on another thread I had mentioned problems with this set up ,being totally new to this system and dcc for that matter ,I decided to contact digitrax bye e-mail and got a" read the disk that came with pr3 " type response to my problem. well I will try here and see if my problem rings a bell to any one .got this set up to aid in programing decoders in line with joe Fugate ideas on programing .so my problem is if I try to open decoder pro I always get the preferences page and I and then a save/restart prompt but on restart it does the same thing over and over,Im assuming theres a comport problem .if I try the sound loader program that came with the pr3 again it cant link with the pr3 I get "couldn't open com port" and a "com port paused" errors . I ve checked hookups ,Im using the ps14 power supply ,its a stand alone set up .Ive tried every com port on the computers ,I have vista operating systems, thats about all the info I can think of. if someone had a problem like this I would be thankful....J.W.
I don't use Vista but may be able to help.
Two issues to get sorted out.
1. You need to know the COM number that the PR3 has been installed on. With it installed and plugger in, go to the Device Manager (control panel/system/hardware tab/ device manager in XP)
Looking at the Ports COM and LTP section, you should be able to see what COM number has been assigned.
Then follow the setup instructions per the following from the JMRI site
http://www.decoderpro.com/help/en/html/hardware/loconet/PR3.shtml
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 used my PR3 with XP, Vista, and the Windows 7 beta. It's worked fine on all three.
However, you must install the PR3's USB drivers from the Digitrax-supplied disk, exactly as outlined in the PR3 instructions.
If you just plug the PR3 in and let Windows install it's own USB drivers, it will not create the proper virtual COM port, and the PR3 will not work! You will get exactly the type of Com port errors you've stated.
To fix it, go into the control panel and completely uninstall the PR3. If it asks if you want to uninstall the software/drivers, reply Yes. Then install the PR3 drivers from the Digitrax-supplied disk (or downloaded from the Digitrax Web site) exactly as the instructions outline.
HTH, Steve
Edit: I just thought of something else. Be sure the permissions are right for the account you're using to install/use the PR3 drivers. Depending on how your user accounts are set up, that could also be an issue.
Thanks guys ,two days two computers two phone calls to digitrax two e-mails to digitrax....one bad cable ,ya no I think someone else had the same issue just dont no who it was. hey check those cables. now if I can figure out how to use the decoder pro properly. is it possible to read all the cvs from one locco and then copy to another locco with the same decoder and not have to fill in all the stuff yourself ?
If it will allow you to rename the file/page and save it under the new name, and not eliminate the first one, yes, that should work. Then you only have to hope that the same parameters work on both decoders equally. I suppose you could always tweak the new one, though, a CV at a time.
-Crandell
I know that on the Joe fugate dvd he can rewrite any decoder that's been saved ,but On my version tool bars for read & write disappear once saved . ...........oh for any one interested the digitrax guy told me to put the zephyr blast mode so it can program touchy decoders you have to turn switch 7 off...haven't tried it but I well and report back.J.w.
BIG JERR....one bad cable ,ya no I think someone else had the same issue just dont no who it was. hey check those cables.
....one bad cable ,ya no I think someone else had the same issue just dont no who it was. hey check those cables.
Wow, that's interesting! The symptoms you described were the same as when I tried letting Windows install it's own USB drivers for the PR3. (I just have to play with stuff. You'd think I'd learn... )
Anyway, I'm guessing it throws up the same error no matter what the reason is that the software can't "talk" to the PR3.
Thanks for posting back what the problem was. I'll have to file this info for future reference...
Steve