PR4 on the way out ???

308GTSi Apr 20, 2022

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  1. 308GTSi

    308GTSi TrainBoard Member

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    I bought a PR4 back in December 2021. I use it for programming locos but that has become a very stressful experience. It's very hit and miss as to whether it can actually communicate with a loco after 5 months occasional use.

    Originally I could program a loco and once completed click on the throttle and test run the loco up and down the programming track.

    Now it seems to be impossible to get a throttle to move a loco. Today is the first day I have not been able to move any loco. Locos appear to get programmed as they move a little when "Write full sheet" is clicked.
    Unfortunately the nearest track is 26 kilometres from home so popping it on the track to confirm it has been programmed or card installed correctly is a bit time consuming and expensive.

    Has anyone else had this problem and can it be fixed ?
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2022
  2. 308GTSi

    308GTSi TrainBoard Member

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    The only clue in "Preferences" I can find is this ........

    JMRI defaults screen.png

    There is nothing on this page that can be "clicked" .... or changed.

    Is there somewhere in DecoderPro that controls this page ?
     
  3. Pieter

    Pieter TrainBoard Member

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    Depending on the interface connection settings in the Connections tab.
     
  4. Metro Red Line

    Metro Red Line TrainBoard Member

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    What Operating System and version are you using?
     
  5. 308GTSi

    308GTSi TrainBoard Member

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    Sorry for such a slow reply.

    I've tried the only 2 available connections and there was no change , I did close the application and shut down the computer completely to make sure any change could properly take place.

    Screen Shot 2022-04-27 at 07.58.46.png

    Screen Shot 2022-04-27 at 07.59.32.png

    I use the one in the second screen shot with the cu.usbmodemDxP461811 connection.
     
  6. 308GTSi

    308GTSi TrainBoard Member

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    Sorry for the slow reply.

    I'm using a Mac with OS Mojave 10.14.6.

    I now believe I made a wrong assumption that the PR4 could move a loco up and down my programming track. It has returned to being able to move some locos BUT it appears it should never have been able to do this. There was a couple of misleading youtube videos that weren't clear that a seperate track, controls and power supply would be needed to drive a loco up and down , , , hence I bought the PR4.

    So I may be buying a Sprog 3 in the near future.

    It would be nice to sort out the problems in the second post I made above.
     
  7. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Have you also looked at or considered a DCC++EX Command Station? Quite easy to put together, very versatile and inexpensive....

    http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/DCC/page-1.html

    Sumner
     
  8. 308GTSi

    308GTSi TrainBoard Member

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    That is quite an impressive amount of work you've put together there , Wow ! If I lived in the USA and had some electronics skills your described controller would be number 1 choice !

    Electronically I'm not the best by a long shot. When I see 14+ years on something electronic it generally refers to how long it will take me to get things working properly. The other thing (for me) is price of postage to Australia. With Amazon generally make the postage about 1/3 of whatever the item costs. The postage on the power supply was only 7 cents cheaper than the item itself. Multiple sellers means multiple postage.

    The British pound doesn't convert great either but their postage is cheap and fast. It does not make sense at first but postage to both countries is 1 Boeing Dreamliner flight away , , be it nearly 18 hours to the UK. Since Britain has left the European Union I can buy items tax free from there too. US buyers should be able to also.
     
  9. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    You don't have to get the items from Amazon. They can all be source on Au eBay for about the same amount as they come out of China.

    I feel that some see something like this...

    [​IMG]

    ... they assume it is an electronics project. It isn't much different than buying a commercial product that doesn't have the case on it. Above there are 3 boards with components on them. You plug the second one into the first and the third into the second. Take two wires that have connector ends on them (left side above) and plug them into the second and third board. This step gives you WiFi. Don't want to connect a phone throttle with the WiFi. Don't buy the third board now and don't have to plug the two wires in. Want WiFi for wireless phone throttles spend $10-$20 at any time and add it. Not aware of any other DCC CS where you can add a WiFi connection for anywhere near that amount.

    You also connect two sets of wires to the track and the program track just like you do with about any Command Station that you buy and connect to the track. Connect another set of wires between the power supply and the second board. Again a commercial CS needs power wires. These 3 sets of wires, 2 to the tracks and 1 to the power supply are upper right above.

    That is it, you are done with the electronics part. There are a lot of guys in Australia running DCC++EX and it wouldn't take much to hook you up with one of them to answer any questions or post here and I'm sure they could give you links to buying the boards there at comparable pricing to here.

    Give it a thought :) and here is a good video. Ignore the electronic talk, you only need to be looking at how easy the assembly is ....



    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2022
  10. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    What can you use for a throttle with DCC++EX and no WiFi?

    Almost any Windows/Apple/Linux computer (including a Raspberry Pi 3 or 4) can run JMRI ($free), and control DCC++EX. JMRI provides on-screen GUI throttles, and/or can serve WiFi throttles/phone apps (some throttle apps/versions are $free).

    For many, maybe this is a moot question; I wouldn't want to test or program (configure) decoders without JMRI anyway, so using JMRI to run trains is second-nature for me. And JMRI can do much, much more for running your trains/layout!
     
  11. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    I guess I might not of been clear on that :(. I was referring to if he wanted to install the optional WiFi shield on the top of the DCC++EX Command Station or not. If one doesn't want to put that on (most probably don't or haven't until they made it easy to do recently) they are going to need to have the CS connected to a computer with JMRI on it like you mentioned and connected to another WiFi hotspot as one option.

    There are a couple options that don't require WiFi. One is the one you mentioned where you use the screen throttle in JMRI. I use that often to test after installing a decoder as I'm also using JMRI and DecoderPro at the same time. One of the other options is that you could run a wireless radio throttle like what Dave Bodnar made (plans on his site) or the Wired throttle that is also on his site. I have the parts for those but now with EngineDriver and all of its features I probably won't build one. Especially since you can also run a physical throttle with EngineDriver on a phone. I love the speed control that it gives.

    On the DCC++EX web site ( HERE ) they mention some of the various throttle options. Most of those require WiFi but since DCC++EX is open source people are constantly coming up with new options for it.

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2022
    BigJake likes this.
  12. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    If you can wire that decoder in the DCC++EX Command Station build would be a piece of cake.....;)

    Sumner
     
  13. 308GTSi

    308GTSi TrainBoard Member

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    I had bought a couple of other locos off the same guy but I'm having trouble getting the body shells off and had not touched them yet. I put one with a CN-GP decoder in it on the track and had a look at the speed table ......... hhhmmmmmmmmm

    Screen Shot 2022-05-01 at 10.26.08.png

    that ain't right is it ??
     
  14. 308GTSi

    308GTSi TrainBoard Member

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    I looked at local suppliers and they are all "out of stock" ....... I can get the parts cheap on eBay buuuuuuuuuuuuut estimated delivery from China is August .............. it is August 2022 so I guess it's not all bad. :D
     
    Sumner likes this.
  15. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    It is funny, I still use the PR3 and have no issues at all. Although I also use the LokProgrammer for all my ESU decoders
     
  16. 308GTSi

    308GTSi TrainBoard Member

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    The PR4 is good , it's just that I had the misunderstanding that it could power a loco up and down the track. ........ it will let me drive some locos with low power consumption, probably 3 out of 5 modern locos. :)
     
    BigJake likes this.
  17. 308GTSi

    308GTSi TrainBoard Member

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    The PR4 is good , it's just that I had the misunderstanding that it could power a loco up and down the track. ........ it will let me drive some locos with low power consumption, probably 3 out of 5 modern locos. :)
     

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