PR 3 works great with the none sound Digitrax decoders. But, it will not read my QSI and Loksound decoders. Spoke with 2 people at Digitrax about hooking my PR 3 to my DB 150, one said it would work, one I just called said he did not think it would work. Second one was right, still would not work.
I have tried to read QSI, Blue line and Loksound sound to no avail.
Yet, many here PR 3 will read and write to there sound decoders. Ranger Over bought a PR 3 and it will read and write his Blue Line RSD 15, yet I cannot read my RSD 15?
I using it as a stand alone with the Digitrax PS 14. While speaking with the second person at Digitrax he did say it may be lack of power to the PR 3. I have all so read more than a few times the same thing from other wiser people here. Power inrush from the sound decoder over whelms the smaller power supply.
I did ask about using a different power supply and was told it may help. I all so asked what if I smoke it, said it would still be under warranty. (boy he sure does not know me)!
Specks on the PS 14 are.
Output 14 VDC, 300ma.
I have a few old transformers from printers and will check to see what there power specks are.
Owners of PR 3 that will read there sound decoders free standing, what specks are on your transformers. It should be on the transformer.
I called Tonys Trains, but it was to late to make sure there power pax would work with the PR 3. Here is a link to the power pax.
http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/powerpax.htm
If it does not work right, it must be mine!
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
cudaken PR 3 works great with the none sound Digitrax decoders. But, it will not read my QSI and Loksound decoders. Spoke with 2 people at Digitrax about hooking my PR 3 to my DB 150, one said it would work, one I just called said he did not think it would work. Second one was right, still would not work. I have tried to read QSI, Blue line and Loksound sound to no avail. Yet, many here PR 3 will read and write to there sound decoders. Ranger Over bought a PR 3 and it will read and write his Blue Line RSD 15, yet I cannot read my RSD 15? I using it as a stand alone with the Digitrax PS 14. While speaking with the second person at Digitrax he did say it may be lack of power to the PR 3. I have all so read more than a few times the same thing from other wiser people here. Power inrush from the sound decoder over whelms the smaller power supply. I did ask about using a different power supply and was told it may help. I all so asked what if I smoke it, said it would still be under warranty. (boy he sure does not know me)! Specks on the PS 14 are. Output 14 VDC, 300ma. I have a few old transformers from printers and will check to see what there power specks are. Owners of PR 3 that will read there sound decoders free standing, what specks are on your transformers. It should be on the transformer. I called Tonys Trains, but it was to late to make sure there power pax would work with the PR 3. Here is a link to the power pax. http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/powerpax.htm If it does not work right, it must be mine! Cuda Ken
Ken,
No problems here with a PR3 and QSI decoders. However, if these are the newer decoders like QSI v7 and such, then try direct mode programming, not page mode to read the CVs. I've only had Page mode work with prior versions of QSI decoders. I've never had to use a Pax with any decoders yet.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
jbinkley60No problems here with a PR3 and QSI decoders. However, if these are the newer decoders like QSI v7 and such, then try direct mode programming, not page mode to read the CVs.
jbinkley, what are the specks on your transformer? My newest QSI is in a BLI Class J, bought it Christmass 2006.
Could you check please?
cudaken jbinkley60No problems here with a PR3 and QSI decoders. However, if these are the newer decoders like QSI v7 and such, then try direct mode programming, not page mode to read the CVs. jbinkley, what are the specks on your transformer? My newest QSI is in a BLI Class J, bought it Christmass 2006. Could you check please?
It is a 12VDC 1.2A transformer off of an old Netgear wireless router I had lying around. Note that the transformer is only used when you are programming in stand-alone mode (they call it sound programmer mode) to a piece of track connected to the PR3. If you are going through your DB150, then a transformer isn't needed. I'd highly suggest getting stand-alone mode working first and then connect to Loconet and your DB150 (MS100 mode). I use the PR3 and JMRI in stand-alone mode as well as Digitrax's Soundloader software for their Digitrax sound decoders.
Jeff, that what I needed to know. Yours is 12VDC 1.2 A (is that 1.2 full amps)and mine is 14VDC with 300ma. Guess that means milliamp. Not a full amp.
I am using it as a stand alone, not hooked to the Loconet.
Hope a few more members answer.
Ken if you look at your own thread "Digitrax PR3 problem, what do I need to buy next?" dated May 29 2009. I did give the specks of the power supply, I will repeat.
The brand name is SPN4202A class 2 transformer.
Model no DV-1250
The output is 14V DC at 360 mA.
Cost 3.99 $ CND
For what it is worth, a reading with a regular meter show 16 V AC while reading a decoder.
Jack W.
cudaken Jeff, that what I needed to know. Yours is 12VDC 1.2 A (is that 1.2 full amps)and mine is 14VDC with 300ma. Guess that means milliamp. Not a full amp. I am using it as a stand alone, not hooked to the Loconet. Hope a few more members answer. Cuda Ken
Are you using JMRI ? Have you tried direct mode programming with the QSI decoders ? I am not so sure it is a transformer issue.
Jack, thanks for the answer and sorry I over looked your first answer.
jalajoieSPN4202A
That is the name brand? Seems like a odd name for a company? Where did you happen to buy it?
Thanks for your time as well Jack.
Any other answers?
Ken
jbinkley60 Are you using JMRI ? Have you tried direct mode programming with the QSI decoders ? I am not so sure it is a transformer issue.
My problem is Decoder Pro will not read the sound decoder. All I get is error code 301 and 308.
I may not be correct, but if the PR 3 and JMRI cannot see the decoder, then I would think I could not program the decoder. Am I right?
cudaken jbinkley60 Are you using JMRI ? Have you tried direct mode programming with the QSI decoders ? I am not so sure it is a transformer issue. My problem is Decoder Pro will not read the sound decoder. All I get is error code 301 and 308. I may not be correct, but if the PR 3 and JMRI cannot see the decoder, then I would think I could not program the decoder. Am I right? Cuda Ken
Sorry, I may not have been clear. When I was saying JMRI, I meant Decoder Pro. To your question, there are times when you can not read back a CV but still program one. It is generally due to an insufficient load on the programming track, the decoder doesn't support CV readback or the control station (when you are using one) doesn't support it. You getting the 301 and 308 error codes in Decoder Pro, correct ? What version are you running ? Lastly, when you say you can't read the CV's in the sound decoder, is this a stand-alone sound decoder or is it also the motor controller and already installed in the locomotive (i.e this is not a sound upgrade but from the factory with the QSI decoder already installed) ?
Here's the error codes from the manual
301 — no locomotive detected
The command station has reported that it doesn't see a locomotive on the programming track.
This can happen if the locomotive isn't making good electrical contact or if there's a wiring fault in the locomotive.
308 — No acknowledge from locomotive
At the end of a CV read or write operation, the locomotive replies ("acknowledges") to the command station using a pulse of current.
If that pulse isn't seen, some command stations provide this error message. It could be due to poor electrical connections to the programming track or within the locomotive. It could also be that the decoder doesn't support readback.
Some decoders, particularly certain sound decoders, draw so much current that the reply pulse isn't detected by the command station. In that case, one of the various "programming boosters" may solve the problem.
cudaken Jack, thanks for the answer and sorry I over looked your first answer. jalajoieSPN4202A That is the name brand? Seems like a odd name for a company? Where did you happen to buy it? Thanks for your time as well Jack. Any other answers? Ken
Ken the specks I gave is what is printed on the wall wart. The power supply was purchased from a large discount electronic store where I live. I believe this store retails large bankruptcy stock at a very cheap price.
I have no clue as to what cause your reading problem of sound decoders, my experience using "Service Mode (Programming Track) Programmer" is otherwise.
In fact I have so far connected 6 different computers to JMRI and Digitrax systems (Zephyr and Super Chief) without problem. The last three installation being with the PR3/JMRI combo used solely as a stand alone programmer.
Of course I did encounter the 301 and 308 errors and the problem was traced to a wrong com port set up. I am not saying your installation is wrong, merely relating my experience.
It might be wise to look into Windows device manager to find out what com port is assigned by Windows. I earn a living fixing computers and met with faulty USB port and cable, it may be worth investigating that avenue.
If you have not done it yet, you may take a look at the following link:
http://jmri.sourceforge.net/help/en/html/hardware/loconet/PR3.shtml
If you have dirty tracks or wheels, perhaps a little press on the loco will improve the electrical contact.
Could it be a faulty PR3?
This is the best I can do, good luck.
Just to make sure I wasn't misremembering thiongs, I pulled one of my Atlas MP-15DC Gold units from the box that has a QSI7 equipped decoder and dropped it on the track outputs of my PR3 with Decoder Pro. No command station was involved. It worke fine without doing anything special. I am running Decoder Pro version 2.3.6 . I think I'll actually put the front/rear handrails on this and finally put it on the layout. These QSI units were released in September/October of 2008.
Ken, if you have it working fine in stand-alone mode with Digitrax units and you simply take the Digitrax unit off the track outputs and replace it with a QSI or Lokosound unit and you start getting the error messages, then I suppose it could be the power supply rating. If this is an accurate description of the problem, it wouldn't hurt to try a larger transformer, other than a few extra bucks, which shouldn't make an overall big difference, given what you already have invested.