is the digitrax PR-1

[Budliner]

wow cant find this thing call like 5 places
what gives


B-

[cjcrescent]

Bud;
As an owner of the PR-1, and a user of it for over two years, let me say this.
Go buy an MS-100 interface from your local Digitrax dealer and download the Decoder pro software from:

http://jmri.sourceforge.net/

Trust me you'll be a lot happier.

[cjcrescent]

PS, the software is free. The MS-100 will cost about $40.

[fmilhaupt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cjcrescent

Bud;
As an owner of the PR-1, and a user of it for over two years, let me say this.
Go buy an MS-100 interface from your local Digitrax dealer and download the Decoder pro software from:

http://jmri.sourceforge.net/

Trust me you'll be a lot happier.

Personally, I think that he'll be happier still if he skips over the MS-100 and goes straight to a LocoBuffer II from http://rrcir-kits.com . It's much more robust, and far more likely to work correctly with machines running post-Windows 98 operating systems.

The basic issue is that Digitrax designed the MS-100 and the PR-1 back in the days of Windows 95, when an application could easily get control of the serial port at a very low level. Based on that, they had it take care of timing and network collision issues in the PC's software in real time. Windows XP, and I think Windows 2000, interfere with such direct access to the serial port, and do not always support the MS-100's and PR-1's particular baud rate requirements very well. The LocoBuffer (no longer available) and LocoBuffer II address this through internal buffering. It is also capable of working on Macs and Intel boxes running non-MS operating systems. The LocoBuffer II requires the presence of a Digitrax command station in order to program decoders.

Now, if Bud's looking for a decoder programming interface that doesn't require use of a command station, the only commercial option I know of right now is the PR-1, with its inherent OS limitations. There may be one or two homebrew solutions, but if so, I'm not familiar with them.

[Budliner]

QUOTE: [i]Now, if Bud's looking for a decoder programming interface that doesn't require use of a command station, the only commercial option I know of right now is the PR-1, with its inherent OS limitations. There may be one or two homebrew solutions, but if so, I'm not familiar with them.

yes as I have a very very inexpensive dcc unit and I need the stand alone programer I have contacted the manufacturer in europe and was told they will find me one, as I have access to ton of compters, so I know I can get the program to run I use MRC 2000 will this pr-1 give me much more control I only have 2 fx decoders


B -

[cjcrescent]

Fritz;
I am sure that I would be happier with the Loco Buffer II as well but it has two problems for me that the MS-100 overcome quite easily. One the MS-100 is preassembled, and has its necessary cable with it. I just had to plug it in and the program started using it without any special cables, power supplies, (options on the Loco Buffer site , means more money), needed. Two, its cheaper! Being on a severely limited hobby budget, I can't always afford the best available product.
Also Digitrax did not design the PR-1. It was designed by someone else, who stills sells it today. It was more compatible with Digitrax decoders than other decoders so Digitrax liscenced it for use here.

[Budliner]

[B)]