Where to place my Digitrax UP5's

[TrainsRMe1]

Hey all,

        I have a 18 X 19 nscale around the walls shelf layout, and I want to have walk around throttles, I'm using the Digitrax Zypher, and I have brought the up5 radio frequency recievers,  one is going to be at my yard,the yard is 12ft long, I have a small yard in the middle and yet another large yard on the other side of my layout, I figured that I might have to have a total of 5 of them, two per large yards and one for the small yard, would that be enough, or would that be overkill?, I planned to have op sessions once the layout is ready for running, Thanks for the help,

                                           Trainsrme1

                   Building a protolanced layout, what if the Union Pacific had a mainline running to the Oregon Coast, linking the Cascade sub and Siskiyou lines,

[fmilhaupt]

Ummm... are you sure that you bought radio receivers?

UP5s are simple plug-in ports. You can plug a radio throttle into them and use the throttle tethered, but UP5s won't receive radio transmissions. For radio, you need a UR91 (simplex radio) or a UR92 (duplex radio).

UP5s can go anywhere into the fascia that it would be convenient to have the throttle plugged in. The five places that you describe sound pretty reasonable. Just plan for the people who will be plugged in-- it doesn't make sense to install two UP5s (four outlets) hard up against each other unless you have room for the four people to stand while using the throttles plugged into them. I like to put at least four to six feet between UP5s.

I've always felt that relative to the cost of everything else in DCC, plug-in panels are pretty inexpensive and that it really doesn't hurt to put one any place you think it would be convenient. There's a lot to be said for the simple relief of not having multiple operators' cords getting tangled up or stretched out.

If you have a UR91 (simplex radio) in your system, then really the only places you'd really find UP5s useful would be at engine terminals or anywhere you'd want to make up or break down consists.

[simon1966]

What is the exact model number of the throttle you have purchased?

http://www.digitrax.com/products/universal-panel-ir-radio-receivers/

http://www.digitrax.com/products/throttles/

It is going to be really important to make sure you have parts that are compatible with each other.

[rrinker]

UP5's are plug in throttle panels. If using plug in throttles, you need to have as many ports as there will be operators in a given area. Each panel allows plugging in 2 throttles. Next consideration is how the operators will be followign their traisn. You need plugs located frquently enough that peopel aren't crossing wires or havign to duck around another operator's wire. Plan well and it's a total non-issue.

 Wireless is nice, but more expensive. You need UR91's with any Digitrax throttle that ends in an R, like a DT402R or a UT4R. You need the UR92 for any Digitrax throttle that ends in a D, like the DT402D or UT4D. Depending on your room size, you may be able to get away with just a single UR91 or UR92 to cover the whole room.

                 --Randy

 

[Lake]

I have a UR91 for my radio throttles. A DT400R and UT4R. Plus three UP5's.

The UR91 is at the end of the room and for the UP5's one is in the center area and one at each end of the layout, so a UT4R can be plugged in to change between more then one engine while doing yard switching or industrial switching with more then one engine. I can also get a UT4 non radio for half the cost of a UT4R for use at the main yard as it does need to be walk able, but maybe going up to 6 feet from the UP5 to either side

So my opinion is get as many as you think you may need. As some one else said they are fairly inexpensive in the over all scheme of DCC things.