Good evening Gentlemen Need to replace my DT400r. wearing out I've taken good care of it now I want to update. Can you give some feed back on which is better for replacing. Thanks Guys Model Railroading is the only way to retire and play.
NickyB
Your DT400R can be upgraded to a DT402D. Note that the 'simplex' throttle support is being dropped due to lack of parts. Buying a simplex DT500 will be hoping that your UR91 base unit does not fail - you will then need to replace it with a UR92 and upgrade that new DT500 to a DT500D as well. The only real difference between the DT402D and the DT500D is the power switch.
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
There is no simplex DT500, so if you want to continue with simplex radio you're only option is the DT402R. In what way is your throttle "wearing out"? I've got a couple of older throttles that were used when I bought them (a DT300 and BT2) and they both still have plenty of life left in them.
To avoid confusion, the DT500 is only IR or plugged in. The DT500D is full duplex.
I, too, am curious as to what you mean by "worn out".
For $25.00, Digitrax will convert your DT400R to a DT402R, which gives you a number of benefits. The key one, as far as I'm concerned, is the ability to upgrade its firmware using software downloaded from Digitrax's web site.
The DT500 has a few more features than the DT402, but aside from the throttle power on-off switch, how useful anyone would find them will vary from person to person.
You might find my comparison chart of the Digitrax "Advanced" throttles (such as the DT402x and the DT500x) to be useful in making your decision. It is at http://www.fritzmilhaupt.com/dcc/digitraxadvancedthrottles.html
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org