Now that I have a non tethered throttle, I don't know where to store it in non operating times. I see that Walthers has a holder that mounts to the facia. Failing that, what are some suggestions to keep track (no pun) of it?
73
Bruce in the Peg
Put it back in its box but remember to either remove or reverse the battery.
The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, OregonThe Year: 1948The Scale: On30The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com
Go to the dollar store and look for cheap cup holders, cell-phone holders, or computer mouse holders, and use screws to mount them instead of the double-sided tape they come with.
I use some in-automobile cell phone holders that I got for next to nothing at a local dollar store.
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
CB&Q Modeler Put it back in its box but remember to either remove or reverse the battery.
Put it back in the box? Why? Who still has the box? And where would you then put the box?
It's interesting that you assume he has Digitrax? Was there some hidden encription I missed in the original post?
I still don't understand why those things don't have an on/off switch? Is common sense that far removed from product design? Oh, I forgot, based on the hard to read display and 32 tiny buttons the answer is surely yes, common sense was not present in th design of that product.
I don't have Digitrax at home, in fact I don't use DCC at home, but I do have wireless throttles and do plan to use "throttle pockets" of one sort or another when I get that far - for now I simply turn them off and lay them down, on the layout, on the workbench, etc.
I do use Digitrax on the layouts of 4 different friends. If I was buying DCC, it would be anything except Digitrax. My first choice would be Easy DCC - far and away the most user friendly wireless DCC throttle.
My Aristo Craft Train Engineer wireless radio DC throttles work just fine and have five large easy to feel (no need to look at the darn thing) control buttons - Faster - Slower - East - West - Emergency Stop, all easily used with one hand, and an on/off switch (not to mention they turn themselves off after a set period of inactivity).
But what do I know, I'm just a hick with a pickup, a gun and few DC powered trains.
Sheldon
Blind BruceNow that I have a non tethered throttle, I don't know where to store it in non operating times. I see that Walthers has a holder that mounts to the facia. Failing that, what are some suggestions to keep track (no pun) of it?
Good morning
What I don't understand is why didn't they design the darn things with a charging station like a cordless house phone???? when they aren't being used drop then in the charger and they will always be ready.
Lee
yankee flyer What I don't understand is why didn't they design the darn things with a charging station like a cordless house phone????when they aren't being used drop then in the charger and they will always be ready. Lee
What I don't understand is why didn't they design the darn things with a charging station like a cordless house phone????when they aren't being used drop then in the charger and they will always be ready.
My thought exactly - and I'll extend that to Sheldon's KISS handheld as well.
(Possibly influenced by having my cordless in its mini-charging station right next to this keyboard...)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I have NCE, both wireless and tethered. I have a rack of holders mounted on the bathroom door (outside) in the basement where all cabs are stored when not in use. I do remove batteries after an op session but other than that no big deal. I also have the cab holders mounted on the fascia around the railroad, with extra holders so that a cab can be "parked" and left without taking a holder away from a live cab.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I often put a cab04r cab in the holder that I am using while sorting cards, or lining up switches as I detest (and on my railroad) forbid laying a cab down on the layout for any reason.
Bob
I have a strip of self-adhesive Velcro on the back of each throttle, and the other flavor of Velcro strip on selected legs of the layout. I do the same for my Rix re-railer.
By the way, recharging batteries after every use is generally not recommended, as it actually shortens battery life. It's better to wait until they're run down pretty far and then do a full recharge. My cell phone is 7 years old now, still on its original battery using this technique.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
davidmbedard Sheldon, How did you manage to turn this thread into an anti-Digitrax/ DCCvsDC thread? David B
Sheldon, How did you manage to turn this thread into an anti-Digitrax/ DCCvsDC thread?
David B
Not anti DCC or DC vs DCC, but yes anti Digitrax DT400R.
It just seemed rather presumptuous to "assume" the OP has Digitrax, considering there are a number of wireless throttles on the market, DCC and DC.
tomikawaTT yankee flyer What I don't understand is why didn't they design the darn things with a charging station like a cordless house phone????when they aren't being used drop then in the charger and they will always be ready. Lee My thought exactly - and I'll extend that to Sheldon's KISS handheld as well. (Possibly influenced by having my cordless in its mini-charging station right next to this keyboard...) Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
The Aristo Train Engineer handheld uses 4 AA batteries. Average life, even under fairly constant use is 6-9 months, sometimes longer. Rechargables do not work as their lower voltage does not provide the needed total voltage for the unit to perform correctly.
While a ni-cad and a charging stand would be a good idea, the battery issue is just not a big deal compared to Digitrax throttles which seem to eat 9 volt batteries pretty quick.
MisterBeasley By the way, recharging batteries after every use is generally not recommended, as it actually shortens battery life. It's better to wait until they're run down pretty far and then do a full recharge. My cell phone is 7 years old now, still on its original battery using this technique.
..... Bob
Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here. (Captain Kirk)
I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Adam Savage)
Resistance is not futile--it is voltage divided by current.
Our club uses little "buttons" that are designed for cell phones that were made to adhere to the back of a cell phone and snap into a belt clip. They are squared off mushroom shaped and have about 1/8 inch clearance between the top of the button and the back of the device. all of the fascia around the layout extend at least 1/2 inch above the scenery which provides a perfect lip to hang the button on. Also attached cheap wooden drawer pulls to the back side of clip boards that hold switch lists so they alson can be hung on the fascia by the drawer pull. Nothing get set on the layout that way.
Earl
I once caught a train in my pajama's. How it got in my pajama's I'll never know... (sorry, Groucho)
My throttles are all wireless. I have recently addedd Digitrax duplex to my system. I do not store the batteries in the throttles, so I have my older DT100R and DT300R throttles set up for use as teathered throttles. I also have two DT402D and a UT4D. These go first when operating. To use the simplex throttles as wireless; unplug and add a batttery.
The photo is one of my staging yards. If I am just working on the layout and don't need the DT402D I just fire up the system and use a teathered throttle. This is very handy when I am programing a sound loco and want to make frequent adjustements. I have a programing track on the workbench and use a PC and Decoder Pro. While my programing track can be also used as a test track. I like to test functions on the layout.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
At the risk of continuing the flame war Sheldon felt the need to ignite, I love my Digitrax throttles. I think they are well designed. While the need to turn the battery over when you are done probably should be addressed, it's not like it's difficult or time consuming to do. I have absolutely no complaints about the button size or placement. Even my grandchildren have no trouble using them.
Back to the original post. I use throttle pockets attached to the fascia.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Vet At the risk of continuing the flame war Sheldon felt the need to ignite, I love my Digitrax throttles. I think they are well designed. While the need to turn the battery over when you are done probably should be addressed, it's not like it's difficult or time consuming to do. I have absolutely no complaints about the button size or placement. Even my grandchildren have no trouble using them. Back to the original post. I use throttle pockets attached to the fascia.
While the battery thing is not difficult, a number of people have complained, on a number of forums, about battery door wear/tear/breakage.
As to the operational features/user interface of the DT400R, to each his own.
Since I don't use sound, most of the buttons would be useless. I find remembering all the "steps" to aquire, release, consist, etc, not fun or easy. And the worst thing of all is those who have their turnouts controlled by the darn thing, 4-5 buttons to push for one turnout where I have only one, even for routes through complex interlockings.
Nor do I care for the endless wheel throttle knobs or the tiny display with computer like icons (never liked the icon thing on computers either). I want to, and do with TE, operate my trains without having to look at the throttle, but rather watch the train.
Again, not anti DCC, just my view on a product that I have used extensively on other peoples layouts. I always request a UT4R if there is one to be had.
Should a future layout ever require DCC, something like the Easy DCC wireless throttle is more to my liking.
And, I still think it was presumptuous to assume the OP had Digitrax, and I still want to know where to but the box after I return the throttle to it?
'Steps' to aquire a loco are EXACTLY THE SAME as all other brands.Turnout control is also just as cumbersome with the others. To the point where I don't really know why anyone actually does it. I have stationary decoders on my turnouts but NOT to operate them from the throttle - it's a pain. The decoders are so it can be operated by a dispatcher panel - virtual with JMRI but someday I'd like to build a replcia CTC machine. Function access is only 1 part of the number of buttons on the DT40x - you have 0-9, 10 buttons for numeric entry - no way to reduce that. It;s TWO throttles so there are two direction buttons. It's full function - you can run trains AND program with it, so there have to be buttons for that. A more fair comparison to Easy DCC would be the UT4, since Easy DCC can;t do any programming or consisting from the throttles - another button on the DT400. By that comparison, the UT4 actually has FEWER buttons than the Easy DCC T9000.
Bruce has posted here plenty - pretty sure he has Digitrax, and I can't be the only one who remembers things like this. I don't have wireless and I have yet to install the fascia so for now I loop the cord over one of the diagonal leg braces. Probably not the best but the cord has neither stretched nor broken in several years across 2 different layouts. Since I always run plugged in I have no need to ever mess with a battery.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy and Vet,
Here's the thing, at 53 my eyesight is still pretty good, but like a lot people my age small print and things up close require some help. Going from looking at the train, to the small info, printed on, or on the display of, the DT400R and finding the correct button or buttons, than getting my slightly chubby finger tips on them, and only them can be a challenge - especially when I would rather just be looking at the train.
I understand the design goals of the DT400R - even if I did choose to use DCC, my needs would not be in line with those design goals - my needs would be better served by Easy DCC. I like the large "base station" panel of Easy DCC for programing and such.
Yes the DT400R is two throttles, another feature I have no use for. I never "operate" two trains at once. I do run as many as five at once, but they have deticated routes and automatic collision protection at turnouts and such.
Why are we to simply accept the Digitrax design goals as the best choices?
Keep in mind I personally don't own an Ipod, Blackberry, smart phone, etc - my cell phone does not even take pictures. I've never sent a text message from a cell phone. I hate using laptop computers. While I understand lots of high tech stuff, I don't have any interest in high tech just for its own sake. My house does not have programable thermostats since it would not benifit us based on our lifestyle - but we have whole house automation of outdoor lighting, garage doors and alarm system - designed and installed by me. I listen to home theatre speakers I designed and built, and my house is heated by a five zone hydronic (hot water for those from Rio Linda) heating system which I designed and installed.
But back to trains -
I have one touch turnout routing, multiple location turnout control and CTC panel operation without stationary decoders, JMRI, a computer, etc. I considered all those methods before choosing what I use now.
So maybe Bruce does have Digitrax, I don't know, but where do you put the box?
OK guys, I bought a pocket for my NCE power pro r. I switched from Digitrax as I could not see the information on the display. Why is this text underlined?????
I do the same. Once the address is acquired, I'm done looking at my DT400R. I just look at the train. Occasionally, I use my UT4R, but just can't get used to the potentiometer speed knob. I also forget that the knob won't double click for direction change. If I used it more, maybe I'd like it. At one time, I was pretty good with the TE throttles. Haven't used one other than some testing on NTRAK layouts for a couple of years. Still know how to use them but would probably have to look down at least once to make sure my finger was on the right button. I guess it comes down to what one is most familiar with.
All of my switches at home and on my modules are controlled by accessory decoders and there are routes programmed into my DS64's. Loconet is connected to them, but they also will work without the command station. I rarely use a throttle to throw switches. Instead, each switch and the routes have local control buttons. Much simpler to operate as the train progresses. I find the second throttle most convenient for working helpers.
For many programming tasks, you can't beat the DT400. Every button needed is there and quite frankly, I hate menu driven stuff especially if I have to scroll through a list on a display too small to show the whole menu. For more complicated programming like speed matching, JMRI on my laptop gets the job done easily on the main through the command station or on a test loop with a SPROGII.
My cell phone does have a camera. Doesn't get used as I refuse to pay extra for data service. Don't have a clue how to send a text message on it. I just need the phone part wouldn't know who to send a picture to anyway. I did change the ring tone but hated the menu thing I had to go through to do it.
Back to the OP's question:
When I'm done with my throttle, I flip the battery and put it in a drawer under the layout. At shows, I place it in my train box. BTW, I sanded the two fingers on the battery covers so that they are now just a slight friction fit. They will fall off if dropped, but then dropping a $150 piece of electronic equipment isn't best practice.
Martin Myers
TA462 Sheldon, once I got use to what buttons I used most on my DT400's I basically stopped looking at it. I knew where each button was and never had a problem. It's like learning how to type. If you have no intention of purchasing a DT400 then what was your real purpose in posting in this thread? Seem's to me you just like to cause problems. If you don't have anything good to say or productive to say then don't say anything. Maybe you need a time out, lolol.
Sheldon, once I got use to what buttons I used most on my DT400's I basically stopped looking at it. I knew where each button was and never had a problem. It's like learning how to type. If you have no intention of purchasing a DT400 then what was your real purpose in posting in this thread? Seem's to me you just like to cause problems. If you don't have anything good to say or productive to say then don't say anything. Maybe you need a time out, lolol.
Like any other product that gets talked about on here, people are interested pros and cons. Did you read the whole thread? The OP switched from Digitrax for the same reasons I mentioned.
Maybe he would have avoided buying something not to his needs if my views had been even more frequently stated.
And again, did you actually read the whole thread - I may not have Digitrax at home, but I use it quite frequently on 4 other layouts - still have not mastered one hand blind operation of the DT400R.
I'm fine with the fact it works for you, you should be fine with the fact it does not work for EVERYBODY.
Bruce,
I know what you mean about where to put the throttles. I have three of them. They are too expensive to leave laying around and too fragile to treat carelessly. I want to be able to see all are safe and accounted for at a single glance. I also have a small room with lots of layout in it and narrowish aisles. I don't want the throttles damaged by being accidentally knocked to the floor by people bumping into them on the fascia. Can't just leave em' on the layout now that I have scenery going in.
My solution was to designate a space away from the door for the throttle rack that I built. Took a half hour and a few scraps to put together. It is out of the way under the layout in plain view. For OPs sessions, etc there are indented shelves in the fascia and pull out shelves around the room for operators to temporarily put the throttles. Most wireless operations guys I know have a central rack for storage and temporary holders along the layout for operators to use. So far works well.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
TA462 Sheldon, big deal. So you had the chance to use a DT400, that by no means makes you an expert, it doesn't makes you someone that a potential purchaser might want to listen to nor does it make you someone that can be relied on to give acurate info on using the product. I've used almost every DCC system that's available but that doesn't make me an expert on any of them but one. The one I use at home. You very rarely see me post anything about DCC systems unless it's Digitrax and when I do it's never to bash another product. Try to be a little more productive with your posts, not being able to see the little buttons, even though your eyesight is good doesn't cut it.
Sheldon, big deal. So you had the chance to use a DT400, that by no means makes you an expert, it doesn't makes you someone that a potential purchaser might want to listen to nor does it make you someone that can be relied on to give acurate info on using the product. I've used almost every DCC system that's available but that doesn't make me an expert on any of them but one. The one I use at home. You very rarely see me post anything about DCC systems unless it's Digitrax and when I do it's never to bash another product. Try to be a little more productive with your posts, not being able to see the little buttons, even though your eyesight is good doesn't cut it.
Since you obviously did not actually read what I posted, I'll explain it again in more detail.
I belong to a round robin group that has regular weekly operating sessions at different members layouts on a rotating basis. Four of the regular layouts, and a fifth one that is only visited occasionally by the group are Digitrax DCC, and have been for years. I have been a member of this group since before any of these layouts had DCC. I have operated on all of them on a regular basis, at least twice a month, for the last 3-4 years. I even designed the track plan for one and helped build it. That is a little more than "a chance to use a DT400", by a long shot.
And even after all that experiance I find ithe DT400 lacking in any number of ways, I now always ask for a UT4R if one is available.
Explaining why I don't like it is not basing, just calling it "junk", or making non specific negitive comments like you did about Bachmann in another thread, that would be "bashing".
When not in use I just put my controllers in the holders. After a week and a half of using the Digitrax 402D I find it no harder to use than NCE for normal ops. It's just different. I do however like the dual knobs for operating 2 loco's/consists without any button pushing. Removing the battery does add another step in shutting down but it is what it is.
Springfield PA
Well Sheldon, I am sure that Bruce appreciates you derailing his thread into your personal tirade against the DT400, as you can tell many of us really enjoyed this diversion.
Seriously, since you are so keen to make sure that everyone read the entire thread, please go back and re-read your original posting. Perhaps it was not meant that way, but it sure came over as a sanctimonious put-down of the poor unfortunate that had the gall to suggest actually using the box, followed by your anti-DT400 diatribe. It was utterly un-callled for and garnered a suitably negative response.
Of course I have been around long enough to know that no matter what is discussed on this forum that once Sheldon gets the bit-between-the-teeth he will always get the last word in, so fire away.....
But what do I know, I am just a hapless fool that likes my DT402 and listens to my MP3 player through ear bud headphones.
simon1966Of course I have been around long enough to know that no matter what is discussed on this forum that once Sheldon gets the bit-between-the-teeth he will always get the last word in, so fire away.....
Please accept my humble appoligies for questioning the God like statis of Digitrax, dispite the fact the the OP switched to something else for the same reasons I stated my dislike for it.
ATLANTIC CENTRALExplaining why I don't like it is not basing
ATLANTIC CENTRALbased on the hard to read display and 32 tiny buttons the answer is surely yes, common sense was not present in th design of that product.
ATLANTIC CENTRALSince I don't use sound, most of the buttons would be useless.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL simon1966Of course I have been around long enough to know that no matter what is discussed on this forum that once Sheldon gets the bit-between-the-teeth he will always get the last word in, so fire away..... Please accept my humble appoligies for questioning the God like statis of Digitrax, dispite the fact the the OP switched to something else for the same reasons I stated my dislike for it. Sheldon
Thanks for making my point.
Now that we've gotten completely off the original topic and settled into a spat over what defines "bashing" (or would that be a bash over what defines "spitting"?), I think it's well past time to move on.
Just a suggestion: Perhaps a few of us should and could be more guarded with our original replies so that these sorts of things don't cause misunderstandings and escalate to their current situation.
See you all on other threads...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.