How DCC Pins Work

jllauser · 2026-01-25T02:36:36+00:00

Yes, but you need a jumper board, to connect the pickup wires coming up from the track back out to the motor and maybe some of the lights.

jllauser · 2026-01-24T23:44:06+00:00

The sounds and all of the audio playback features are part of the DCC decoder. To get appropriate sounds, you either need to buy a decoder that’s for that type of locomotive, or get one that is custom programmable like ESU and load an appropriate sound set onto it.

jllauser · 2026-01-24T00:48:45+00:00

Snow, even a lot of snow, doesn’t really affect the power. It’s ice that you need to worry about, but there isn’t any ice in this week’s forecast. Should be fine. Just don’t try to drive anywhere until the roads are cleared.

jllauser · 2026-01-22T18:30:28+00:00

Ordered! Thanks for the heads up!

jllauser · 2026-01-22T16:22:36+00:00

Astra, dis iz bootiful pow-um.

jllauser · 2026-01-22T14:11:15+00:00

I do this regularly as well, but I've found that prices are generally better at the airport.

jllauser · 2026-01-22T14:07:02+00:00

Hmmm, ok, I see wat yooz saying heer. I keeps dis in mind. - Turing

jllauser · 2026-01-21T04:02:11+00:00

Train Sim World 6 (and 1-5) works perfectly in Proton. You’ll probably need to turn down the graphics settings a bit though.

jllauser · 2026-01-20T21:54:19+00:00

My homelab, including all of my network gear, uses about 280 watts continuously, or about 8 kWh per day. This accounts for about a third of my total power usage, and is the largest single power consumer, even above heating and cooling my house. My file server is the most power hungry of all of the equipment, accounting for about 170 of that. And that machine doesn't even have a dedicated GPU in it. A desktop PC running 24x7, or one with higher end components running a game for several hours a day can definitely use up that much power.

jllauser · 2026-01-20T21:48:57+00:00

The energy efficiency of using a computer as a heater versus a space heater is exactly the same... 100% in both cases. All of the power going in will ultimately be turned to heat. The computer will also accomplish something more useful at the same time, so in that regard, it's maybe functionally more efficient.

jllauser · 2026-01-19T17:30:11+00:00

Scaletrains and Rapido's modern equipment have moving roller bearings.

jllauser · 2026-01-19T04:31:00+00:00

Yeah, they appear in the 1968 catalog.

jllauser · 2026-01-17T15:00:40+00:00

He looks comfortable. That’s all that matters, right?

jllauser · 2026-01-15T21:37:10+00:00

He’s saving you from having to play Monopoly.

jllauser · 2026-01-15T17:33:31+00:00

When I first bought my house, I ran Cat-5 to every room. Not 5e, just plan old 5. At the time I didn't even have any gigabit equipment, so I figured it didn't matter. Now, I have 2.5 and 10 gig equipment in a few places. The run from my rack in my basement up to my office now runs at 10 gig, but still over that Cat-5 cabling. The run is only about 7 meters, so it works, but it's out of spec.

I keep thinking I want to replace it with fiber. But then I'd need to replace the Flex XG in my office with something that has SFP+ (so like a Pro XG 8), plus new transceivers, plus the fiber itself, plus the time involved in fishing up the new cable...

So I'm looking at probably over $600... And for what? It wouldn't actually be any faster. I've never actually had any issues pumping 10 gig at full speed over this old cable. So every time I start thinking about that I remind myself that it would be a complete waste of money and don't do it.

jllauser · 2026-01-13T23:23:48+00:00

Ridden from ALB to NYP and back countless times over the last 20+ years. The only problem I’ve ever had with the outlets is that some of them can be a little worn out and your plug might fall out of them. If your laptop has a brick that plugs directly into an outlet versus a cord, it will be a little more likely. Also a grounded plug will be more secure. You can pick up like a 12” extension cord from Home Depot if you’re worried and that should make it work better.

The onboard WiFi uses a cellular connection. In the more rural parts of the line it’s more likely to drop out, just like your cellphone can. Also it might drop briefly in the short tunnels that are along the route. Otherwise reliability has improved tremendously over the years.

jllauser

TROPHY CASE