I know they're quite new but I'd be interested if anyone has tried the new cab reviewed in the current MR issue. Looks very interesting. In particular the easy consisting feature.
I'll give your post a bump. This is not a group where everyone goes out and gets the latest. With Covid not many people are going to places where they might try the throttle.
Here are some Youtube reviews, none of the Youtubers I follow
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Of course, since it's been so long - one now has to ask "which new cab" since not only did the come out with the DT602 full feature cab, they have since also released the UT5 which (finally!) gets an encoder instead of a potentiometer, and can operate accessory addresses unlike any previous utility throttle, usea AA batteries, or the same battery pack as the DT602, and the cable disconnects at the throttle so no pigtail wire when using wireless mode. ANd a full color LCD screen.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I am an early adopter of the Digitrax throttle.
Overall, I like it but I'm also still getting used to it after having the DT-400 series for so long.
Digitrax_DT602Da by Edmund, on Flickr
I bought the battery pack and I'm not really impressed with that. It never shows a full charge and after only about a half hour of use I'm already getting a low-battery alert. Plugging in the cord and pushing several buttons to start charging takes some getting use to.
I could never figure out why Digitrax couldn't design a "charging cradle" like my home cordless phone, electric tooth brush or most of the two-way radios I used to use have.
I have a hard time remembering where the reverse buttons are. The screen goes blank (energy saving) and I have to press the "on" button to reactivate it although, I guess you can program it so touching any button will wake it up. The knobs are way too easy to bump and unwittingly change the speed of your engines!
Digitrax_DT602Db by Edmund, on Flickr
I actually kind of miss the simple to pop in 9V battery of the earlier designs. When I first got the throttle I put three Alkaline batteries in and they lasted a long time, maybe a total of eight to ten hours operation. I have yet to try rechargable AA NiMh in it.
I don't find the twin knobs to be all that ergonomic. I really prefered the smaller ones as on the DT-402. I also miss the "one-click" + or — button to step the speed by one step increments.
IF someone had never used a Digitrax throttle before they could easily get used to this new design — but for me to switch between the several DT and UT throttles I have and then grab the new one I have to stop and think about what I'm doing. Again, this may pass as I get used to it.
Some years ago I drove two different vehicles and I was always grabbing for a floor shifter that wasn't on the automatic and vice-versa.
The new design doesn't fit in a throttle pocket, either. I haven't messed with the consisting as yet. Presently all my "consisted" diesels are all programmed to the same address.
Digitrax_DT602D by Edmund, on Flickr
If you have any more questions about it I'll try to help. I do plan to get the new model of the UT6 when it is available. Maybe I'll have better luck getting used to that.
https://www.digitrax.com/products/throttles/ut6/
Regards, Ed
I'll bet the battery indicator is calibrated for AA, and that battery pack, being nimh, is already down almost 1 volt when fully charged. No idea why they didn;t just use a li-ion pack which could have put out the full 4.5 volts with a boost converter, or even straight up, a full charge would be .6 or so volts down compared to AA. Supposedly it also charges if left plugged in to Loconet, but very slowly, since the whole thing only draws 15ma max. Plus I always shut everything down when I leave the room.
And I just bought a couple of UT4's. Now there are UT6's (no UT5's)
I have a Digitrax Zephyr system and I have not yet tried this new device. I did want to mention that if "easy consisting" is what you are looking for, you might want to consider the Digitrax Wifi Interface. It works with a cell phone, and it is really easy to use. Consisting is a two-click operation. Since I have this, I went from multiple trains with the same address to unique addresses to all locos. I can consist and not consist at the push of a button. That made a big difference in the operations... You can run a consisted train and another locomotive directly from your cell. You can also run other trains directly from your Digitrax system as well. The cell phone practically eliminates the battery problem. Now some users do not like the screen throttle - and I do miss the physical nob - but the advantages of the cell outweigh that issue in my opinion.
Simon
I purchased a DT602D after using my DT100R for almost 15 years now. I don't have a DT400 as I always found them to be bulky and had way to many buttons. My Favorite Digitrax throttle has been the UT4's. I like the big know and simple direction switch.
I have had generally good experience with the DT602D. I have not tried updating firmware since I got after seeing the horrors some people have had with it. I think I will wait and let it settle out a bit before trying that.
I do like that the direction key is right below the knob to switch directions. The only thing I wish that you could do is program the soft keys just below the knobs to act as function keys (ie DEF softkeys) could be Horn (F2) and Brake (F9?).
One thing I do like is how easy it is to consist. It is a bit different than the old method of selecting both engines on the thottle and MUing them together. Now you select you primary locomotive and it will ask you to key in the second unit. You still have to verify the directions are correct before consisting them.
I also much prefer programming aspects of the throttle. This is more for the stationary decoders and other devices below the layout rather than decoders. Having used a DT100 forever, I always hated having to convert to Hexidecimel to make the correct CV changes on my circuit breakers/signal decoders/ etc. Its so much easier to just have a decimel value.
I have only had to plug in the DT602D once to loconet and that was to get it sync up with UR92.
As for battery life, I'm still on the original set of AA alkaline batteries I installed when I got the throttle. It really helps that you can turn throttle off between sessions and not have to remove battery. I am also glad they are finally getting away from 9V batteries. They have the lowest mAh rating per volume of cell.
It has become my go-to throttle now.
I don't have any throttle pockets on my layout, because all my throttles have lanyards. I do like the fact that the throttle has a lanyard attachment point, although I think I may changed out the dinky plastic ring it has for a brass one.
Overall, I'm glad to see Digitrax has finally moved away from an off-the-shelf throttle case to something that is purpose built.
I'm interested to try out the new UT6 when I get funds to buy one.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
You should probably get a medal or something for sticking with a DT100 all this time. I picked one up cheap on eBay just to run trains (I wasn't about to use it for programming, not when I already had a DT400 and a DT402) and even just selecting a logo I have to stop and think because you don't just key in the number, and nearly all my locos are long addresses greater than 400. Plus I will probably some day snap off an encoder knob as I keep trying to click it to change direction like the DT40x series works.
I've never had a problem updating firmware in the few things I have that are updateable - I think half these people don't follow the instructions. If the DigiIPL program doesn;t see it, don't force it. The newest version is suppose to see the DT602 on the network. I also keep it simple and disconnect the Loconet to the rest of the layout so there's nothing else hanging on that might send messages and interrupt the firmware update.
Thanks for replies guys. And yes I meant the new DT602 throttle as it appears to be std with their starter sets now. But now I really like the looks of the new UT6 set of throttles also. I have found when running friends layouts we use the small UT4s. Apparently they use the bigger throttle just to program. Although I have not read in the UT6 description I assume it has the same consist building ability.
In the past I've avoided consists because they just seemed tedious to link up.
thanks
gmpullmanI don't find the twin knobs to be all that ergonomic. I really prefered the smaller ones as on the DT-402. I also miss the "one-click" + or — button to step the speed by one step increments.
I bought a DT402D a few years ago to add on to my original Digitrax Chief that came with the DT100. But even with the DT402D, I've never gotten the hang of setting things up and running and had to be fed with a spoon every time.
For that reason I don't want to invest any more than I have to in my existing Digitrax system. About the only things I see myself buying at this point is the wi-fi adaptor so I can use wi-fi throttles including the Protothrottle, and a duplex wireless unit so I can use the duplex wireless feature on the DT402D I already own. So the new 602D is not on my shopping list presently as nice as it appears to be.
rrinkerYou should probably get a medal or something for sticking with a DT100 all this time.
Hah hah. I haven't used my DT100 that came with my Chief system enough to know how difficult they are, but I still keep it as an extra/auxilary throttle.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I don't think the UT6 can build consists. They still have to be created with the big throttle and handed off.
Witht he older ones, it wasn't difficult to set up a consist, select a loco on the right side, select a second loco on the left side, hit MU+ Keep adding locos on the left side and hit MU+ for each new one. Pretty striahgtforward, actually. Just make sure the loco on the left side is moving the same physical direction as the lead unit so they don't pull against one another, since direction with DCC has nothing to do with the way the loco is actually facing and everything to do with which end of the loco is the 'front' and which is the 'back'. If your lead loco is goning say left to right in front of you, just select whichever direction on the left loco that makes it go left to right - that may be forward or reverse depending on the way the loco is facing. That's the only possible gotcha in setting up a consist.
Maybe the DT602 way is easier, but the old way on the DT300 and newer wasn't difficult at all. Took longer to type than it does to actually do it.
" I don't think the UT6 can build consists. They still have to be created with the big throttle and handed off. "
The UT6 can create consist. Chapter 4.8, page 12
And I have no idea why people are saying 'consist will be quicker' with DT602 or UT6. Simply reading the steps, it is clear to me this is not faster than a DT-400, DT500 method.
UT6 has no decoder programming capability but it can handle turnouts (with the right hardware). UT4 had neither.
Marc
I've always thought the 400 series were pretty easy. Especially when programming - dial the CV number on the left, CV value on the right. Faster than going through menus every time. Address programming is the only thing different, but that's because the throttle handles the CV17/18 and CV29 calculations for you. No brand handles a decoder manufacturer making other CVs work in a bitmap mode like CV29, because there is no standard to follow. You need something like JMRI to add the intermediate layer to translate those CVs into simple chocies and calculate the value for you. Can you imagine if the system did this, and then every time some manufacturer came out with a new decoder, the system manufacturer would have to write a new decoder definition, which you would then have to download and install in your system? Given that only newer Digitrax stuff even has a firmware flash mode, and NCE still requires swapping out of chips.
Thanks again guys.
To be fair I've only used Digitrax when visting friends layouts. So for the couple of hours I worked with their controllers they seems tedious. But, like all the different motel tv remotes I've encountered, I'm sure one gets the hang of them with continued use.
I've never used or needed multiple engines before, but my new larger layout will accommodate longer trains and I forsee using consisting.
FWIW:
“За ваше здоровье”
Ed
Давайте выпьем за успех нашего дела!
Overmod Давайте выпьем за успех нашего дела!
I'll drink to that, Comrade Ed