Martin Wynne wrote:I want a handheld controller which I never have to look at -- my concentration being on the trains, signals, and levers.
As I understand it, DCC is always controller-centric. In other words you start with a controller and specify which locomotive it will be controlling.
I would much prefer a locomotive-centric system.
I've been given this brief (broadly) for SLAG's new layout, and that's one reason we've selected MERG for our control system. Out of the box, it doesn't do what you want (but perhaps could be used that way) - lacking the notion of a dispatch panel. However, it comes with enough documentation to be able to see how to repurpose the system and add modules that would work as you wish. Together with the current crop of hobbyist microcontrollers (arduino, mbed, etc), I think that custom DCC handsets are starting to look within reach of a layout builder with some knowledge of computers.