Hi guys.
I'm at witt's end with our DCC system. It is a DCS200 Digitrax. 8amp.
Power supply is a PS515, 5 amps, 15V ac (is this properly matched?)
I have a dedicated programming track, a Soundtrax programming booster,
DT402 throttle, and yet I can't read a single CV in Programming mode,
Every CV I try to read comes up 255, no matter what I do. I'm ready to smash the Digitrax system. I've tried several locos, different brands, Atlas, Broadway limited, Athearn with Tsunami, and it doesn't matter.
I have been able to change 2 digit addresses in the past, but thats all I've been able to do.
Our trains run, but there seems to be an issue where the track power is on sometimes, but nonw of the locos respond until we do a Run-Stop/N then Run-Stop/Y a few times.
Any thoughts.
Thanks,
Tobes
Sounds like the booster is scrambled. I there a way to reset the booster?
I have a similar system and I can read and change any CV on my program track. Reset directs are here
http://www.digitrax.com/tsd/KB1029/resetting-option-switches-dcs100dcs200/
I would contact Digitrax first if I were you. That behavior is not normal.
Lee
^ This. This does not sound normal. I will note that certain OLDER DCC decoders like MRC didn't read at all because they took too long to respond (outside NRMA spec)
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Sounds like the PTB-100 is dead, or not connected correctly. DO you have any motor-only decoders, preferably NOT Bachmann DCC OnBoard ones, because they also are known to have issues? Wire a separate piece of track to the pgm A and pgm B terminals and try reading that one.
Closing OpSw 39 on the command station will completely reset it, worth trying. Switch on front of the unit from RUN to OpSW. Plug throttle directly into DCS200. Select Switch, 39, and hit Closed. Power doen the system, set the switch on the front back to Run, turn it back on. (this is also in the back fo the manual)
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
You guys have given me some good ideas of things to try and I really appreciate it. Was having a bad morning yesterday with this stuff.
I've changed the battery on the DCS once before, and just noticed this morning that the Audible beeps are chiming seven times - which according to the manual...the battery is low! Fortunately, I have a battery handy and will make the switch. I'll try just the battery switch with the "hot swap" method first (pg 31 of the manual), see if it's better, and if not, do the complete reset.
One question I have - if I do a complete reset...will I lose the address settings of my NCE stationary decoders?
Last night, we checked all of the cables with a cable tester - all good, also - all UP3 plugs are good.
The PTB100 is set up corretly, just checked the wiring again, and it was only when I added that unit that I was able to even change the address on an Athearn Genesis unit (before adding PTB100, I couln't even change the address!) Wiring is good on the unit, has a nice slow green flash as supposed to. Will check for the yellow LED flash when sending a program change - perhaps an address change.
I'll let you all know how it goes.
-Tobes
You won't lose the address in the stationay decoders, but if you built any routes in the DCS200, those will be erased when you pull the battery. That's the best full reset you can do though, wipes everything for sure. However, there are actually 2 battery slots in the unit, so you can put in a new battery BEFORE removing the old.
Depending where you get the batteries, it's not unusual for what you think is a brand new one to be dead. Especially if purchased in quantity on ebay - I've heard of as many as 50% of a large lot DOA - annoying, but it still works out that the good ones per battery are far less expensive than picking one up at the grocery store.
Note that certain defaults will need to be reset if you reset the DCS200. The default setting is 22 slots, to get the full 120 slots there is an OpSw to change. That's the most critical one. If you've made other changes to the system configuration by changing OpSw values from their defaults, those will need to change as well since everything will be at the default.
Have a Digitrax Zepher for programing, programing track and a piece of flex for a short main. Hooked up the Soundtraxx booster, worked on the older decoders, did not work with the 2 or the eco models. Took it out of the system and programed on the main, or in blast mode. Worked fine, could read and write. Just my experence with the booster,