Advice please.

[DJRS1984]

I decided to treat myself to a trainset as always wanted one but never ever got around to it.

I did lttle research before buying it and thought that my local Hornby stockest would probably be able to give me the best advise.

So I was advised to buy the Eurostar set and thought it looked good and had extra track compaired to the others I was shown.

I was very excited to get home and set it up. Then I started reading about DCC ect and really wish I had bought a digital set.

Is it as easy as buyng a DCC select conroler and adding point clips to each point and converting the Eurostar by adding a locomotive decoder? Do I need to add the rj12 connetion socket? in place of the socket my analogue conroler goes into.

I really want to convert from analogue to digital and wish they sold a one off set with all you need.

[trainlover23]

Ask the model shop from where you purchased the set

[poliss]

It depends whether the Eurostar is DCC Ready. It should say so on the box or in the instructions. What's the R number of the set? If it's DCC Ready, then all you need to do is remove the blanking plug and replace with a decoder.

The Select comes with all necessary leads. The only thing needed is to remove the capacitor from the power track/clip that came with your set.

I would recommend buyibg the eLink or Elite instead of the Select.

[RDS]

@DJRS1984

Welcome to the forum and the hobby!

Hornby do sell a few DCC sets that would contain everything you need to start a DCC layout.  I think you are making the right decision now by wanting to go digital.  I would speak to the Hornby dealer who persuaded you otherwise and see if they have a digital set, that perhaps you could buy instead.  If that is not possible, you are right regarding what you need to do to go digital from your Eurostar set.  You do not need an RJ12 lead, just as you say, a DCC controller, point clips and a decoder in your Eurostar.  As mentioned by poliss above, you also need to remove the capacitor from the track power clip that came with your DC set.

The Select is a reasonable starter controller but as mentioned above the Elite is much better, albeit much more expensive.  The Hornby E-link is also an option for DCC control but does not have any rotary knobs and is 100% reliant on the RailMaster software running on a computer to control your layout.  The Elite has knobs but is also able to be connected to a computer running RailMaster and in my view, gives the best of both worlds.  I started with Select, before progressing to Elite and I still think that it is a good starter controller.

[Fishmanoz]

Just to explain further on converting your DC power track, between the rails at the connection point is a black cover.  Flip it open and you'll find a capacitor in there probably blue.  Clip off both of its connection legs, throw it away and close the cover.  You now have a DCC power track.

 

and one more thing, I think Eurostar has directional lights?  If so, you'll need a decoder in the dummy car as well to control the lights there.

[choralc]

A further clarification. The cover is on the top side of the track between the rails. I don't know how long I spent looking at how to open the underneath part! And the capacitor on mine was yellow but you'll recognise it as a small electronic part soldered across the two shiny metal strips that will be revealed.

[DJRS1984]

Thank you all, I took some advise and called the store who agreed to change it for a digital set. So I now have The Cornishman Set and have purchased a few DCC fitted loco's as well! Now all I have to do is await the arrival of my 6ft x 4ft board arriving so I can set it all up!

[RDS]

That's excellent news DJRS1984.  You won't regret it!