Ok...I can use you guys help. I have a Digitrax DP150 command station. I've had it for about 10 years. I always run trains when I am working at the workbench. A few days ago the trains just stopped while I was working. Baffled I dug into what the problem might be. Everything quit. The locos where on dead track. I reset the command station with the switch/39 command. Here is the problem. After reset the command station turns back on OK. The status light and the power light are working. The track has power. The locomotives lights come on...including the gyro lights. The throttle display is fine. I can enter loco addresses just fine. The knobs turn OK and the display shows increase in throttle speed. There is just nothing as far as the trains moving. It's like they are not getting the commands from the command station. Is there something I am missing as far as resetting the command station or is all hope lost. TIA .
Maybe just for the halibut you might try to reset 1 of the locos ? Otherwise I would think that the DCC station might have blown something internal . Mike
I was told that maybe the command station isn't sending 'packets' to the decoders. Is that a 'thing' ???
"Packet" is just a collection of data bits that taken together mean something. In DCC, the command station sends out packets (also called commands) that tell locomotives what to do (how fast, what direction, headlights on/off, etc.)
Gotcha thanks. So if packets aren't being sent the train wont go even if everything else seems to work???.
have you read through the help pages...hopefully you find a fix. https://www.digitrax.com/tsd/troubleshooting-guides/command-station-or-booster-troubleshooting/
Correct. Even if no commands are being sent on the DCC track, the base waveform is still present, and the locomotives will power up, defaulted to zero speed, and whatever lights would be on at startup. But a lot depends on what you mean by "everything else seems to work?" Your problem could be your throttle. Do you have additional throttles you can try? If wired, is the wiring/connections disturbed? If wireless, did you try replacing the batteries in the throttle? Or it could be the throttle bus. Can you run JMRI on a computer attached to the command station (usually via USB)? It would allow you to use an on-screen throttle on your computer to control the command station and alter trains' speeds and directions. If that works, then the throttle bus or throttle(s) are malfunctioning. Any DCC system is occaionally subject to similar problems as these. Let's not jump ship to a new DCC system just yet! If I were a betting man, I'd put money on a loose/open connection, broken wire, etc., but given the loco's lights are on, the track, track wiring to the command station, etc. are OK. The DCC system is just not sending any commands for some reason (including that it has not been told to send any commands, because the throttle is not working for some reason.)
By 'everything else works' I meant everything on the throttle. I can use the throttle plugged into the command center and do the steps to do a reset on the command center. I can plug the throttle into any of the plugins on the fascia and I can...enter locomotive #'s...advance the speed and any other things that a throttle should do. The locomotives just don't respond
Reread it and went back out and did the steps in the order given. I had missed one step at the end yesterday and was hoping that was the problem. No joy ! Same results...no locomotives move...
I have an UT4 that I use for my yard switching. I unhooked the DT402 and plugged in the UT4. I set the address to the locomotive on the main (I tried 3 different locomotives). Still no joy !
Probably not going to tell you much but if you have a piece of flex track or can set a couple pieces of track on a board and connect the CS to it only and see if there is a difference. That would rule out a problem by the layout although from what you are saying that sounds remote. Looking more like the CS itself. Sumner
To dbl check that there are no track issues I switched over to my DC power supply. I took the DCC locos off the track and am running DC locomotives...pulling the same cars that the DCC locos where. There are NO track problems...
OK something else occurred to me last nite . Is it possible that when you reset the throttle that 1 or more of the opp switches need to be reset ? Not sure as I an a NCE user . Mike
If you can use the throttle to reset the command station (and verified the command station did reset), then it is likely NOT the throttle, or the connection between throttle and command station. This leaves the command station itself as the likely culprit. You might try contacting Digitrax customer service, to see if they have any ideas about what is broken. If you have multiple throttles for it, it may not make sense to change brands of DCC systems, especially if you are happy with them. But if you might be wanting a change of pace in DCC systems, this could be a good point to change systems too...
Andy..... I have been doing some online researching. The 'packets' thing comes up a bunch. I am learning more about this stuff then I thought I would need to know. I am leaning towards replacing the command station. Mostly for the reasons you stated above. Replacing 'everything' seems to be a waste of mostly the investment. I have a few more things I want to try but I am not holding out any hope. Thanks for everyone's help
That sounds like a smart move! Like a lot of things, as long as they work, you don't have to know too much about how DCC systems work, to be able to use them. But thankfully, there's a lot of willing help here if problems do pop up.
Have you tried to reset the decoder in the loco? If the decoder address is corrupted the loco might power up but never move.
Going to resurrect this thread for a bit... I have a DT402 throttle. I have no need or desire to upgrade it. I do have a problem with it however small it may seem. I could use some guru to help. The small buttons 'stick' down now and then. This causes all kinds of fubar problems. I was thinking of opening it up...removing the board...cleaning the contacts on the board and cleaning the rubber button mat. So far I haven't figure out how to open it... Which leads me to me next silly question... Is there anything that can safely be sprayed on the buttons from the front of the throttle to 'unstick' those little rubber buttons...without having to open it ?? .
