Do I need a DT 400 to program using the booster PTB-100? I am trying to use it with the DSC50 Zephyr.
Am trying to program an engine number on an Atheran gp7/9 with a Sountraxx Tsunami decorder. Am using a Digitrax DSC50 Zypher.
Won't program. I get a DnD reading on programing track. WAS told I needed a track booster, the PTB-100. Got same and wired up per instructions.
DnD still response on the program track. In some more reading it appears that to use the PYB-100 I need a DT 400. Is that correct?
Thanks for all info. Roger
Roger,
That is sort of expected with Tsunami sound decoders. With either the DCS50 or DCS51 Zephyr units, you can set the unit to 'blast mode' - it seems to be able to program everything. What you need to do is:
Here is the complete write up from Digitrax:
http://www.digitrax.com/tsd/KB33/programming-soundtraxx-tsunami-decoders-with-digit/
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I'm reading your problem as you have a DSC50 and a recently purchased PTB-100 and are trying to make them work together. Should work without a DT400. Check to make sure your power supply to the PTB-100 is within the requirements. Check all your wiring. Get the DCS50 into the correct programming mode. Try reading back CVs with the PTB-100 as a test. Use a nonsound decoder first.
Lee
I have an NCE PH-Pro, not a Digitrax Zephyr, but I did initially add a PTB-100 as a signal booster when I started purchasing locos with sound decoders. I had so many problems with the PTB-100 that I replaced it with a Power Pax and my problems ended. I can now read and program any sound decoder including QSI and Tsunami.
Rich
Alton Junction
Wierd, most people have had the opposite experience, the PowerPax fails on Tsunamis so they get a PTB-100 and it works with all.
Me, I don;t use any of that stuff. My Zephyr just seems to work, even reads Tsunami, but that won't even be a consideration any more, my last one and only Tsunami is leaving the property today, replaced with Loksound which doesn't have inrush issues. One QSI left, but I have no problem programming that, either.
I do use a DT40x and not the Zephyr console, but where that made a difference is when setting the address, on QSI, it seems the Zephyr spits out CV17, CV18, and CV29 too fast for the QSI to register it all, and it often misses the CV29, so you end up with a long address programmed in CV17 and 18, but CV29 is still set to use the short address. Just manually setting the correct value for CV29 corrects this. But when using a DT400 to set the address, this doesn't happen - all because the DT400 sends the CV17 and 18 values and then prompts you to confirm changing to a 4 digit address. That seems to be enough delay, until you press the Y key, that even the QSI gets it.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Wierd, most people have had the opposite experience, the PowerPax fails on Tsunamis so they get a PTB-100 and it works with all.
It could have just been my experience, Randy. When I got my first steam engine with sound, I found that I could not program it on the Programming Track. The PTB-100 was suggested to me, so I bought one, but I had no end of problems with it. I sent it in twice for repair, and then finally replaced it with the Power Pax.
I used the same setup, a Zephyr and a PTB-100, it worked correctly on all decoders include Tsunami, please recheck your wiring, and use a programing track isolated from the layout.
Edit: btw-I didn't need to use "blast mode" with the PTB, I purchased the PTB because I never could get "blast mode" to work.
I since have moved up to JMRI and Sprog III, this setup also worked correctly so I sold the PTB-100 on Ebay.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Thanks for all the replies. I have used Blast Mode, but it has never work with my sound decodes . Thus the purchase of the PTB-100. Have been trying to read back cv's but continue to get the DND response. Have also tried the resistor across track A and B. Of the programing track. So since snow is setting in for the week end I will follow the advice given above to see what I might be doing wrong. Thanks again.
Well the snow is still flying here, but I can smile as I have now gotten all engines (6) now running on their engine numbers. Thank you all for the replies and information. I decided to try Blast one more time after rereading from Jim's message the Digitrax web site info. Thought I had done all that it stated, however this time the engine numbers changed with out a problem. Even change one twice as it was not on the isolated track as I had thought. So let the snow fall, more time in the train roon. Thanks again for all the help. Roger