Have been immersed in DCC several years now. I have a stable of 45 DCC engines that have and continue to run reliably on my DB150/ DT402 Chief system. BUT...I've recently sent several NEW decoders back to Digitrax perhaps for no good reason?- they all exhibited bizarre behavior- pulsed motor power, flashing headlights. I had tried to call Panama City but no phone response-they have had severe weather. Turns out when I use my programming throttle (Zephyr 50) instead to power them they work just fine. Yet my layout system ALSO works fine-but not on address 3!!!?(all locos reassigned to other addresses). So, this is not a decoder issue, its a supply issue-but ONLY on address 3. I'm thinking my system stored corrupted data for address 3 but not any other address. Anybody heard of this sort of paranormal posession? And how do I exorcise my DB150 of bad data stored I. Address 3?
Have you tried resetting the command station to factory defaults?
Dante
P.S. Try using e-mail to contact Digitrax. I have found they respond fairly quickly.
Thanks Dante, that's just where I'm headed. I reviewed my prior post and realize not real clear: ALL decoders at ANY address are fine on my programming Zephyr. The SAME population of decoders on the DB150 are fine- if the address is NOT 3! So what I thought was a decoder issue is NOT, and whatever has possessed my DB150 resides at address 3.
It almost sounds as if you have address 3 selected on more than one throttle (could be on the other half of a single DT402).
Either that, or you have to status-edit adddress three to 128 speed steps.
What has happened is that you may have inadvertantly pressed an extra button when selecting address 3 and 'status edited' the address to use something other than the default 128 speed steps. If no locos with address 3 will run at all, it's probably set to something like Marklin protocol, if set to 14 speed steps it would run but very erractically.
The easiest fix is to just reset the whole system, since in normal use you should never have to status edit anything anyway. Not with modern decoders - and if you ever buy a used loco with an ancient early DCC decoder, you should change it out for a better newer one anyway.
To rset the system, plug in your throttle and change the switch on the front of the DB150 from RUN to OPS. On the throttle, press Switch, then enter 39, and press the CLOSED button. Now put the switch back in the RUN position and turn off the power to the DB150. Wait a few seconds and turn it back on, everything should be back to the factory default. If you've played around with consisting, your consists will be gone. If you have consists that you'd rather not rebuild, don;t do this and instead I can post the instructions for status editing address 3 back to the defaults.
Digitrax default for a new loco address is 128 speed steps. Unlike some others that default to 28. Digitrax has always gone in for the finer control, they were one of the strongest voices pushing for expansion beyond the 14 speed steps of the original Lenz protocol.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks all for the insight. Of course since I have 3 'defective' decoders out to Transmitter Rd, the laughter from FL can be heard right here in MA! They say 'no question' warranty-they don't say 'no opinion formed'...of course they can always address the returns to 'village idiot'. REALLY embarrassing, didn't see that one coming. Think it's the 55 other engines running fine that threw me off. I pledge all new decoders will be tested on 2 throttles pre-install/return. That should make the Panama City gang happier!