Using MRC control with Digitrax DCC system

[Anonymous]

I have been using a Digitrax system for a few years and have enjoyed it very much. My problem now is I bought an MTH PRR K4 4-6-2 that has 28 functions and my DT400 controller only has 12. Is it possible to use an MRC controller with my Digitrax or do I have to put in a new system just for the one locomotive? I know Digitrax planned to issue a 28 function controller last year but backed out.

[fmilhaupt]

Nope- you can't plug an MRC handheld into a Digitrax system and have it work. They're incompatible. The NMRA DCC standard dosn't deal with the throttle bus, so the throttles from one brand generally don't work with another's command station.

The exceptions have been the cases where a company manufactures a control system under its own name, and also makes one for another company. Lenz and Atlas was one such pair, and NCE and Wangrow was another.

 

[CSX Robert]

I haven't looked at the function list for an MTH locomotive, but I know for other brands the most used functions are nere the bottom of the list. I have an Athearn Challenger with 28 functions and a Digitrax Zephyr, and I don't miss the upper functions at all. Also, if you have a computer in your layout room, the lastest version of JMRI will let you control functions up to F28 with the on screen throttle using Digitrax.

[simon1966]

I know Digitrax planned to issue a 28 function controller last year but backed out.

 I think you will find it is delayed, rather than that they backed out.  In fact it may not even really be delayed as I am not aware that Digitrax ever officially announced a release date.  There was plenty of rumor and speculation that it would come out before Christmas, but that is all it was, rumor and speculation.

[Phoebe Vet]

As long as we are on this compatability thread......

 

Are stationary decoders, detection systems, transponding systems, etc. compatable between systems?

[locoworks]

I haven't looked at the function list for an MTH locomotive, but I know for other brands the most used functions are nere the bottom of the list. I have an Athearn Challenger with 28 functions and a Digitrax Zephyr, and I don't miss the upper functions at all. Also, if you have a computer in your layout room, the lastest version of JMRI will let you control functions up to F28 with the on screen throttle using Digitrax.

  

will it really?? i ask because i thought the funtionality of the jmri software was limited to what the command station can do?   i know my old chief needs an upgrade to work the functions above 8 or 9 to 12, but my empire builder can run 12 functions out the box because it is newer. do digitrax actually have the 28 functions programmed into the command station even though they don't yet produce a throttle to access them??    we might be waiting for a DT900R with duplex radio to do all things ;-)   in around 2020...

[CSX Robert]

Yes it will. There is a Loconet command to send a DCC packet, and I believe that is what JMRI uses to activate the higher numbered functions. Using that command JMRI can send any valid DCC packet to the rails using a Digitrax command station.

[locoworks]

thanks for the info, i am fairly sure that the jmri decoder pro can't read back CV's using an empire builder because that command station can't? and this is why i assumed it couldn't send function commands either.

[jfugate]

I have to ask ...

Okay now, from memory (no cheating), what do those 28 functions DO? Can you list them all by function key correctly without peeking?

Or let's test your memory this way ... what's the 17th letter of the alphabet? The alphabet only has 26 letters ... so it should be easy!

While the loco may have 28 functions, if you have a reality attack, in practical terms you won't use more than 5 or 6 functions ordinarily. Figure out the 12 functions you would be most likely to use and remap them to your function keys. That will still give you more functions than most people will be able to easily remember.

If many of those sounds can be mapped to come on randomly or automatically on some event, all the better. I like lots of sounds as much as the next guy, but 28 function keys is mostly marketing hype to sell locos. You'll need a cheat sheet as long as your arm to remember what f-key does what.

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

thanks for the info, i am fairly sure that the jmri decoder pro can't read back CV's using an empire builder because that command station can't? and this is why i assumed it couldn't send function commands either.

These are fairly unrelated facts.  The difference is this....if the command station can't dtect the current being drawn by the decoder (which is how it talks back, it is very brute force) all of the software in the world in front of it won't help.  As has been said, I think the command  station just sends the packet from the JMRI software to the track, it doens't know or care what's in it.

[Stevert]

I haven't looked at the function list for an MTH locomotive, but I know for other brands the most used functions are nere the bottom of the list. I have an Athearn Challenger with 28 functions and a Digitrax Zephyr, and I don't miss the upper functions at all. Also, if you have a computer in your layout room, the lastest version of JMRI will let you control functions up to F28 with the on screen throttle using Digitrax.

  

will it really?? i ask because i thought the funtionality of the jmri software was limited to what the command station can do?   i know my old chief needs an upgrade to work the functions above 8 or 9 to 12, but my empire builder can run 12 functions out the box because it is newer. do digitrax actually have the 28 functions programmed into the command station even though they don't yet produce a throttle to access them??    we might be waiting for a DT900R with duplex radio to do all things ;-)   in around 2020...

  Wow, your Chief is really old!  That chip upgrade goes back to when the NMRA changed the DCC spec from 8 functions to 12.

  From what I understand, what the upgrade does is allow the Chief to pass along the commands for the higher functions, which are actually generated in the throttle itself (Information about the functions up to F8 is kept in the slot for that loco). 

  Therefore, whether or not you need the chip upgrade to access the higher functions with a JMRI software throttle would probably depend on how JMRI formats those commands - Are they the same as those generated by a hardware Digitrax throttle, or are they some other format?

  I don't know the answer to that question, but I'm sure the JMRI developers can tell you:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jmriusers/ 

Steve 

[jamnest]

I have an older Digitrax Chief and I need to send it in to get it upgraded if I want to go beyond F8.  The cost is only $35 and I need to send in my DT400R for repair anyway.  The DT400R made too many trips to the canyon (concrete floor) and its brains are scrambled! 

I had started another thread on what all of these functions might be.  I would agree with Joe Fugate regarding trying to recall 28 functions when you are operating your locomotive.  I received my first sound equiped locomotive (Atlas MP15) for Christmas.  There are only a few sounds (horn & bell) which I feel that I need.

JIM

[jalajoie]

  

will it really?? i ask because i thought the funtionality of the jmri software was limited to what the command station can do?   i know my old chief needs an upgrade to work the functions above 8 or 9 to 12, but my empire builder can run 12 functions out the box because it is newer. do digitrax actually have the 28 functions programmed into the command station even though they don't yet produce a throttle to access them??    we might be waiting for a DT900R with duplex radio to do all things ;-)   in around 2020...

At the recent West Springfield show I spoke with Digitrax reps, they now speak more openly about their two way wireless system, they said it should be announced sometime in June. They also mentioned their DSC100 command station can support 28 functions, all that is needed is a throttle that also support it. They did not denied that a new throttle is in the works.

[CSX Robert]

For the most part, I agree that 28 functions is overkill. As I said before, I have an Athearn Challenger(N-scale). The only sounds I can remember off the top of my head are the bell(F1), whistle(F2), and conductor(F6). If I ran it more often, I might remember a few more, but not many.

I can think of a couple of reasons for wanting access to all of the functions though. One unfortunate thing about the Challenger is you can not remap the functions, so if one of the sounds that you really want to control is a higher function, you can not map it to a lower function key.

The other reason for wanting the higher functions is also what I consider one of the best uses for the higher function keys, and this is for shortcuts for changing settings. On the Challenger, several of the functions scroll through types of a sound or volume settings. This is easier and quicker than programming a CV over and over again until you find the settings you want.

[Kutter]

nope they won't work.  Digitrax is a 6 wire system while MRC is an 8 wire system.  The connection's on the port are 2 different sizes.

[modelmaker51]

nope they won't work.  Digitrax is a 6 wire system while MRC is an 8 wire system.  The connection's on the port are 2 different sizes.

The different connections they have are not the only reason, The main reasons are the internal electronic differences, the connections are only incidental.