big plans

Some very short answers to get you started, this thread could run and run

QUOTE I have a hornby select controll and 4 locos with hornby decoders at the moment, but am not "married" to them.
For what you are planning, the Select and what I assume are "first generation" hornby decoders (by which I mean not the recently announced R8249 which is NMRA certified) will not be suitable. I won't go into the reasons why, there are plenty of threads on these two.

I will not recommend a particular system. We have threads periodically on this subject, you may able to find them with the "Search" option on the menu bar. The best advice is to visit a dealer where you can try them for yourself. Just about every type of user interface is available, from "do it all" handheld to desktop console. So long as the system has NMRA certification or a good track record (sorry couldn't resist than pun), you will be fine. Whether you want to twiddle knobs or push buttons to control train speed is a very personal preference.

QUOTE The plan is to have the computer linked to the railway to look after the running of the trains to a timetable whilst I take control of the train movements and shunting within the carriage works etc.

There are various commercial and some shareware programs about to do this. The best known is "Train Controller" from Railroad & Co. There's a link in the DCC section of the Links pages on the Forum. It's not cheap but it is definitely at the top end of what is capable.

QUOTE Id like to know which decoders and controllers will work with various software and how to go about linking the computer to the railway physically, is this a usb plug n play or a more complex bus type arrangment?

In the early days it was serial. Now it's either USB (eg Lenz) or ethernet - (eg ECoS, Hornby Elite?). I don't know about the other brands.

QUOTE Id like to have the controll panel (?) displayed on the moniter.
Train Controller will do this. There is also a program from GPP Software which I believe does this too and maybe more - Follow this this link

QUOTE Also being new to the hobby, is it possible to controll the signals (I'll be using semaphore) using the computer/dcc to coincide with the points and permissions to enter the blocks of track.

Yes. Check out the signals sub topic in the "Tracks, Layout and Scenery" Forum for information on signals. We've talked about operating mechanisms a few times. If you want to know about signaling "Railway Signaling and Track Plans" by Bob Essery pub. Ian Allan (link to Ian Allan website) is a good place to start.

David
(ECoS user)

Dear All,

If you want full RailCom support and all the other advantages of Zimo, you can start with the MX31ZL. This is available from DCC Supplies (for example) for 320 GBP. This will get you started, but there is a limit with this controller of 4 amps. With the layout you are planning you may have to extend this by adding more controllers and/or boosters later as the layout is fully implemented.

It's not really fair to say Zimo are more expensive than others, unless you are talking about their controllers and now they have released the MX31ZL, that is not completely true. The Zimo Decoders are the same price (roughly) as the equivalent Lenz Gold decoders. The Zimo Sound Decoders much cheaper than the ESU Loksound and have more capacity (4 mins of sound). The main problem at the moment is a lack of UK sounds for the Zimo Sound Decoders, but they should come eventually. Zimo release new s\w for their equipment (controllers and decoders) which improve existing functionality all the time (by extending the way RailCom works, for example). All these updates are easy to apply if you have the MX31ZL (no extra dongle required) and it has a USB port, making it easy to connect to a PC.

The MX31ZL fits comfortably in the hand with a slider for the throttle and a thumbwheel for selecting the locos from the active locos list. This is easy to use, but you need to try the others and decide. There are hand-held controllers, or the desk type, which have different pros and cons, so you really need to try both and decide. For a desktype that is RailCom compatible, the ESU Ecos, also available from DCC Supplies at 375 GBP, is worth a good look.