Digitrax Empire Builder

[rrinker]

My laptop is somethign like a Pentium 3 733MHz or so. It works fine on that, with Windows XP. I have a spare computer I rebuilt to become the actual 'railroad' computer which is a P3-500mhz which is really probably the low end for PRACTICAL use of anythign Java based - even though Java has a lower minimum requirement, it's terribly bloated and slow. Memory is important - try to get a machine with 512MB if you can, certainly not less than 384. DecoderPro loads faster on my 500MHz machine with 512MB RAM than the 733MHz laptop which only has 256MB. A Pentium-III based system is old technology these days, and should be available for a reasonable price. ANothr thing to keep in mind is most desktops of a given speed are a bit faster than laptops witht he same speed - mainly because the typcal desktop hard drive is faster. Plus a used desktop system will cost less than a used laptop - so if you have the space - get the desktop system. I have a desk that fits under my benchwork and can carry a 15 monitor, also clearing the benchwork. The cpu itself is a tower and sits on the floor. I'll either screw my Locobuffer (I built my own from Hans deLoof's site) to the benchwork at that location, or use double-sided tape to stick it to the desk, so I can watch the blinky lights. Or maybe put it in a case - the prebuilt Locobuffer-II from *** Bronson at RR-CirKits already has a case.

--Randy

[FCnota]

I must agree with Randy. I use an old laptop (a Compac I think) with a Locobuffer II and Decoder pro as well. They work everytime without a bunch of fooling around! Makes programing SO easy you wouldn't believe it! Thats the way to go.

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by simon1966

QUOTE: Originally posted by TommyToot

Thanks Randy, I'll be doing some more shopping. Any laptop recommendations? I would rather not wear out the carpet between the train room and the home "office".

If you plan on running the decoder pro program with a Digitrax system, you will need a PC that can run the latest version of Java. Win 98 onwards will work. You don't need a particularly powerful PC, so any PC from the last 5 years or so would be fine. You will also need an interface. The Locobuffer 2 is the way to go. This connects to the PC with a serial interface. Most notebook PC's that you can pourchase new today do not have serial interfaces, so you then have to get a USB to Serial adapter. I am on the JMRI Yahoo group and many seem to have problems getting the USB adapters to work well with the system, so I would try and pick up a used notebook with a serial interface. It will cost less and eliminate the headache. There are many used PC retailers around that could be a source for this. I use my 5 year old business Dell laptop that was retired last year.

USB adapters work fine with the Locobuffer - it's the MS100 that has problems, because it needs the funky 16.67k data rate which is not standard and not supported by most USB adapters. And the old softwrae for the MS100 and PR-1 use direct hardware access which is a no-no with XP (technically a no-no with ANY version of Windows, but they allow it, at your own peril - which is why 98 can be so unstable). Pet Peeve, if developers would do what they are SUPPOSED TO (including Microsoft's OWN people), Windows would be a whole lot more stable. Those tricks were fine back with single-tasking DOS, but not so good with modern multitasking operating systems.

--Randy

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by claycts

QUOTE: Originally posted by TommyToot

Thanks Randy, I'll be doing some more shopping. Any laptop recommendations? I would rather not wear out the carpet between the train room and the home "office".

Tommy, try Best Buy, I got a Toshiba with a HT Processor which is an overkill, on clearence for $650.00 it was a $1700.00 unit. That is what I am HOPING to use to program this mess. Problem is that Digitrax is stuck on Windows 98, and our banl of computers are all XP pro.

This is why you use the Locobuffer II and DecoderPro. The MS100 isn't worth the room it take sup. Whent here was no other way, it was as good as it gets, but the Locobuffer made those things instant antiques. There's no need to stick with old 98 anymore.

--Randy

[simon1966]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TommyToot

Thanks Randy, I'll be doing some more shopping. Any laptop recommendations? I would rather not wear out the carpet between the train room and the home "office".

If you plan on running the decoder pro program with a Digitrax system, you will need a PC that can run the latest version of Java. Win 98 onwards will work. You don't need a particularly powerful PC, so any PC from the last 5 years or so would be fine. You will also need an interface. The Locobuffer 2 is the way to go. This connects to the PC with a serial interface. Most notebook PC's that you can pourchase new today do not have serial interfaces, so you then have to get a USB to Serial adapter. I am on the JMRI Yahoo group and many seem to have problems getting the USB adapters to work well with the system, so I would try and pick up a used notebook with a serial interface. It will cost less and eliminate the headache. There are many used PC retailers around that could be a source for this. I use my 5 year old business Dell laptop that was retired last year.

[simon1966]

QUOTE: Originally posted by claycts

Clarification please.
I have both the CHief and the Super Empire Builder (cheaper to go that way) I should yes the Chief as the Primary and the Super Empire as the Booster! Or am I all wet on this.
Thank You
George P. (confused as hell in AIken)
God do I need a SPELL CHECKER OR WHAT Reads like a 2 year old!

Yes, use the Chief as the primary and the SEB as the booster.

[claycts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TommyToot

Thanks Randy, I'll be doing some more shopping. Any laptop recommendations? I would rather not wear out the carpet between the train room and the home "office".

Tommy, try Best Buy, I got a Toshiba with a HT Processor which is an overkill, on clearence for $650.00 it was a $1700.00 unit. That is what I am HOPING to use to program this mess. Problem is that Digitrax is stuck on Windows 98, and our banl of computers are all XP pro.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Randy, I'll be doing some more shopping. Any laptop recommendations? I would rather not wear out the carpet between the train room and the home "office".

[claycts]

Clarification please.
I have both the CHief and the Super Empire Builder (cheaper to go that way) I should yes the Chief as the Primary and the Super Empire as the Booster! Or am I all wet on this.
Thank You
George P. (confused as hell in AIken)
God do I need a SPELL CHECKER OR WHAT Reads like a 2 year old!

[rrinker]

Yes this is true, the DB150 has no ability to read back CV values. You can overwrite all you want, just never read what's already there (so the DecoderPro function to do decoder ident and the 'read all' options won't work). This is why I do not recommend anyone get the Super Empire Builder as their only system.
Do you run more than 10 locos/consists at a time? If not, consider a Zephyr as a cheap upgrade. Your existing DB150 becomse just a booster, the Zephyr becomes the command station, ad hs 95% of the features of the DCS100, including a dedicated programming track and CV readback. If you need more than 10 locos/consists, then you would need to get a DCS100 to gain the feaures.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Just started using this system and would like to use DecoderPro to make the CV settings easy. I have heard the Empire Builder DB150 comand station cannot read back or display the CV settings already established. Is this true? How do I know what the CV's are?? , or do I just use the DecoderPro to overwrite whatever to my new CV's values??

Thanks for your reply and help.