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DT 400 throttle

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  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 419 posts
DT 400 throttle
Posted by UpNorth on Friday, March 14, 2008 8:43 PM

My DT400/DCS100 has issues with the Tsunami decoder.

You can  setup the decoder for functions 1 thru 12. Problem is every time I try and set this up I get doubled functions. 

1 thru 4 are no issue. The problems start from 5 and up. If I put :

function 5 = dim

function 6 = water stop    

function 7 = coupler

function 8 = mute

And put normal for  functions group 2 and 3 exchange under advanced.

Functions will not work. 

If I  exchange group 2 and 3,  I get  5,6,7 and 8 to operate.  Problem is they now also respond to 9,10,11, and 12 also.  I am at a loss to determine if the throttle or the DCS100 are at the source. 

Any suggestions ?

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Charlotte, NC
  • 6,099 posts
Posted by Phoebe Vet on Saturday, March 15, 2008 11:55 AM
 davidmbedard wrote:

How old is your DCS100?  The older 100s only support up to F10.  However, for 35 dollars, you can get the guts of your DCS100 upgraded to support F28.

David B

I don't believe that's true.  I am not aware of any Digitrax product that supports above F-12.  Do you have a reference link that describes that upgrade?

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Kansas
  • 808 posts
Posted by jamnest on Saturday, March 15, 2008 12:03 PM
I just got my DCS-100 back from Digitrax with the new chip upgrade for $35.00.  The upgrade takes your DCS-100 from eight (8) functions to twelve (12) functions only.

Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 419 posts
Posted by UpNorth on Saturday, March 15, 2008 12:33 PM

I have no use for 28 functions. but I'd like to have  1 to 12 to function as it should.

Before the upgrade was your DT400 giving you the issue I mention ?.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 419 posts
Posted by UpNorth on Saturday, March 15, 2008 2:02 PM

Possible, but does not answer my question.  Before the upgrade what how did it handel  the 4 additional functions:  did nothing or did as I mentionned in post and sent out the same command on all F9 thru F12. 

I see in Loconet monitor that I am sending F0 thru to F8.  I'm also sending F9 thru to F12 but in a different packet format than seen with F0 thru F8.  

As I mention in post I must swap group 2 (5,6,7,8) for group 3 (9,10,11,12) to get 5,6,7,8 to work. It makes no sense to me.

By the way , I'm doing these changes via DecoderPro

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Kansas
  • 808 posts
Posted by jamnest on Saturday, March 15, 2008 2:54 PM
 UpNorth wrote:

My DT400/DCS100 has issues with the Tsunami decoder.

You are programing a sound decoder.  The DCS-100 does not do "blast mode" programing, which is needed for sound decoders. (The Digitrax Zepher does blast mode, but not the DCS-100 or DB-150)  Eventhough you are using Decoder Pro, you are programing your sound decoder through your Digitrax DCS-100.  I would suggest you purchase a "Power Pacs" (I have one as I just got my first sound locomotive.) for your Digitrax system.  I have a Digitrax Chief and use the Power Pacs with Decoder Pro.

Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 419 posts
Posted by UpNorth on Saturday, March 15, 2008 3:37 PM

Wrong..  I have PowerPax (even thow it works perfectly without it)... that is not the issue at all.  I'm trying to understand the difference between the swap group 2, 3 and the normal setting for CV 30 on this Backmann Tsunami.  The original Tsunami's I have also do the same thing.  It is not a issue of unable to program at all.

Before you had the update done to your DCS100, how were the F9 thru 12 responding is what I would like to know. Mine respond but give the same sound  as defined on F6 function, in my case that is the water stop.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Kansas
  • 808 posts
Posted by jamnest on Saturday, March 15, 2008 4:01 PM

OK...just a thought on the Power Pax.

Before the upgrade I did not try the functions above eight.  I have one sound locomotive, Atlas MP15 and don't do much function programing other than lights and bell.

I don't use my DT400 for programing and don't much care to use it in operating (too man buttons).  I have older DT-100R and DT-300R throttles.  Since I use Decoder Pro for programing my throtles are primarily for speed control, lights and bell.  My DT-400R was not responding due to too many trips to the canyon (concrete basement floor.)  I wanted it in service for operating sessions, so when I sent it to Digitrax for repair, I decided to get the DCS-100 upgraded at the same time.  In fact I had started another post regarding the use for aditional functions.

Sorry, that I can not be of further assistance to you with your problem.

Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Christiana, TN
  • 2,134 posts
Posted by CSX Robert on Sunday, March 16, 2008 1:01 AM
 Phoebe Vet wrote:
 davidmbedard wrote:


How old is your DCS100? The older 100s only support up to F10. However, for 35 dollars, you can get the guts of your DCS100 upgraded to support F28.

David B



I don't believe that's true. I am not aware of any Digitrax product that supports above F-12. Do you have a reference link that describes that upgrade?



No current Digitrax throttle supports above F12, but the current DCS-100 and Zephyr command stations do. You can access them using the on screen throttle available in JMRI. I don't have a link that describes it, but I have controled all of the functions on my Athearn Challenger using my PC and Digitrax Zephyr.
  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 419 posts
Posted by UpNorth on Sunday, March 16, 2008 2:19 AM

Great thanks.  I gave up. It works, just makes no sense.

 

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