HO paragon2 BLI nw2 & programing with pr3 with decoderpro

[BIG JERR]

I'm having a bit of trouble with my pr3 stand alone and decoder pro reading my new HO bli nw2 w/paragon 2 ?  This is my first BLI product so I'm new to this system but I've read the instructions and though my decoder pro can WRITE as I've changed the address on the NW2 decoderpro keeps giving me a (308 decoder not responding ) message when trying to Identify or read sheets. the instructions say my setup(DIGI pr3/decoderpro in stand alone) should be able to read & write with out a booster.

am I missing something?  Ive got the newest version of decoderpro ,Ive tried page mode & direct bite but no read just write ,any Ideas ?    Jerry    PS I'm still getting use to this new format on MR site but for the life of me the search doesn't work like it use too

[jrbernier]

Jerr,

  Just went through this with a guy at the club.  He bought a GN NW2 and it would not program.  The Club system is a Digitrax Chief, with Decoder Pro attached via a Locobuffer II.  The programming track has a PowerPax booster.  With all of this - No Dice!

  I took the engine home and I was able to program it 'on the main' after I set my Zephyr Xtra to 'Blast Mode' so that all programming commands would go to the main line.  I seem to have read a thread a while back of a similar issue and after buying a PTB-1000 booster, the engine would program.

  I though we had seen the last of the power hungry decoders, but I have seen more posts lately about issues with BLI or Tsunami decoders that will will not program.  I was at a train show this past year and one guy mentioned that he puts these engines on the main line for a minute, then immediately moves them to the program track.  I have never tried it, but his theory is that they can charge up the keep-alive capacitors fast on teh full power main line, and are charged up wdhen he potsthem on the lowq power program track.

  Anther way to program them is to calculate the CV17/18 values for the long address and program the CV's on the main, and set CV29 to 38 so it will use the long address.

Jim

[Stevert]

What power supply are you using with your PR3?  If it's the Digitrax-recommended PS14, it may not be powerful enough for some sound decoders.

I use an 18vdc regulated power supply salvaged from an old inkjet printer with my PR3.  Max for the PR3 is 20vdc per Digitrax, so I'm still within it's acceptable range.

And although I don't have any Paragon 2 locos, my PR3 has been able to program anything I've thrown at it so far.  That includes the Tsunami's that Jim mentioned - No problem reading or writing to the three that I own. 

I've heard of lots of other folks also having success with otherwise-balky sound decoders, after upgrading their PR3's power supply.

[BIG JERR]

thanks I have also heard there was a possible problem with using ps14 for voltage but Ive not had issues till now. Like I said I think I can WRITE I just don't seem to be able to READ or Identify...I will look in to a bigger supply...Jerry

[Jacktal]

My programming setup is a PR3 and a PTB100 booster...both are powered by the same 15VDC 1A transformer...no issues at all.It makes sense that the .3A PS14 may not be enough.

[rrinker]

 Dunno what to tell you other than try a higher power transfromer, HOWEVER, My PR3 ins tandalone mode rusn with a PS14 nd plenty of guys at the club have Paragon II locos that I program all the time with it and JMRI. With NO boosters or anything. My setup use to be ultra simple, about 3 inches of #18 wire between the PR3 terminals and soldered to the railsof the progrma track, recently I added a Lokoprogrammer to do Loksound sound decoders, so I now have a DPDT toggle switch connecting one or the other programmign device to the track, but it still worked at the last show just fine. One guy had severl T-1 steamers, one the old PCM version with Loksound, so I replaced the factory sounds with the more accurate ones Nick Kulp put together, his other two were the newer Paragon II versions and had duplictae addresses with other members who arrived first (we're pretty much on first come, first serve basis, with a few exceptions for a couple who are less well versed in this whole DCC thig and would be mightily confused if their address were anything but the cab number) so I changed the address with the PR3, no problem.

 Oh yeah - if these are steam locos, make sure the smoke unit is turned off via the switch, not just the function (that resets when power is cycled). The smoker being connected will cause program problems, it draws too much power. Since we don;t allow operating smoke units, everyone has theirs turned off.

                    --Randy