp Starter Set ZEPE

NCE DCC Power Cab (Functions & Features)

NCE Comes to TrainLand and Talks DCC

TCS Wow Sound Kit DCC Install with John Forsythe

CV Tutorial - CV's Explained For DCC Model Trains!

Introduction To DCC Digital Command Control - DCC 101 Basics