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Problem with Digitrax DCS210 - wireless

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SBX
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Ipswich, UK
  • 122 posts
Problem with Digitrax DCS210 - wireless
Posted by SBX on Saturday, February 17, 2018 4:17 PM

Hi there. I have posted this on another forum am but not getting any real help. Maybe you lot can help.

I have a UR92  and a DT500D. Normally, as I did yesterday, I switch everything on and away we go. Tonight, I switched everything on and couldn't control any loco from the DT500D. It was showing T/OFF on the screen. I tried turning the track power on but nothing happened. I then connected the DT500D directly to the DCS210 and was able to control locos as normal.

This would seem to indicate that there is nothing wrong with the system but something wrong with the UR92/DC500D connection. The UR92  has two LEDs on the faceplate - a red one and a green one. They are both flashing, in unison at roughly 1 second intervals. I am having trouble getting any nformation out of my manuals or off the Internet to say what the status of these LEDs should be and if this is an indication of an error, which error it might be.

I would be grateful for any help, so long as it isn't of the kind - have you turned the power on - or - has it ever worked!

David

Long Haired David
A.K.A. David Pennington
main man on the Sunset and North Eastern R.R.
http://www.gmrblog.co.uk
from the UK

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, February 17, 2018 6:53 PM

If both LEDs are flashing continuously, there's likely a problem with the Loconet cable that goes to the UR92. Try another cable, and be sure to check the jacks on the Ur92 and on the DCS210 to make sure one of the contacts didn't get folded over on toip of an adjacent one. You might also want to check the power supply to the UR92 to make sure it is still putting out the proper voltage.

                                  --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    May 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
  • 2,899 posts
Posted by Paul3 on Saturday, February 17, 2018 11:05 PM

After you plugged in your throttle and were able to control locos while plugged in, did you try unplugging and then trying to run locos once more with the radio?

If it did, then perhaps your throttle wasn't synched to the layout for some reason.  Plugging in the throttle re-synched it.

If it didn't, then I'd try resetting the UR92 by unplugging and re-plugging it, both power and LocoNet; first one, then the other, then both.  If that still doesn't work, then I'd test the LocoNet cables to the UR92 (use that LT-1 that came with your system; you should get 4 green lights) and the power supply voltage as said by Randy.

BTW, is the white LED on the top of your throttle flashing when you attempt to send loco commands?  If it does, that's the error message on all "D" throttles.  It means that the commands aren't being received properly.

Oh, and what's your battery voltage on your throttle?  Are you using a rechargable 9v or an alkaline?  If the voltage dips below 8v on a "D" throttle, you may want to try a new battery.  Also, be advised that rechargables are different from alkaline performance in that a rechargable may show 9v, but it won't have much in milliamps.  Meanwhile, an alkaline will have enough amperage as long as it has usable voltage.

SBX
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Ipswich, UK
  • 122 posts
Posted by SBX on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 11:03 AM

The problem is solved. I finally got to checking what the LEDs were doing on the UR92. Eventually finding the right spot in the manual (it wasn't in the troubleshooting but right up front with the setting up - not where I expected it to be) I worked out that there was no power to the UR92. I took the UR92, cable and power supply (Walwart is that what you call it?) into my supplier (Coastal DCC in Ipswich who happen to be just down the road from me).  He immediately saw the problem making me feel a bit stupid. Here in the UK, our mains plugs have three large sturdy prongs on them. The UR92 came with a US power supply and a converter (which, actually is illegal to do here). One of the prongs had come adrift so there were only two prongs. Obvious if you are looking at it but not at all obvious if the unit is plugged into the socket. Anyway, having moaned about it being supplied like that, he replaced it with a UK power supply and now everything is working correctly again!

All I have left to do is to extract the missing plug from the socket.

Thanks for your help, anyway.

Long Haired David
A.K.A. David Pennington
main man on the Sunset and North Eastern R.R.
http://www.gmrblog.co.uk
from the UK

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