I have been a Digitrax owner for almost 12 years. I started out with a Super Chief radio which came with a UR91 and a DT100R throttle. I purchased another DT100 on Ebay and sent it to Digitrax to be upgraded to a DT100R. Later I purchased two DT300 throttles and sent them in to be upgraded to DT300R. These are all in use on the layout and work great.
I saw no need for a DT400, however after the rave reviews on the Forums regarding all of the new functions, I purchased a DT400. I was not impressed. (I use Decoder Pro for programing and an old MS100.) I like the radio throttles so I sent the DT400 to Digitrax to be upgraded to a D400R.
Eariler this year I upgraded my Digitrax system to duplex radio and purchased a UR92 and a UT4D. I purchased a DT400 throttle on Ebay for about 1/2 retail and sent it to Digitrax for an upgrade to a DT402D. The older DT400R throttle had made one too many trips to the canyon floor (concrete basement floor) and I sent it to Digitrax for repair/upgrade to DT402D. I don't see much need for a series 400 throttle, but I do like the duplex radio, so I upgraded to duplex. All of my future throttles will be DT4D.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
Thanks guys,Now, when I get my controller back we'll see what happens. I hope its soon, My train buddy here is hosting an NMRA mini meet and My lay out is in the visitors list. BILL
The reset procedure for the Tsunami is here. The power down and up thing is kind of hidden in the description. Must have been an engineer who wrote it.
http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/Users%20Guide%20Diesel.pdf
Springfield PA
I have had to do that to one particular Tsunami. A Paged Mode programming of CV8 to a value of 8 to reset it doesn't seem to work for some reason. So, I run the engine onto my programming section of track (it's just the lead from a turnout to the edge of my turntable pit, so handy to gap and wire to a SPDT). I flip the switch to kill power to the rest of the layout, and then I enter Ops Mode. I dial in address "00", and then acquire CV8 on the throttle and dial in the value "8". Press enter, and the Tsunami goes quiet.
Even then, I have had, a couple of times, to enter Paged Mode once again, and repeat the CV8 change. Thankfully, that weird duplication has returned this one pouty Tsunami to Address 03 and fully restored factory defaults. I have no idea why this can be, but it's the truth.
-Crandell
PS - Vewwwy, vewwy important! Make sure you power down the tracks, and then restore power when you do a reset. This seems to be key for QSI's at least, and maybe for the Tsunamis.
Yes OPS and programming on the main is the same on a Digitrax system., I am using a Super Chief system and a DT400 throttle. My experience with a MTH Protosound3.0 is that programming on a programming track is a waste of time.
It is also my understanding that the MTH locos come from the factory with the proper values in CV17 and CV18 for their cab long address, all there remains to do for the modeler is to set CV29 to a value of 38 (using programming on the main).
If you think you made a mistake into the long address, using the broadcast mode (programming on the main using address 0, remove all others locos from the layout before doing that) should enable you to change the address without pain.
Randy could explain that much better than I.
Jack W.
I think my basic problem here is that no where can I find a definition of "programming on the main". I'm not totally inexperienced in prgramming but pretty close. I have been able to chang some CVs to suit me etc. Is progamming on the themain the same as programming in ops mode? I think that one of my problems is that I don't tinker with the system enough. When I buy a new decoder and play with it with my nose in the book generally things seem to work, But then I don't do it again for a few months and I've forgotten what I did and start all over with the book.
MTH's instruction book is very sketchy on how to program their decoder. I get the feeling that there's not much they want you to do. Thats OK with me ,but I would like the Joe to have its own address. Thanks for any help on this. BILL
reklein My DT 400 is also being upgraded so I can use it with my new MTH Little Joe.Sure is a pretty model. However when using it earlier I promptly messed up the proto sound 3 by trying to program in a new address on some thing other than P,ops. So now I have my loco back but am still waiting for my upgraded controller. I am using a DB150 base unit and also sent it in to upgrade to the 28 function capability. But after sening it I discovered the unit doesn't need upgrading just the controller. I hope I'm right in this line of thinking. If anyone has any experience with DCC and MTH engines I would be happy to hear form you. BILL
My DT 400 is also being upgraded so I can use it with my new MTH Little Joe.Sure is a pretty model. However when using it earlier I promptly messed up the proto sound 3 by trying to program in a new address on some thing other than P,ops. So now I have my loco back but am still waiting for my upgraded controller.
I am using a DB150 base unit and also sent it in to upgrade to the 28 function capability. But after sening it I discovered the unit doesn't need upgrading just the controller. I hope I'm right in this line of thinking.
If anyone has any experience with DCC and MTH engines I would be happy to hear form you. BILL
My experience with MTH Protosound3.o is limited to only one SD70ACe that I programmed for a friend.
Programming a 4 digits address was easy using programming on the main. The unit is smooth and quiet (sound was turned off) and a good slow speed performer. I was not impressed with the start up sound and will not buy any sound equiped unit for my own use. The running characteristics compare to an Athearn Genesis loco but I think Kato and Atlas are better.
I have one KCS SD70ACe DCC ready (no sound) in order.
That's correct, the DB150 does not need an upgrade for 29 functions. Digitrax is a peer to peer design, to if the throttle generates up to F28, the command station sends it. There's only really been one command station upgrade, early DCS100 (Chief) command stations wouldn't work above F8. That was a long time ago, the only way you'd ever have one of those is if you bought an old used one on eBay from someone who never had it upgraded. There's never been an upgrade for the DB150, it's always worked.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
There's 3 real changes from a DT400, and the feature set only lists 2 of them.
1. Functions up to F28
2. Simplified throttle setup menu
3. user-updatable firmware
Which of these appeals to you depends mainly on your use of sound, where you may have a use for all 29 functions. The config menus are easier to use, as it's a menu now and not a list of opsw values, however I tend to not change my throttle after I set it up - once and done. The firmware update is probably the most useful, any changes or revisions to the throttle (assuming it's not a physical hardware change) can now be done by the user at home without having to send the throttle back to Digitrax. Who knows what else might be lurking in there ready to be enabled - like the playable whistle in the DT400, the pressure switch was in there all along but since no one had a decoder that could do that, it wasn't turned on.
Here's a few thing from their website.
29 Functions (F0-F28)
* Convenient step-by-step throttle option set up
* Simplified 4 or 2 digit addressing
*Over 9,000 locomotive decoder addresses
* 999 turnout decoder addresses
* 29 Functions (F0-F28)
* Playable whistle feature on F2
* Decoder programming
* Transponding “Find” feature
* Fast clock display
* Recall feature
I'd have it upgraded. 402's can have their firmware changed at home with a download.
Martin Myers
Find a cheap DT100 on ebay? Takes patience and careful reading of the auction to get a good one, but eventually I managed to get one for $20. They're tricky (and the source of most of the "OMG Digitrax is SOO hard to use" comments) but for just runnign trains it works fine. I just have to stop myself from trying to press down on the knobs to reverse - the DT100 doesn't do that. Forget about using anything above F4, but hey at least you can still run trains.
Upgrade might be worth it since you have so many sound locos, although I find the sound stuff past F12 is usually the silly stuff like barnyad and city sounds. I have a DT402 but only because I snagged a Super Empire Builder Xtra set cheap to be my main booster, still with the Zephyr as command station. And I got back my DT400 from long ago that I used with my first Zephyr. So I suddenly find myself with 3 throttles plus the Zephyr console. And my iPhone. So no one needs bring a throttle when visitng, I guess. Got back my old Zephyr, too, except it's missing the PS315 power supply and the terminal connector where the wires attach. Not sure what I will do with that - maybe split my accessory bus into 2 pieces, although I doubt I actually need more than 2.5 amps to run the servos for about 14 turnouts.
Future upgrades will be available through software download.
Took the DT 400 to K-10 and hooked it up to one of his DB 100, did the same stuff.
While it is there is it worth being up grade to the DT 402 specks? I think the differences is I would have up to F-28 while now I have up to F-12. Anything else?
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust