Specifics on different DCC systems and hardware (remember: links to sub-pages at the bottom of this page) click to jump to the bottom Well, there are many things that are important in picking a system. Unfortunately, a lot of the decisions made by newcomers is based on the throttle appearance and size. So rather than fight it, I'll put the sexy stuff first. From left to right, A dollar bill, Zimo, Massoth, LGB 55016, LGB 55015, and NCE ProCab. In choosing a DCC system you need to consider the entire system, how it works, how expandable it is, cost, compatibility, and yes, how much you like the throttle. Throttles: I'm over 50, and farsighted, so the larger the characters on the screen the better for me, because I don't wear glasses except for closeup stuff. Note: this is not about screen size, it's about how large the characters are on the screen. You can have a big screen full of tiny letters and it's not for me. I also have been involved in the design of consumer electronics for a long time, and I have learned a lot about how to make a good system, the tradeoff between the number of buttons and the number and levels of menus. I've listed several manufacturers' equipment here, and my experiences with them. I always recommend NCE in terms of price/performance. The European systems are full of features, often unique to just their decoders, and have more complex displays. I gave up my beloved NCE system for a Zimo system, which has unique features but is hard as heck to see in sunlight (color OLED high resolution touchscreen, each feature a strike against sunlight readability!!) Investigate: http://www.teamdigital1.com/index.html Notes on higher power boosters: 15 amp booster by Gallus, but the web site seems to be gone: http://www.modellbahn-gallus.de/ There is/was a 20 amp booster, max voltage 22 volts: http://www.perandones.ch/index.asp?inc=artikel DCC Manufacturer ID table: CV 8 should have one of the following numbers in it, identifying the manufacturer: Additionally a manufacturer may put a version number in CV 7 1: CML Electronics Limited2: Train Technology 11: NCE Corporation12: Wangrow13: Public Domain & Do-It-Yourself Decoders14: PSI - Dynatrol / Lahti Associates15: Ramfixx Technologies (Wangrow) 17: Advanced IC Engineering, Inc.18: JMRI19: AMW20: T4T - Technology for Trains GmbH21: Kreischer Datentechnik22: KAM Industries23: S Helper Service24: MoBaTron.de25: Team Digital, LLC26: MBTronik - PiN GITmBH27: MTH Electric Trains, Inc.28: Heljan A/S29: Mistral Train Models30: Digsight31: Brelec32: Regal Way Co. Ltd33: Silicon Railway / Praecipuus34: Aristo-Craft35: Elektronik & Modell Produktion36: DCC Concepts37: NAC Services, Inc.38: Broadway Limited Imports, LLC39: Educational Computer, Inc (DCCdevices.com)40: KATO Precision Models41: Passmann Modellbahnzubehoer42: Digirails43: Ngineering44: SPROG-DCC45: ANE Model Co., LTD.46: GFB Designs47: Capecom48: Hornby Hobbies Ltd.49: Joka Electronic50: N & Q Electronics51: DCC Supplies, Ltd52: Krois-Modell53: Rautenhaus Digital54: TCH Technology55: QElectronics GmbH56: LDH57: Rampino Elektronik58: KRES GmbH59: Tam Valley Depot60: Bluecher-Elektronik61: TrainModules62: Tams Elektronik GmbH63: Noarail64: Digital Bahn65: Gaugemaster66: Railnet Solutions, LLC67: Heller Modenlbahn68: MAWE Elektronik69: E-Modell70: Rocrail71: New York Byano Limited72: MTB Model73: The Electric Railroad Company74: PpP Digital75: DigiTools Electronics Servicing and Contractor Ltd.76: Auvidel77: LS Models Sprl78: Tehnologistic (train-O-matic) ROM79: Hattons Model Railways UK80: Spectrum Engineering US81: GooVerModels / HAG Modelleisenbahn 83: JSS-Elektronic DE84: Railflyer Model Prototypes, Inc. 85: Uhlenbrock Elektronik GmbH86: Wekomm Engineering, GmbH87: RR-CirKits88: HONS Model 89: Pojezdy.EU 90: Shourt Line 91: Railstars Limited 92: Tawcrafts 1011100 0x5C 92 UK93: Kevtronics cc 94: Electroniscript, Inc.95: Sanda Kan Industrial (1981) Ltd.96: PRICOM Design97: Doehler & Haas98: Harman DCC99: Lenz Elektronik GmbH100: Trenes Digitales101: Bachmann Trains102: Integrated Signal Systems103: Nagasue System Design Office104: TrainTech105: Computer Dialysis France106: Opherline107: Phoenix Sound Systems, Inc. 109: Viessmann Modellspielwaren GmbH110: AXJ Electronics111: Haber & Koenig Electronics GmbH112: LSdigital113: QS Industries114: Benezan Electronics115: Dietz Modellbahntechnik116: MyLocoSound117: cT Elektronik118: MÜT GmbH119: Signaling Solution / W. S. Ataras Engineering120: csikos-muhely121: ECCO GmbH122: Berros123: Massoth Elektronik, GmbH124:DCC-Gaspar-Electronic125: ProfiLok Modellbahntechnik GmbH126: Möllehem Gårdsproduktion127: Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc.128:Frateschi Model Trains129: Digitrax 131: Trix Modelleisenbahn132: ZTC Controls Ltd.133: Intelligent Command Control134: LaisDCC135: CVP 137: A-Train Electronics Products 139: RealRail Effects 141: Throttle-Up (Soundtraxx) 143: Model Rectifier Corp. 145: Zimo Elektronik 147: Umelec Ing. Buero 149: Rock Junction Controls 151: Electronic Solutions Ulm GmbH & Co KG (ESU) 153: Train Control Systems 155: Gebr. Fleischmann GmbH & Co. 157: Kuehn Ing. 159: LGB (Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk) 161: Modelleisenbahn GmbH (formerly Roco) 163: WP Railshops 165: Model Electronic Railway Group (MERG) 170: AuroTrains 173: Arnold - Rivarossi 186: BRAWA Modellspielwaren GmbH & Co. 204: Con-Com GmBH 225: Elproma Electronics Poland 238: NMRA reserved Sub-Pages Click the links below to go "deeper" into details on individual DCC systems by manufacturer AirWire C.T. Elektronik DCC Specialties Digitrax ESU Lenz LGB (MTS) MERG MRC NCE Pricom QSI Soundtraxx Tam Valley Depot TCS Team Digital Zimo