thanks for the informatoin and the fast responce from all. looks like i will be getting a pr3 .I assume if my local hobby shop cant get it tony's trains will have them. Thanks again. not sure if this the correct way ito repost back into my post sure some one will let me know. Sence im new to the site also .
I have used a Digitrax MS-100 for several years to communicate between my Digitrax Chief and an old Pentium III personal computer running Windows 98SE. The old PC is starting to have problems, so I recently took over my wife's laptop (Windows XP) as Santa brought her a new laptop for Christmas. The MS-100 will not work with the laptop as it only has USB ports. I am starting to move to sound so I recently upgraded to a Digitrax PR3, which uses a USB port, to replace the MS-100. I also have a PR1 and a Powerpax which are now made obslete by the new PR3.
I would agree with the above comments. You need to get a USB Locobuffer or a Digitrax PR3.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
As others have mentioned, the MS100 does not provide a buffered transfer of packets, and it's serial interface is based on dated UART's. I had a Locobuffer II with a USB/Serial interface unit and it works fine off of a USB 1.1 port on an old 600 Mhz computer. That computer and interface are now at our club layout. This is running on XP Professional(SP3).
I currently have a Locobuffer USB attached to a 2.4 Ghz system with USB 2.0 ports for my home layout. This one is running on XP Multimedia Edition(SP3).
If you are really serious about using the MS100, you may need to adjust the baud rates. The UART's in your USB/Serial adapter may not handle the old MS100 speed(or really the other way around). The Locobuffer USB provides a much more solid transfer rate, and you will get less of the 'failed transfer' msg's at the bottom of the Decoder Pro programmer screen in the long run! The $70 for the Locobuffer USB is well worth it. If you are into downloading 'sound projects' into Digitrax Sound FX decoders, the PR3 may be a better solution. Serial interfaces are going away on PC's and you might as well 'bite the bullet' sooner or later.
Jim Bernier
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
rrinker What Steve said. USB to serial adapters don't alwya sprovide the same signals or the same signal levels as a real serial port. Also, even though some new systems might have an actual seerial port, sometimes the signal and voltage levels are altered - it doesn't normally affect operation of actual serial deivces, but ones that rely on the voltages can also be problematic on a modern computer. The Locobuffer or PR3 is definitely the way to go. While the MS100 doe sindeed work, it can 'miss' signals, even in a simplistic setup - I witnessed the Digitrax signallign demo get 'stuck' at the NMRA convention in Philly a few years ago - because the MS100 they were using as an interface 'missed' the occupency detection that said the loco was at the end of the line. So instead of pausing and then goign back the other way, it ran up against the bumper and kept pushing. With a buffered interface like the Locobuffer or PR3, this wouldn't happen. --Randy
What Steve said. USB to serial adapters don't alwya sprovide the same signals or the same signal levels as a real serial port. Also, even though some new systems might have an actual seerial port, sometimes the signal and voltage levels are altered - it doesn't normally affect operation of actual serial deivces, but ones that rely on the voltages can also be problematic on a modern computer.
The Locobuffer or PR3 is definitely the way to go. While the MS100 doe sindeed work, it can 'miss' signals, even in a simplistic setup - I witnessed the Digitrax signallign demo get 'stuck' at the NMRA convention in Philly a few years ago - because the MS100 they were using as an interface 'missed' the occupency detection that said the loco was at the end of the line. So instead of pausing and then goign back the other way, it ran up against the bumper and kept pushing. With a buffered interface like the Locobuffer or PR3, this wouldn't happen.
--Randy
Ditto on all comments. I have both the Locobuffer II and PR3. The PR3 was not available when the Locobuffer II came out. Now that the PR3 is out you may be able to get away with just it. I know the folks at RR-Cirkts say the Locobuffer II is still better (due to optical isolation) but I have found the PR3 adequate and with it I can download sound files to Digitrax sound decoders. I still use both because I have them connected to separate things but both work flawlessly.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Using an MS100 with a USB to serial adapter is problematic at best, because LocoNet (and therefore the MS100) operate at 16600 baud. That's not a standard baud rate, and many USB to serial adapters have trouble providing something close enough.
There is also the issue of the converter providing the correct voltage levels on all the serial pins the MS100 requires. Again, not all USB to serial adapters do.
More info here: http://jmri.org/help/en/html/hardware/loconet/MS100.shtml
My suggestion would be to get either a LocoBuffer USB, or a Digitrax PR3.
LocoBuffer USB: http://www.rr-cirkits.com/ Digitrax PR3: http://www.digitrax.com/prd_compint_pr3.php
(As an aside, the MS100 can work very well with a real serial port. I've had one for years, and have successfully used it with several hardware/OS combinations (and I still do). But my hardware always has a "real" serial port...)
HTH, Steve
hello,
Iam new to dcc. i have a super chief and want to connect to jmri for programmning the locos. I have a computer running windows xp. it has no hard wired com-ports.
I do have a usb to serial adapter that i know works. I do programming with this unit at work. I also have a ms-100 interface.
I tried to connecting using a 9pin to 25 pin adapter between the seriale port and the ms-100 with no luck i used 9600 baud with settings of 8,n,1 respectivally.
im still new to the opperations of the sc so the only programming ive done was setting loco numbers and programming for dc and dcc operations, on the main.
so any help that anyone can give me in getting thease communicating is greatly appreated.
Thank you in advance for any help in getting the sc communicating with the jmri software.