The ready to use 6-pin phone cords sold in stores (WalMart has them too) are not wired correctly. They are 'phone' style not data, and flip the order of the wires.
HOWEVER - if it's just to run throttles and connect UP5's, it will actually work just fine. But if later on you tap off a UP5 somewhere to hook up something where the polarity DOES matter, like feeding a second booster, or using a BDL168 block detector with Transponding, the mixed up polarity WILL cause problems. See the "making loconet cables" section of the Digitrax manual. I have a whole box full of cables I snagged when we repalced out phone system at work - what I do with them is cut them off at some point and crimp on two new connectors - taking one incorrectly wired cable and making two properly wired cables with only two new ends. I just match the new end to the old one.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hi, Ed!
I also use the SEB and love it.So far , the longest run between my up5's is around 38', shortest is about 14'(each end of a yard). I make my own cables,but the local Big Box sells different lengths of ready-to-go cable.(10,25,50,100').
Hope this helps!
Terry
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
slow train Ed If I could ask Is there a set distance that you can go from one up5 to the next? Or is there a maxum that one can put them apart? Just getting started at wireing my layout .thank you for replys slow train Ed
If I could ask Is there a set distance that you can go from one up5 to the next? Or is there a maxum that one can put them apart? Just getting started at wireing my layout .thank you for replys
slow train Ed
The Digitrax Loconet technology can span 1200 feet with no more than 600 feet between any two devices. Digitrax does make a repeater to segment Loconet and extend the distance but for most home layouts, distance is not an issue.
http://www.digitrax.com/kb/index.php?a=135
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Vince,
The UP5 had 3 RJ12 ports on the back of it for 'daisy chaining' the throttle bus cables. Just run a cable from one of the 2 RJ12 ports on your command station to one of the back-side ports on the UP5. Then run the second cable from one of the other 2 free ports on the UP5 to the next UP5. The ports are self teminating, so there is nothing that needs to be done at the last UP5.
Jim Bernier
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
One cable from the DB150 to one of the back jacks on the first UP5. Another cable from the second back jack on the first up5 to one of the back jacks on the second UP5. And so on.
Good Morning,
I have a Digitrax Super Empire Builder .The question that I have is how do I daisy chain several UP-5's togather.The manual does not show this in detail.
Thanks in advance,
Vince