I am a ware that the DT400 can only control 12 functions. My problem with upgrading is the cost of postage to send it from Australia to Digitrax and back is nearly the price of a new throttle when you add the conversion cost. (Nearly $160.00 AUD) Cheaper to buy a new throttle. Really I only need to know whether the light functions and what function it is if it does then I can remap my DT400. That is the easy part. Just frutrated with the lack of information and response from the manufacturer.
Yes. Emails sent to both ESU and Trueline but so far no response.
I am trying to avoid opening the model up. The fine details on the underframe are very fragile and again the instructions for removing the body are vague at the least. They even go as far as to say if you don't know how to remove the body, then don't. Send it back to the manufacturer to be done. A lot of use to me when I live in Tasmania, Australia.
Have you tried contacting ESU? They may have worked with True-Line and might has some documentation of what they did.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
The biggest problem is that the loco manufacturer hasn't even said which funtion does what, so there's no ide of what to maybe remap to get it in the F0-F12 range to be accessible by the DT400.
You may have to resort to opening it up and seeing if there is even a light/LED in the beacon, and if so, trace the wire to the decoder and see what function 'wire' (if it's a Select Direct there are no colored wires, just terminals on the circuit board, but the diagram in the ESU manual will tell you which pin is which function output) it connects to. That gets us part way there - just because it is physically connected to say the violet wire doesn't mean it's F2 because of function mapping. However, if you know what physical 'wire' it's on, you can read the decoder function mapping CVs (probably best with JMRI or a Lokprogrammer) and see what function BUTTON is mapped to the physical 'wire' output.
Seriously - this is something the loco manufacturer should be supplying, not making the end user go through all this to figure it out. I don't expect a full decoder manual, you can always download that if you need it, but a couple of pages on operating the loco and a list of what each function does and maybe some mention of maintenance tips is not, i think, too much to ask for. Every other factory sound loco I've purchased has had at least that much in the box, with a URL to go to download the big detailed manual if I wanted. I get saving paper and production costs - but to have NOTHING is just wrong. I guess I need to have a 28 function capable throttle and then just run through them all and figure out for myself what F key does what? Awesome until you hit the one that mutes the whole thing and everything you try after that does nothing until you figure out that hitting the mute one again turns it all back on.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
jrbernier {snip} Normally you can use the <FUNC> key to access the upper functions(at least on my DT400R and DT402D throttles). {snip}
{snip}
Normally you can use the <FUNC> key to access the upper functions(at least on my DT400R and DT402D throttles).
The DT400x throttles cannot access functions above F12. The DT402x throttles can, though.
A DT400x can be upgraded by Digitrax to its comparable DT402x counterpart for $25.00. That upgrade gives access to functions up to F28 (using the FUNC button, as Jim mentioned), the ability to use downloaded software upgrades, and a few other improvements.
If you don't choose to have your throttle upgraded/converted, then remapping the functions in the decoder, as Jim says, is the best option.
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
No, Trueline do not include manuals with their models. They refer you to the ESU website which only has the generic manuals. Even their updates are confusing as to which model they pertain to. So far I have had no luck in even discovering if the rotary beacon actually works let alone on DCC.
Have sent several emails to Trueline but so far no reply
I have the throttle that came with my Super Chief set. It is the older standard DT400 which only controls 12 functions. The ESU decoder has many more functions but they do not say which one controls the rotary beacon.
Yes it is a Loksound Select. Because they manufactured several different roads in this model each one is different. The Metra version is probably the most complex. The sound file is not the issue. I only need to know what function the rear beacon is connected to. The website does not even mention the beacon so I don't know whether it is even function controlled.
The DT400 series throttles should be able to control this. Exactly which of the DT400 throttles do you have? Normally you can use the <FUNC> key to access the upper functions(at least on my DT400R and DT402D throttles). I rarely use my two Digitrax throttles as I have JMRI configured cell phone throttles that have the upper F key support.
Re-mapping may be the best way to do this. I am sort of surprised that there is no tech info on the Tru-Line web site. Maybe an email to them will get a copy of the decoder configuration they ship the model with.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
It's a Loksound decoder, probbaly Select, which means any function can be mapped to any button. The question is - what function is it on now? There's only a vague list of functions definitions on their web site that I could find, and it's not for any one specific loco.
Really, they need to check up on what other manufacturers are doing. It may be a very nice model at a decent price, but documentation like that needs to be made available. Did the loco come with any sort of booklet explaining what functions did what? While you cna get detailed information on the Loksound decoder directly from ESU, the manufacturer needs to provide you with the functions utilized in their sound project, unless they used a stock ESU sound project, in which case that information is included with the various sound projects in the download section at ESU.
I have a DCC with Sound Metra version of this locomotive. Unfortunately I only have a Digitrax DT400 which has 12 functions. Does anyone firstly know if the red beacon located on the rear roof is operational ie DCC controlled. If so what function button is it set to. I am trying to remap my function buttons and cannot find any information about this online, even on the Trueline website. Thanks