If you use the PR3 in MS100 mode through the Zephyr's programming track you may need the booster.
Use it as a PR3 stand alone programmer and you should be successful without a programming booster .
For programming, you can use either the MS100 or PR3 from Digitrax, or the LocoBuffer from RRCirKits. And before you spend money on a programming booster, try using blast mode on the Zephyr.
Steve
I have a Zephyr and use it, my PC, DecoderPro and a LocoBuffer-USB to program all of my locos. I don't have any Tsunami sound decoders, but I do have DSD-100LC, DSD-101LC, DSX, MRC and QSI/Broadway decoders.
I haven't had any problems with the system.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
I use locobuffer II (pre usb one) Decoder Pro and my Zephyr and have no problems programming QSI, Tsunami, Loksound or MRC with this setup. No program booster needed for me.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
I've had no issue programming QSI or ESU decoders on a Zephyr with no additional boosters. The auto setting of CV29 when changing to a 4 digit address failes with QSI but that's because the crazy thing has a huge lag where, if programming in ops mode on the main, it would 'speak' the numbers just plugged into CV17 and CV18. So when Digitrax goes to send the CV29 value the decoder is not ready to receive an additional programming command. So you just set CV29 manually afterwards.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Awesome fellas. Thanks for the info.
I had a very helpfull guy at a DCC shop tell me I needed the booster as well as the PR3. I think I'll try the PR3 alone and possibly the blast mode in Zephyr. I am intrigued by the Decoder Pro and think it's a smart way to go and not get bloody fingers.
Any more pointers?
Birdog
What exactly do you mean by program?
If you want to set CVs for acceleration, start voltage and simple stuff like horn/whistle volume, then most of this can be done on a program track or in program-on-the-main mode. Since I don't have a Zephyr, I won't even try to make suggestions on that.
However, if you want to actually program the sound files, like changing from one chuff sound to another one, or custom-building your own sounds for a non-supported engine type, then you can not do that without a sound programmer specific to the decoder maker. So, you will need a Digitrax PR3 to replace the sound files (or "sound project" as Digitrax calls them) with a different one. But, if you're trying to do the same for a LokSound decoder, you'll need (you guessed it) a programmer by LokSound. The PR3 won't work on those sound files, and a LokSound programmer won't help with a Digitrax SoundBug.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
What I want to do is program the decoders on my computer. I don't want to mess around (yet) with sound files etc. I have QSI and Tsunami equiped locos and I have been told that the Zephyr is unable to do the programming on the programming track without a booster. However I would prefer to do the programming on my PC so I can see the data and build a roster. I am not into consisting, speed matching, etc etc. So I am either going to buy the PR3 and PowerPax or just the PR3. I have read on other boards that the PR3 will program sound decoders without using a booster. I have also read that you can use it stand alone, i.e. not hooked up to a command station. It is beginning to sound like their are 60 ways to skin the cat and some folks have success and others don't. I was just trying to save some cash and only have to purchase one of the items. Ops mode can work too but again I want to use the PC and with Ops mode I am hesitant with a newly installed Tsunami, don't want to blow the thing out.
But what the heck, it's just more cool stuff for my pike right?
Birdog, you have several users of the Zephyr here that happily program Tsunami and QSI decoders on the program track without the need for a booster. I don;t own a booster and don't see any point as my Z has never failed to program a decoder.
Thanks Simon.
I think I will give it a whirl without and see how it goes.
Are you using a computer interface, or decoder pro with the Z?
Thanks for the time.
As mentioned above, I use the Locobuffer (mine is the II model that predates the current USB version) and Decoder Pro software. I consider Decoder Pro to be an invaluable addition to the layout.
reviving an old post I realise but this thread came up when I did a search. Anyhow....i have been successfully proramming sound decoders with my zephyr xtra/pr3/jmri combo for a while. the other day i changed the bell volume on a qsi with no problem. next day decided to change it's speed table. jmri could not read the address. it still responds its assigned address but decoder pro can't read the manufacturer code or the address. i put it on a temp program track connected only to the command station...same result. any ideas?
Dean
30 years 1:1 Canadian Pacific.....now switching in HO
Since this is an old string, could be the horses are not only out of the barn already, but in the next county by now...but anyway, to clarify something raised earlier, you can hook up the PR3 directly to a PC running JMRI, with the PR3 hooked up to a separate programming track not connected to the layout or DCC system. In the past I've used JMRI to do the 'major' programming, then moved the engine over the layout and used my DCC system to program a CV here and there to 'tweak' things. Nice thing about JMRI is once the engine is set exactly the way you want it, you can save the settings in Decoder Pro. If something happens and you need to re-set everything, you've got it all there. Also helpful if you buy a new engine with the same type of decoder, you can use the other engine's file to quickly program things like lighting, volumes etc. with Decoder Pro.
I've only had trouble with one or two sound engines that seemed like they needed a booster. It's not a problem to hook one up 'just in case', it won't prevent you from programming decoders that don't need the booster.
Thanks Stix. I don't understand why JMRI or my command station both fail to read the decoder yet the engine still responds to all commands. I used the same setup to program the decoder that is now failing to read it's values! All my other sound decoders are still being read on the programming track.
Dirsty program track? Dirty wheels on the loco? Dirty pickups? Wire connecting tot he program track oxidizing at the ends, or screw not fully tighted? How do the wires connect to the program track, soldered to the rails, or soldered to rail joiners slid on the rails? In short, any place there is a mechanical interface in the electricla path from system to decoder is a potential sport for issues to occur. Since the program track is very low current, it is entirely possible that the loco would run perfectly fine on the main but have enough of a contact issue to not program on the program track.
Thanks Randy I checked all that. Prog track wires are soldered to the rail. I could read the decoder values one day then not the next, and still not today This is a Walther's SW 800/900 with a QSI decoder. All other sound decoders are read by JMRI.
Do none sound decoders still work fine on the program track (to rule out an issue with the Zephyr itself)?
Try putting the loco on the main and running it, then mute the sound, then move it to the program track. But really, if it worked one day it should continue to work, although I never had much success writing an address to a QSI decoder until I got a DT400 to use with my Zephyr. Even with the verbal response turned off, the QSI firmware seems to need the time when it would speak the CV values before accepting another, and the Zephyr just sends CV17-CV18-CV29 when setting the address - usually the CV29 change is missed. With the DT40x throttles, when you set a long or short address, it prompts you for confirmation before sending the CV29 value, which even if you are really fast on the buttons is enough time for the decoder to respond. ANd with a DT-402, it keeps asking you over and over, so you can say Yes to the prompt 3 or 4 times before exiting, and be pretty sure it got at least one of them.