I got my DT402D and UR92 today and am very pleased. It's sure nice not to have to plug-in anymore. I mostly run solo and like to be able to switch back and forth to various locos a lot, including making and breaking consists. This is a perfect setup for me.
I have no need for functions above F12 but it looks like F13-F28 work just fine. I like that you can see all selected functions in the display.
Everything seems to work as advertised with instant response and good range. I never get more than about 15 to 20 feet from the receiver in my basement but I did still get instant response upstairs and in the back yard. I hope that this new system works well for everyone.
Jerry
Rio Grande vs. Santa Fe.....the battle is over but the glory remains!
I have several simplex radio throttles including one DT-400R. I have thought about sending the DT-400R to Digitrax for an upgrade. I am waiting for the new UT-4D throttles to come out this fall and plan to get several of them for my road crews.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
Mine arrived this afternoon as well. Plug in the UR92 power supply, connect to the loconet, put a battery in the DT400D, plug it in for 2 seconds to let it register with the wireless system, unplug an off we go! It took me longer to find an open loconet port to plug it in, than to get it running. I really like the new throttle options setup menu as well. So far very happy. Instant response. It is weird going upstairs 2 flights from the basement and being able to hear the horn on the loco. I have not found anywhere in my house that is does not work, so very happy with the range. K-10 the local hobby shop with a 4000 sq foot layout is looking to install one, so it will be interesting to see how one UR92 runs a huge layout like that?
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
jamnest I have thought about sending the DT-400R to Digitrax for an upgrade.
From what I understand they will be accepting throttles for upgrade sometime in the fall.
I don't use radio, nor do I really have any reason to, the cord on a DT400 reaches all areas of my layout without changing plugs. However, I will have a larger space in another month, so I might consider going wireless. I don't really need 29 functions, but since they're in there anyway...
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I'm not really happy with my DT-400R. (I am comfortable with my old DT-100R and DT-300R throttles.) I use Decoder Pro for programing. The reviews on the DT-402D seem to indicate that it may be worth the $65 to upgrade the DT-400R to a DT-402D.
jamnestI'm not really happy with my DT-400R. (I am comfortable with my old DT-100R and DT-300R throttles.) I use Decoder Pro for programing. The reviews on the DT-402D seem to indicate that it may be worth the $65 to upgrade the DT-400R to a DT-402D.
What is it that you don't like about your DT400R? If it's not a radio-specific issue, you can get an upgrade to a DT402R for a little less money, and use it with your existing UR91('s).
Steve
Stevert jamnest I'm not really happy with my DT-400R. (I am comfortable with my old DT-100R and DT-300R throttles.) I use Decoder Pro for programing. The reviews on the DT-402D seem to indicate that it may be worth the $65 to upgrade the DT-400R to a DT-402D. What is it that you don't like about your DT400R? If it's not a radio-specific issue, you can get an upgrade to a DT402R for a little less money, and use it with your existing UR91('s). Steve
jamnest I'm not really happy with my DT-400R. (I am comfortable with my old DT-100R and DT-300R throttles.) I use Decoder Pro for programing. The reviews on the DT-402D seem to indicate that it may be worth the $65 to upgrade the DT-400R to a DT-402D.
My issue with the DT-400 is too many buttons. For my era I don't need a lot of functions. I use Decoder Pro for programing. I was very happy (and still am) with my DT-100R and DT-300R throttles. After reading how great the DT-400 was, I bought one, and really never got into it. I think trying to punch in all of the CV on a throttle is too complicated when you can use Decoder Pro menus and save the programing. If I have a decoder go "bonkers" I just put it on the programing tack and re-send all of the previously saved CVs back to the decoder from Decoder Pro. Fot the cost of a DT-402D, I would get a PR3 (I have both a PR3 and a MS100) and two UT-4D. I am not bashing Digitrax as I am a satisfied Digitrax (radio) owner for more than ten years. I just don't think the DT-400 is worth the money.
If you don't like the DT400 because of the number of buttons then don't bother with the DT402D as it is virtually the same throttle layout.
I've had mine for a week, now, but have only really been using it since Monday morning. I've been using it to make up and break down consists and dispatch them to UT4Rs in the Fiddle Yard on the Operations Road Show layout in the SIGs room at the NMRA National Convention here in Hartford.
I've been very pleased with how it has worked to date. The only odd behavior I have seen on it was the result of using a questionable cable to connect it to LocoNet. Once that was replaced, it has been rock solid. We have two guys working in our Fiddle Yard, so not having to reach across each other to get to one of the DT400s we use to set up consists has been very nice. I've used my DT402D a total of 9 hours over the past two days.
I very much like the new option setup arrangement, too.
I don't have any good information on battery life yet, since I was drawing from a pool of batteries of various ages, some of which were pretty low when I started.
If I can find a willing volunteer tomorrow, I'll probably send it out with one of the crews on a road job during our 8am session to see how they like it.
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
I got one of the DT402D throttles that had non-functioning F13-F28. Tech Support emailed me the program fix and now it works just fine. Not that I needed functions above F12, but I thought it best to get the fix in case I ever need them in the future.
This is cut and pasted from the Digitrax Yahoo Group
"Hi All,Please be advised that a limited number of DT402's were shipped accidentallywith a diagnostic code version that makes theF13-F28 codes non-functional.If any users have received these units, please contact Digitrax Techsupportdirectly to have the issue resolved promptly.Dave LotzEastern Sales RepresentativeHome Office Information:Digitrax, Inc."
Jerry would you be kind enough to tell us how the patch works.
Jack W.
jalajoieThis is cut and pasted from the Digitrax Yahoo Group "Hi All,Please be advised that a limited number of DT402's were shipped accidentallywith a diagnostic code version that makes theF13-F28 codes non-functional.If any users have received these units, please contact Digitrax Techsupportdirectly to have the issue resolved promptly.Dave LotzEastern Sales RepresentativeHome Office Information:Digitrax, Inc." Jerry would you be kind enough to tell us how the patch works.
Jack,
You just call Tech Support and they will email a file that will allow you to program your DT402 series throttle. You must have a computer connected to the Loconet to do the progamming.
You will receive a zipped file. After extracting the files you should print out the Read Me file which gives you step-by-step instructions. You plug in your throttle to the Loconet and then follow the instructions. The programming goes pretty fast. When complete your throttle display will return to its normal display and you're done.
I don't have internet on my train room computer so I transferred the files to a CD on my office computer and then inserted the CD on my train room computer and then opened the designated file.
If you don't have a computer hooked up to your layout you can send the throttle to Digitrax for a quick turn-around fix (normally one day...and free of course). I'm not sure if you could do this fix with a PR3 connected to a stand-alone computer but you could ask Tech Support about it.
I wasn't sure if my DT402D had the problem because I could display all of the F13-F28 functions but when I tried it on a loco with an MRC deocoder I found that that I got no response above F12. Now they all work just fine.
Thanks for the reply Gerry, I don't have a DT402 yet. I intend to pick a DT402D from Tony at the NMRA Hartford show this Saturday.
jalajoie Thanks for the reply Gerry, I don't have a DT402 yet. I intend to pick a DT402D from Tony at the NMRA Hartford show this Saturday.
I wonder if they would be able to do this progamming at the show for you, that is if the throttle you get even needs it? Or maybe at the Digitrax booth? I envy you being able to go the show.
jwils1 I wonder if they would be able to do this progamming at the show for you, that is if the throttle you get even needs it? Or maybe at the Digitrax booth? I envy you being able to go the show.
They were able to update it at the Digitrax booth, and did. At the show, my brother bought a DT402D that had the debugging code in the way, and AJ performed the update in under five minutes from his laptop.