Hi, for several years I used a Digitrax PR3 to connect my old PC (running Windows Vista) to JMRI Decoder Pro. I recently got a new PC running Windows 10, and try as I might, I can't get it to work. I've tried using SoundLoader and Decoder Pro both, but neither can read anything from the programming track. Is there a special problem with Windows 10 that I don't know about??
Have you installed the Win 10 drivers for the PR3? Here is the link from Digitrax:
http://www.digitrax.com/downloads/pr3-windows-xp-and-vista-drivers/
I have Win 10 on my HP Ultrabook, and everything works fine(including the original Win 7 drivers for the PR3). It was upgraded from Win 7 to Win 10 - Took about 2 hours of downloading & rebooting(on a 60 Meg connection)!
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I upgraded my Win 7 computer to Win 10 and the only problem I have been having is that it seems each time I open DP I have to go to the menu under loconet, then Select PR3 mode then select " set interface Mode" to get it to work with the program track. Otherwise no problems.
Bandmjim,
I would go out to the JMRI web site and the JMRI Yahoo Group - I seem to remember that issue being talked about. But I would make sure you have a curent copy of JMRI on your computer(they are issued about 4/year), have a current copy of Java on the computer, and current drivers for your interface.
The JMRI Yahoo Group has a wealth of knowledge...
bandmjim,
I'd guess that you don't have your JMRI preferences set properly for the mode you want to use your PR3.
I have mine set for DecoderPro to use the PR3 as a stand-alone programmer, and for PanelPro to use it as a LocoNet pass-thru device. With that set up, you don't have to make menu selections or use the buttons on the PR3 to set the correct mode. Works great!
Here's more info on How to set up your PR3 preferences in JMRI for each of the two modes:
http://jmri.org/help/en/html/hardware/loconet/PR3.shtml
For the OP: Jim's advice is spot-on.
I think the issue he's talking about is that there's a PR3 firmware upgrade for 64-bit Windows. If your Vista was 32-bit and your Win 10 is 64-bit, you'll want to make sure that firmware update has been applied to your PR3. Here's a link to the firmware and the update instructions:
http://www.digitrax.com/downloads/pr3-firmware/
And here's a link to the Win 10 installation instructions for the PR3:
http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/software/download/26/PR3-Install-Win10.pdf
Thanks guys, I'll check out your suggestions and see if I can get it to go. I used the adorable little disk that came with the PR3 to set it and SoundLoader up, then downloaded and installed the latest version of DecoderPro from the JMRI website. The drivers might be the problem, when I tried to install the Windows 10 drivers per the instructions on the Digitrax site, I kept getting a message saying something like "your system already has the most current drivers installed"...?
wjstix Thanks guys, I'll check out your suggestions and see if I can get it to go. I used the adorable little disk that came with the PR3 to set it and SoundLoader up, then downloaded and installed the latest version of DecoderPro from the JMRI website. The drivers might be the problem, when I tried to install the Windows 10 drivers per the instructions on the Digitrax site, I kept getting a message saying something like "your system already has the most current drivers installed"...?
When you check it in Device manager, does it have the little yellow triangle with an exclamation point which indicates an error? If not, for the time being at least, let's assume that the drivers are correctly installed.
What is the exact error you get from DecoderPro when you try to read from a decoder?
The error message I get is "Stopping due to error: No acknowledge from locomotive (308)". I've tried adding the Windows 10 drivers 10-15 times, each time it says it can't do it because I already have the most recent drivers installed. I've also tried uninstalling / reinstalling both the PR3 and DecoderPro several times.
DO you have the power supply connected to the PR3, and it is known to be working?
What decoder are you trying to read? You can get that error trying to read a Tsunami and some other sound decoders.
Does Soundloader see the PR3? You can only run either Soundloader or JMRI, you can't run both at the same time, the second one you try to start will report the COM port is already in use.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Yes the PR3 is hooked up correctly, and I know you can't use SoundLoader and DecoderPro at the same time. I've been using both for several years now. Everything seems fine until I try to read something, then I get the error message.
The PC came with Windows 7 and I upgraded it to Windows 10 before trying to install Decoder Pro and the PR3. Maybe I will go back to Windows 7 and see if I can get it work with that.
(Edit)
Tried going back to Windows 7, and uninstalling PR3/Soundloader, but PR3 not working. I suspect what has happened is that at some point Windows downloaded the drivers it wanted to download, and now it's blocking me from adding the ones Digitrax wants me to download. Since I don't know where the drivers are, I don't know how to delete them to put in the ones I need, and there apparently is no way to override and force the drivers I want to add.
wjstix The error message I get is "Stopping due to error: No acknowledge from locomotive (308)".
The error message I get is "Stopping due to error: No acknowledge from locomotive (308)".
You'd get a "306 — timeout talking to command station" if your computer couldn't communicate with the PR3. But not getting that error means your drivers are most likely installed okay.
But the 308 means there's a problem somewhere between the PR3 and the loco, so you need to check on that side of the equation:
Is the PR3 powered?
Do you have your JMRI preferences set to use the PR3 as a stand-alone programmer?
Do the connections from the PR3's programming outputs securely connect to the programming track?
Are the programming track and the loco wheels clean and making good contact?
No wiring issues within the loco (pickups to decoder, etc)?
Have you tried a different, non-sound loco?
Here's a couple links to more info:
http://jmri.org/help/en/html/Errors.shtml
Does Soundloader work at all? IIR, Soundloder willt hrow a fit if it can;t see the PR3, even if nothing past that point works, if it can see the PR3 then the drivers are likely installed correctly. Same with JMRI, really. If you can get to the point where it actually loads and takes you to the programming pane, it sees the PR3. Under the Loconet menu there is an option to switch the PR3 mode from programmer to interface - if you do that, the lights should change on the PR3. JMRI normally makes this mode change automatically, but they stuck a manual option in there as well. If JMRI can't communicate with the PR3, you would get an error on load, before the menu screen even appeared.
ANother possibilty - try another USB cable. They can go bad - just takes one wire inside breaking and it will act strange.
Yes I have checked the wires, power etc. All I did was disconnect the PR3 cable from my old computer, remove the old PC, put the new one in place, and plug the cable into that when trying to install the PR3/Soundloader and DecoderPro. First engine I tried reading was a sound-equipped engine, and the sound came on when I opened Soundloader, so it appears the power is on and all the connections are fine. However, I couldn't get anything to read through Soundloader or DecoderPro. I've used both for a couple of years, so I know what settings to check etc. and all of them seem fine.
Anyway, thanks again for the suggestions. Unfortunately it may be this weekend before I can sit down and try them out.