Programming using a computer

[Kelly523]

I have a digitrax system now and i am looking at PR3 SoundFX USB Decoder Programmer to use with my computer. I already downloaded JMRI decoder pro3 and Panel pro. Will all this work or will i need more and is this the wright stuff. As anyone used the PR3, will it make life easier when programming and can it be used with other brands.

Thanks for any help on this.

george

[simon1966]

Yep the PR3 is the ideal USB PC interface to connect a Digitrax system to a PC and run Decoder Pro.  You can program CV's of any brand of decoder with it.  You can not upload sound schemes to anything other than a Digitrax sound decoder with it.  I use one all the time and could not imagine not using one to program decoders.  The JMRI program is what makes all the difference. 

[jrbernier]

  You have the 'Right Stuff'!  I have my Win7 laptop attached to a Digitrax Zephyr Xtra via a PR-3.  I am using JMRI Decoder Pro to program my engines.  The setup is pretty straight forward.  Here are a couple of 'got-cha's':

• The port your PR-3 shows up in Windows needs to be configured in the Decoder Pro software.  Go into Start-Control Panel-System-Device Manager.  Click on Ports - Mine happens to be in COM4 - If you click on the individual port, it is the one with 'Digitrax, Inc' in the General Properties.  Then start Decoder Pro and use the Edit-Preferences  to configure the serial port with the COM port you found in Device Manager. 
• On the PR-3, there is a program track connector near the USB connector.  This is for the 'stand-alone' programming output when not  using your Digitrax system.  For normal JMRI programming, you still want to use the PROGA and PROGB connectors on the Digitrax system unit.  This applies to both the Zephyr and Chief series units.  The Empire Builder(DB150) unit does not have a dedicated program track.

  I use the 'roster' feature of Decoder Pro and program most everything from the 'program track'.  You are going to love using Decoder Pro!

Jim

[rrinker]

 The PR3 can operate two ways. The instructions will mention a configuration button and "winking' vs 'blinking' LEDs - however with JMRI you do not need to worry about this, JMRI changes the PR3 mode as required.

 To use with your system, you use what the PR3 manual calls "MS100 mode" which means it acts as an interface between your computer and Loconet. You will need a Loconet cable to connect between the PR3 and an available Loconet jack on your system. In JMRI you will define the connection as PR3 for the device type, and whichever command station you have as the command station. This method will NOT allow you to read CVs if you have a DB150, it can only read, same as using the throttle. In fact, that's really all JMRI does - it acts like a throttle in your system, so it cannot add capabilities that the system iteslef dos not have. But instead of dialing up CVs on the throttle, you pick options from plain English menus to configure the decoders. ANd you cna run trains with on-screen throttles or if you have an Apple or Android device you can use WiThrottle/ENgine Driver to run trains from a phone or tablet.

 The other PR3 mode is 'standalone' - the PR3 attaches to your computer, and there are two track terminals on the PR3 that connect to a piece of track to make a program track. Your system is not involved, You do need a power supply for the PR3 to do this, mine works great and programs all decoders, even sound, with the PS14, others have had to get a higher voltage pwoer supply, 20V is the maximum, 18V is a good option. This configuration will read and write decoders, even if your actual system does not have readback, because only the PR3 is involved. You can;t run trains this way, just program them. For this option you set JMRI up as a PR3 interface, PR3 as the command station.

                      --Randy