Newer DCC systems and programming boosters?

[darrel480]

I am in the process of upgrading my dcc system from an Atlas Commander to either Digitrax, NCE or MRC.  One of the reasons I want to do this is because I have acquired N scale sound locos and want to be able to program them without having to buy a programming booster.  Will any of these systems still require the purchase of a program booster or do the newer systems all have enough programming power to program for example, a BLI Paragon2 decoder?

[Stevert]

  I have a several-years-old Digitrax Super Chief, and have read/programmed QSI, Soundtraxx LC, and BLI decoders on it's programming track with no programming booster and absolutely no problems. 

  I also have a Digitrax PR3, and have had identical success with it, as well as having used it to upload new sound schemes to a few Digitrax sound decoders.

Steve

[selector]

I use the old Klunk, the Super Empire Builder by Digitrax.  The set is really outdated in some respects, but the DB150 booster has no trouble on small 'programming' tracks or on the main.  It can programme any decoder I have (Tsunami diesel and steam, QSI's of all sorts, Loksound 3.5,...)  What the SEB can't do is read to the user the current value in any one CV.  But all the decoders nod to the Emperor when they ride by.

-Crandell

[tstage]

Darryl,

I have an NCE Power Cab.  The Power Cab is designed with a little extra oomph in programming track mode for just this purpose.

Although I haven't had my Power Cab as long as Steve has had his Super Chief, like Steve - I've never had an issue programming sound decoders with it.

Tom

[Hamltnblue]

The biggest problems people usually have isn't programming the decoders, but reading values back from the decoder.

[mreagant]

I recently took the jump from an old MRC Command 2000 to a MRC PA Wireless.  Although I'm still very low on the learning curve, it has been able to do anything on the programming track that I tried without any booster.  That includes CV readback on some decoders that are very early generation, as well as, resetting sound volume on a new BLI Blueline.

Well, in honesty, it did fail one task.  I repeatedly asked it for speed curve readbacks on one new Blueline F7, but got no information.  I solved the problem when I took the body off and discovered there was no motion decoder in it.  I guess it can't do the loaves and fishes miracle.

[CSX Robert]

tstage

..The Power Cab is designed with a little extra oomph in programming track mode for just this purpose...

That's not exactly true. As a cost savings measure, the PowerCab was designed without a separate programming track output. Since it uses the main track outputs for programming, it's programming current is not limited(this is similar to Digitrax's Empire Builder System, except that the PowerCab does have readback capability, which the Empire Builder does not). Systems that have a separate set of programming outputs usually have the current on the programming output limited(per NMRA Recommended Practice 9.2.3) which is what causes some of them to have trouble programming sound decoders.

[rrinker]

CSX Robert

tstage

..The Power Cab is designed with a little extra oomph in programming track mode for just this purpose...

That's not exactly true. As a cost savings measure, the PowerCab was designed without a separate programming track output. Since it uses the main track outputs for programming, it's programming current is not limited(this is similar to Digitrax's Empire Builder System, except that the PowerCab does have readback capability, which the Empire Builder does not). Systems that have a separate set of programming outputs usually have the current on the programming output limited(per NMRA Recommended Practice 9.2.3) which is what causes some of them to have trouble programming sound decoders.

 

Although I keep hearing about this 'blast mode' option on the Zephyr, I never changed anything in mine and was able to program QSI and Loksound decoders. Some say you need to enable this for it to work, beats me. It's an undocumented setting if it's really there.

You can program ANYTHIGN with programmign on the main - you can even change the address, although not the 'active' one - for example if the loco currently is short address 03, you can set a long address and change to it, but you typcially can't change the short address. If the loco current has a long address, you can change the short address, but typically can't change the long address. Downside is you can't read back CV values on the main, but that's what DecoderPro is for.

                                          --Randy

 

[Phoebe Vet]

I have the Digitrax Super Chief, a PR3 and Decoder Pro.  So far I have not encountered a decoder that it cannot read or write.

[jbinkley60]

Phoebe Vet

I have the Digitrax Super Chief, a PR3 and Decoder Pro.  So far I have not encountered a decoder that it cannot read or write.

Same here.

 

[jamnest]

I have a Digitrax Chief which I still use an old MS-100 and DecoderPro for programing and layout interface.  I was told to buy a power pax to program sound locomotives and have it connected to my home layout via MS-100. With DecoderPro I can also use my MS-100 or PR3 as a multiple computer based throtles.

I have a PR3 to use with my laptop as I am working away from home and using the time to add decoders to my locomotife fleet.I have one of my Digitrax DB150 boosters on the road to use as a command station to test run locomotives.  It all works great no problems programing sound decoders with a stand alone PR3.