Bill54Railroad I have a NCE powercab and i do not like the 2 stack recall. It should be at least 6 like the pro system. I have the NCE Powerhouse Pro Radio system and all I have is 2 in the recall stack not 6. That is my biggest dislike and I received the upgrade chip that I installed almost a year ago. It didn't make a difference. However, overall I love the simplicity of operation. Bill
Railroad I have a NCE powercab and i do not like the 2 stack recall. It should be at least 6 like the pro system.
I have a NCE powercab and i do not like the 2 stack recall. It should be at least 6 like the pro system.
However, overall I love the simplicity of operation.
Bill
My command station is set to 120. With the number of trains I have in staging with power already attached and power in engine terminals all consisted and ready to go and with all the single units in the steel mill and yards I have 110-115 slots full when I start a session. I don't wnat crews mu'ing their power as that can lead to problems as I found out in the past. The rr currently has 214 locos in service . Normal operations uses about 180 total. I have seen the slot max issue on much smaller layouts where crews might not completely turn off loco's leave them at speed step 1. If you do not have a computer and locobuffer to maintain the slots you end up cleaning out everything to get the system working again. Most people will not see this problem but large private and club layouts will and it needs to be addressed. ------------------- Ken McCorry
No, the cord is NOT the antenna on the DT400R. Since it is attached to the circuitry though, changing the cord length would invalidate the FCC certification.
Keep in minf the most likely thing to break is the RJ plug. If you cut the existing cord off shor tnad put a new plug end on it, what happens when that plug breaks? You have no more cord to cut back slightly and add a new plug. Keep what's on there, and use a female to female coupler to extend it if you want a longer cord on the radio throttle.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Sometimes the stuck on overlay with the button labels is applied slightly of center and the rubber buttons can stick on this. One commonly mentioned solution on the Digitrax group is to take the throttle apart and gently twirl a hobby knife in each hole from the inside to make sure none of the overlay interferes with the hole in the case. You don't want to cut the palstic though, or else you'll end up being able to truly get the button stuck down under the cover. Sometimes you don;t have to actually cut away anything, just shifting the cover slightly is enough to solve any misalignment issue. Doesn't happen to all, mine never had a problem, my friend's power button sticks sometimes. I'd say it may be based on exactly how you press the buttons down, but his power button has stuck for me so it's not just a difference in pushing down, say straight vs at an angle. --Randy
Sometimes the stuck on overlay with the button labels is applied slightly of center and the rubber buttons can stick on this. One commonly mentioned solution on the Digitrax group is to take the throttle apart and gently twirl a hobby knife in each hole from the inside to make sure none of the overlay interferes with the hole in the case. You don't want to cut the palstic though, or else you'll end up being able to truly get the button stuck down under the cover. Sometimes you don;t have to actually cut away anything, just shifting the cover slightly is enough to solve any misalignment issue.
Doesn't happen to all, mine never had a problem, my friend's power button sticks sometimes. I'd say it may be based on exactly how you press the buttons down, but his power button has stuck for me so it's not just a difference in pushing down, say straight vs at an angle.
thanks randy,
ill take it apart and see if thats whats making the buttons stick.
so do u agree about the cord does it doubles as an antenna
Guess you're not familiar with Ken's layout. He has one of those most of us only dream about. It's been in the various magazines a few times. I'm PRETTY sure he has his command station set to 120 slots - his layout is just that big that he actually runs that many locos in an operating session (although I am sure that after all this time there are still some operators who don't properly dispatch their locos when they finish a run - which when you are running on the ragged edge to begin with, it doesn't take much to start causing errors).
The real answer is for Digitrax to retire the fairly pointless Super Empire Builder, move the Super Chief down to be the 'mid' system, and build a new top-end system that handles 255 addresses or more. Loconet can probably handle it with no problem (ie too slow a response time).
Ken:
As configured at the Factory, the DCS100 Super Chief has 22 available "slots", which is the number of locomotives that the system can support in operation at any given time.
If you need to use more than 22 slots you can change the DCS100 OPSW#44 to "c". This increases the DCS100's slot refresh capacity to approximately 120 active locos with any available address.
Does your club run more than 120 locos at once?
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
My current system is a Digitrax Super Chief. I have problems with the slot max issue. System is not capable of handling a rr operation the size of mine. Large clubs also have the same problem. I wish Digitrax would handle advanced consisting the same way NCE does. it would help the slot max issue and would make operation easier to understand for a number of people. Digitrax has known about this for years but has not addressed the problem. Other than the slots and advanced consisting issues the Super Chief works great --------- Ken McCorry
I've never had a button stick on either the DT400 ot the UT4. Perhaps you have operated them with construction products on your hands.
k4dani have a super chief and still new to dcc their might be more i dint like.i only have the dt400 throttle the 2 things i dint like is 1) some times the buttons stick down. 2) when you unplug to go wireless you have the cable hanging with you.wish they would of put a female socket in the hand held and used a double male cord. was thinking of cutting it short and installing 2 rj plugs and using a double female adapter to reconnect them when I'm plugged in that way i could let the cord hang at the ur91....ect. has anyone tried this or will it not work for some reason the cord has to be their.
i have a super chief and still new to dcc their might be more i dint like.i only have the dt400 throttle the 2 things i dint like is
1) some times the buttons stick down.
2) when you unplug to go wireless you have the cable hanging with you.wish they would of put a female socket in the hand held and used a double male cord. was thinking of cutting it short and installing 2 rj plugs and using a double female adapter to reconnect them when I'm plugged in that way i could let the cord hang at the ur91....ect.
has anyone tried this or will it not work for some reason the cord has to be their.
1) Sticky buttons don't seem to be a pervasive problem on DT400's. Are you sure you didn't get anything on the throttle that would cause them to stick?
2) I believe the cord also functions as the antenna, so you're probably stuck with this one.
Steve
Phoebe Vet I don't have the Zephyr, I have the Super Chief, but I have never found a decoder I cannot program on the program track.
I don't have the Zephyr, I have the Super Chief, but I have never found a decoder I cannot program on the program track.
Same here. For the latest QSI decoders I had to use direct mode as opposed to page mode but they programmed just fine.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Texas ZepherWon't program all sound units on the programming track.
Hey TZ, curious what sound decoders have you not been able to program on the Zephyr program track. To date I own and programed successfully Tsunami Heavy Steam, Lok Sound as factory installed by PCM, QSI as installed by BLI, Soundtraxx LC's and MRC sound decoders.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
I have in the USA a Lenz set 100 as well as a LH90 throttle and a RoCo Multi Mouse used only as a slave throttle all connected to a dedicated computer using JMRI, in Europe I have the RoCo basic set using the multi mouse as the command station. I have liked the Multi mouse as a throttle as I find it is easer to use a knob to controll speeds and it has a 99 loco stack. Since in europe my RoCo unit came pre programmed using the loco identifiication instead of an address I have come to like that as well (One still needs to address each Unit) what I do not like is the inability to read back the CV's in the Roco unit. To read back the CV one must either attach it to RoCo's computer interface or a Lenz system (Roco uses X-bus to communicate to throttles and controllers on its system).
Bill in Zug
CSX RobertTexas Zepher..MRC Command 2000 - has only 14 throttle steps... Actually the Command 2000 will do 28 speed steps to.
Texas Zepher..MRC Command 2000 - has only 14 throttle steps...
It was their decoders back then that would only do 14 speed steps.
ndbprrI need to know the cons of the various systems ... what you don't like about it or would like to see changed.
Digitrax Zephyr - A bit tinny (well actually plasticy) it could be built with a little heavier materials. Power supply it came with could have been better. Computer interface not built in. Won't program all sound units on the programming track. Has only one built in throttle, have to buy others or use the jumper ports for others.
MRC Command 2000 - has only 14 throttle steps. No computer interface. Doesn't use full range of channel numbers for locos (limited to certain sets). When used on a rug with static electricity involved the unit will hickup if a finger spark happens, so I had to ground it.
NCE - huge luggy hammer head throttles. After carrying around one of the wireless ones for 4+ hours I fell like I've done a workout. Had to install throttle holsters all over the layout so people could put them down more often. Base system comes with only one throttle.
CVP - I don't have the system just the wireless throttles. It only supports 8 throttles. The RC-1300 throttles have a screw and use the antenna as a screw to open the box to replace the batteries.
If anyone has a Digitrax UT they aren't using I'd be glad to take them off your hands. Send me a PM.
Terry
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
It's easier to recall memory two cab numbers in a consist 31, 33 etc. Than it is to call up 233, 231 and 9550 and 9512.
Whew, Im tired.
StevertI did directly reply to the OP's question, and then I related some anecdotal experiences of mine to back up that reply. That's not allowed?Steve
Oh, it's allowed. It just doesn't surprise me.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstageSteve,Bad, bad, bad! You've broken proper forum etiquette and ignored the OP's request in your response. The question was: "What don't you like about your DCC system?" [Italics and underscore mine]Now we're going to have to take you out back and beat you with a wet noodle. Tom
Bad, bad, bad! You've broken proper forum etiquette and ignored the OP's request in your response. The question was: "What don't you like about your DCC system?" [Italics and underscore mine]
Now we're going to have to take you out back and beat you with a wet noodle.
Nope, I wasn't bad. You just left out the part where I quoted Randy:
Stevertrrinker It wasn't free. Seriously, I haven't yet found a quirk in my Digitrax equipment that makes me say "darn, wish I got XYZ brand instead, this is stupid!" --Randy What Randy said. To add a little, I cut my DCC teeth...
rrinker It wasn't free. Seriously, I haven't yet found a quirk in my Digitrax equipment that makes me say "darn, wish I got XYZ brand instead, this is stupid!" --Randy
It wasn't free.
Seriously, I haven't yet found a quirk in my Digitrax equipment that makes me say "darn, wish I got XYZ brand instead, this is stupid!"
What Randy said.
To add a little, I cut my DCC teeth...
I did directly reply to the OP's question, and then I related some anecdotal experiences of mine to back up that reply. That's not allowed?
I also have a MRC Prodigy Advanced and I really like it. My only real gripe about it is that I can't use Decoder Pro with my MRC PA
Mike
dadretI have an MRC Prodigy Advance which I recently converted to wireless. This is minor but it took me a while to figure out the problem. When I use the wireless controller it will not respond if I still have a wired controller plugged in (a leftover from my pre-conversion days). I like to have the wired controller plugged in to an outlet on the far side of my layout but I just unplug it now. Other than that I'm very happy with the MRC - the 28 function controller is nice as soon as everybody starts making decoders wih 28 functions.
I have an MRC Prodigy Advance which I recently converted to wireless. This is minor but it took me a while to figure out the problem. When I use the wireless controller it will not respond if I still have a wired controller plugged in (a leftover from my pre-conversion days). I like to have the wired controller plugged in to an outlet on the far side of my layout but I just unplug it now. Other than that I'm very happy with the MRC - the 28 function controller is nice as soon as everybody starts making decoders wih 28 functions.
Phoebe Vet I bet I'm not the only Digitrax user who uses the UT4 for a "child's throttle". Perhaps all the DCC systems should consider the need for a very limited capability throttle with big knobs for little hands. One improvement I would like to see for the DT400 is the ability to program a name that would display with the address. That's not a complaint, but is a suggestion.
I bet I'm not the only Digitrax user who uses the UT4 for a "child's throttle". Perhaps all the DCC systems should consider the need for a very limited capability throttle with big knobs for little hands.
One improvement I would like to see for the DT400 is the ability to program a name that would display with the address. That's not a complaint, but is a suggestion.
I like the name idea. How about a 4 digit advanced consist standard ? It's more of a NMRA standards issue but I'd prefer it over the current 2 digit limit.
Each section of my layout has a board for the electronics that is hinged at the top and swings down to work on and up out of sight the rest of the time.
I'm too old to crawl underneath.
I dont have any complaints yet.
But beginning to install UP5's, DS 64's Loconet, seperate power off the wall for each of these different types of devices so that a simple train on track short does not bring the entire house of cards crashing down. Maybe even the SE8C for a bit of signalling. There is only so much room UNDER the layout to make proper installation locations, wiring runs etc.
I never thought that I will complain about limited space UNDER the layout, usually it's the space ABOVE where the tracks and trains go that is tight.
You want complaints? Tell a Club at a meeting that you propose a DCC system. And yer gonna get a earful LOL.