Basically you need a computer with an Internet connection, a MS100, PR3, or LocoBuffer USB, and your DCS51. If you have the Internet connection, You can download the DigiIPL loader program, and the firmware update.
If you do not have the above interface connection, copy both downloads to a USB memory stick and see if your LHS has a PR3 you can use. Buying a PR3 is not that expensive, and once you have it, you can download JMRI and use it to program your DCC engines A PR3 can be had for under $70, and I have seen LocoBuffer USB's for around $50.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
OK, sounds great. I don't have a PR3, how do I get the download to my DCS51 for the upgrade? Take the command station to a hobby shop that has a PR3??
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Back in November this issue arose again on Digitrax users forum and was rearing its head on many other forums. Dont know if Digitrax monitors the Digitrax forum to see whats up but i received an e mail from Digitrax and they were concerned about the issue. What also concerned me was the number of guys worldwide with this issue living far from North America and feeling at a loss as to what todo. So Rich and AJ sent me a work sheet then sat down at their bench and got a unit todo the short thing. Now remember guys not everyone had the issue. Those who did or have had a complete shut down on a short 8888 power off.......................some guys had maybe two or three cyclles of the 0000 but landed up with a shut down......................the power is supposed to stay on when short corrected it did not. So after AJ did some thinking deternined there was a timing issue between the power supply and Z Xtra................it would also appear some power supplies just dont want to work with Z Xtra....................maybe a batch or MFG problem. I do know there are two \different colored stickers on the power supplies some are white some are black.I was g pig for REv 4................it worked but still shut down though before i got REV 4 i had instant shut down. I was sent for trial a Z Xtra and a power supply..........my observation was my power supply was not Z Xtra friendly. My Z Xtra was fine. So it appears if your upgrade firmware to REV 4 does not work its a possible power supply problem. Most guys report todate that REV 4 has fixed the problem i know of one that has not. I think this has not been an easy exercise because it was hit and miss.....................many guys no issues and otheres with. Excellent that Digitrax got it sorted. Some guys were also thinking that SW 36 was not working on their Z Xtras. The fact is though in the manual as in first generation Zephyr the function was not implemented in the Z Xtra so has now been deleted from updated online manual and further productions of manual. To clear the FULL meessage i have just been using Sw 39 .....................there maybe other ways around this. Steve
The problem does not happen on all DCS51 systems. It is a problem with the 'power supply' - Digitrax has changed the firmware recovery to adjust for the different lots of power supply units. My system generally would not fail, but after some testing if found that it would not recover about 2 times out of 10. Then I would have to pull the power connector and plug it back in to recover the system. I put the REV 4 firmware update on this morning and tested again - It recovers every time now. This problem has been around for maybe a year. It took some time to find a user with the problem and collect the info so Digitrax could understand the problem. I never reported the problem, but followed the progress. I did not even know I had the problem until it was mentioned that this could be intermittent and running multiple 'quarter' tests may cause the problem to show up. It was not a big issue for me as my Zephyr Xtra is used only to 'program' engines upstairs in my 'Man Cave'. I have a DCS100 'Super Chief' downstairs for the layout. Having to manually reset the system every time someone ran a turnout and shorted the world could be a real PIA!
Downloading the 'fix' over the Internet is no problem. But you do need something like the Digitrax PR3 to provide the connection to the DCS51 Zephyr Xtra. I already had this as I am using JMRI and bought the PR3 to provide the connection between my laptop and the DCC system.
Guess I must be lucky for I've had the Zephyr Xtra since it hit the shelves and I've never noticed a problem of it not behaving correctly during a short. Always showed a short ( running 0's ) when there was one and showed LOCO soon as short was corrected.
Is this supposed to be a known problem with the Xtra?
Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.
Thanks for the heads up guys. I'll be upgrading mine as well.
I just downloaded it and updated the firmware. I just tried the 'quarter' test and it goes to the 'running 000' display, then resets and when I lift the quarter, it goes back to 'Loco' and the track power lamp is lit. I tried this 10 times in a row - works every time now.
BTW, I downloaded it onto a WIN7 laptop, and I am connected to the DCS51 via a PR3. It's good to see major DCC manufacturers address small issues like this. NCE also addressed their original wireless 'range' issue and resolved it several years ago. They just issued a 'firmware' update for the Power Cab that increases the number of throttles/engines that can be run. This is one of the reasons I always recommend either Digitrax or NCE for folks getting their feet wet in DCC.
The Zephyr Xtra issue was a sort of long running one, as the actual laptop power supplies varied from lot to lot. Hopefully this adjustment to the recovery firmware will handle every one of the power supplies that are supposed to be all the 'same'.
Once you have installed the REV 4 update, do this to check that it installed:
Dont know if its been mentioned but the REV4 fimware upgrade is now available at Digitrax site. Search firmware it will take you there. Down load the uploader and the REV 4. This concerns the shorting issue with Z Extra.Steve