Hi all, can the Digitrax UP5 be used in place of the NCE UTP? Can all 3 RJ12 jacks on the back of the UP5 be used to diasy chain to other UP5s with the NCE cab bus?
No - Digitrax connects the center pins together which is a dead short across NCE's data bus. You can use UTPs with a Digitrax system, but you cannot use a UP5 with an NCE system.
Also you can't run multiple branches off the main backbone of the NCE bus. RS-485 does not really work like that. It needs to be one linear bus, with allownaces made for the length of the cable connecting the cab to the panel. So putting in a splitter and running one line off to the left, another off to the right, and a third continuing on will cause operation problems.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy, really appreciate your answer. You just saved me a chunk of money and time! Have a nice weekend.