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Digitrax Throttle Upgrade!!

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  • Member since
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  • From: Metro East St. Louis
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Posted by simon1966 on Monday, October 26, 2009 6:39 AM

There is a free software application that you can download from the Digitrax site.  I had to use it on my first throttle as some of the very first DT402D's went out the door accidentally with some pre-release firmware.  I simply plugged the throttle into the loconet and the software took care of the upgrade.  I use a Locobuffer 2 and it worked just fine.  It took several minutes, but the layout is fully operational while the upgrade is going on.

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

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Posted by jbinkley60 on Monday, October 26, 2009 3:48 AM

mfm37

 There is one additional benefit to upgrading a DT400 throttle to any of the DT402 versions. These new throttles can have their firmware updated via computer. New firmware can be downloaded from Digitrax and with a locobuffer or PR3 your DT402x can be updated at home.

How do you address or instruct the throttle to let it know to accept the new firmware ?

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

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Posted by mfm37 on Sunday, October 25, 2009 9:31 PM

 There is one additional benefit to upgrading a DT400 throttle to any of the DT402 versions. These new throttles can have their firmware updated via computer. New firmware can be downloaded from Digitrax and with a locobuffer or PR3 your DT402x can be updated at home.

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Posted by simon1966 on Sunday, October 25, 2009 5:02 PM

relation
what about the utility throttles like the UT4s can they also be upgradeed for more functions

Phoebe Vet answered the DT400 question, and yes $25 turns it into a DT402.  As for the UT4 utility throttle, there is a new version coming out in early November.  The UT4D, but this continues to have the F0-12 functions.  I imagine that UT4's will be able to be sent in for the radio upgrade, but there is no provision for the additional functions.  Without a redesign of the throttle it would not easily be able to support additional functions as it does not have enough buttons.  There would have to be some sort of double shift function, which would be cumbersome.  I already find the single shift cumbersome enough.

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

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Posted by Phoebe Vet on Sunday, October 25, 2009 4:50 PM

Yes, but only send the DT400.  they will upgrade it to a DT402.

You can also upgrade it to a DT402R or a DT402D but if you do that you will also need a UR91 or UR92.

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

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Posted by relation on Sunday, October 25, 2009 4:30 PM

So if I have a DT400 and a DCS 100 and send it to Digitrax with 25 dollars it will increase the functions from the 12 to 28 is this correct  what about the utility throttles like the UT4s can they also be upgradeed for more functions

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Posted by locoworks on Saturday, October 24, 2009 3:23 AM

my reply was on 10/05/09, i response to the US/canada reply i asked how long it would be for EU use and got another response saying it was in the hands of the authorities

  • Member since
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  • From: Eisenberg,Germany
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Posted by winnetou on Saturday, October 24, 2009 1:19 AM

I have received the same email from Digitrax on 10/16/2009.

Times will come...Thumbs Up

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Posted by locoworks on Friday, October 23, 2009 11:53 AM

CSX Robert
winnetou
You all are lucky guys-we in Germany can not upgrade to the radio system-only to system 402 without radio...
Are you sure? I know that you cannot get the simplex radio in Germany, but my understanding was that one reason they went with 2.4ghz for the duplex radio was so that they could sell it in Europe.

 

winnetou is correct at the minute. i live around the EU too and emailed digitrax about upgrading to duplex radio. the email i received in reply stated just the US and Canada.  it may be on a legal frequency for europe, but as yet it has not got the necessary licences/licencing to be 'legal' for use here, even though the frequency used is. just a matter of time and money at a guess??   that said, it is usually not a crime to 'own' transmitting equipment, just to actually use it.   there is no need to plug in the UR92 and the 402D can have the radio disabled in the OPs settings of the throttle. that said!! we all know if you have it you're going to use it  .Whistling

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  • From: Christiana, TN
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Posted by CSX Robert on Friday, October 23, 2009 11:34 AM
winnetou
You all are lucky guys-we in Germany can not upgrade to the radio system-only to system 402 without radio...
Are you sure? I know that you cannot get the simplex radio in Germany, but my understanding was that one reason they went with 2.4ghz for the duplex radio was so that they could sell it in Europe.
  • Member since
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Posted by winnetou on Friday, October 23, 2009 11:14 AM

You all are lucky guys-we in Germany can not upgrade to the radio system-only to system 402 without radio :-((

I Hopt times will come,that we can use also the wireless radio equipment!!!!

Please Digitrax!!!!!

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  • From: Metro East St. Louis
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Posted by simon1966 on Friday, October 23, 2009 7:49 AM

All you need to do is follow this link to the upgrade form

http://www.digitrax.com/dt402upgrades.php

the upgrade options and choices are listed.

 

The long coiled cable is removed and you are left with the short piggy tail cord, so an extension would be necessary for real tethered use.

 

All the throttles have the built in IR solution for use with the UR90 IR receiver

The DT400R and the DT402R work with the UR91 simplex radio receiver

The DT402D works with the UR92 duplex receiver/transmitter

 

To make any Digitrax layout wireless, you just have to add the appropriate UR and throttle combination.  There is no upgrade needed for the command station.

In my case my command station is the Zephyr.  Even though the Zephyr only supports limited functions, the addition of the new throttles gives me the F0-F28 without the need to upgrade the Zephyr.

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

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Posted by mfm37 on Friday, October 23, 2009 3:58 AM

MOJAX
If you upgrade to the DT402D can it still be plugged in and used as before the change over? Mine is sitting in a box and now would be a good time to send it in.

 

 

Depends on what you have in the box. If it's a DT400 (no radio) it can be upgraded to a DT402 (no radio), DT402R- simplex radio to work with a UR91 receiver, or a DT402D- duplex radio to work with the UR92 transceiver. All three versions will still have infrared cordless capabilty.

No changes to any ather Digitrax equipment are needed.

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Posted by locoworks on Friday, October 23, 2009 2:36 AM

yes MOJAX, it can be used plugged in, BUT!!   when converted to any radio type the lead that you use to plug it in gets shortened to about a foot in length so it limits the movement somewhat.  but using an extension lead gets you back to what you had before with a bit of a lego brick in the line.

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Posted by Stevert on Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:28 PM

selector

Thanks for the information, Simon.  For those who might be interested, what else would one with, say, a Super Empire Builder, have to do/purchase in order to get a working duplex system?  Can the DB150 also be sent back for an upgrade, for example?

-Crandell

 

"Duplex" refers to two-way radio communication between the throttle and the Loconet, so the only thing that needs to be added to any Loconet-based Digitrax system (IOW, any current production) is a UR92 (duplex receiver) and a DT402D (duplex) throttle. 

Steve

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Posted by selector on Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:06 PM

Thanks for the information, Simon.  For those who might be interested, what else would one with, say, a Super Empire Builder, have to do/purchase in order to get a working duplex system?  Can the DB150 also be sent back for an upgrade, for example?

-Crandell

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  • From: Jacksonville, FL
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Posted by MOJAX on Thursday, October 22, 2009 9:48 PM

 If you upgrade to the DT402D can it still be plugged in and used as before the change over? Mine is sitting in a box and now would be a good time to send it in.

 Thanks

MO

Michael Click Here to view my photos at RailPictures.Net!

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Digitrax Throttle Upgrade!!
Posted by simon1966 on Thursday, October 22, 2009 9:37 PM

Soon after it was released, I purchased the new duplex radio throttle and receiver.  I have been really happy with it and decided it was time to send my old DT400 non wireless throttle in for the upgrade.  Less than 2 weeks later my upgraded throttle arrived today.

So for $65 my 6 year old DT400 was upgraded to the latest DT402D specification.  This included the F0-F28 function upgrade, duplex radio, new front label, a full printed DT402 manual and return shipping.  I have to say that I am impressed and very happy with the service.

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

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