A few quick questions on decoder programming: 1. How do you program your DCC decoders? Throttle? Special programmer? Decoder Pro etc... What interface, if using a computer? Digitrax PR3, or something else? I'm now thinking of maybe getting the PR3 at my club meeting at Caboose Thursday night. And downloading the latest version of Decoder Pro. Or at least ordering the PR3 at a later date. I've got access to a former club member who provided a CD of information etc...for me in my beginning days of DCC, if I need to. I'm hoping that this might help withe GP60's! But it should also help with the other DCC equipped locomotives I have. Better speed matching, lighting etc..... As always, information appreciated. Thanks.
Computer Interfaces and DecoderPro I use a SPROG II interface and JMRI's DecoderPro (a great program) running on an HP Netbook mini computer. The netbook was converted to use Apple's OSX 10.5 after a Microsoft automatic update failed and wiped out the Windows OS. It is connected to about 4' of Kato Unitrack as it is strictly used as a stand-alone programmer, totally independent and not connected to my layout or DCC system. Now that I have the SPROG II and the MAC OSX operating system, I'm really happy with the the setup. I first purchased the NetBook along with a PR3 solely for use as a portable DCC programmer for my HO and On30 module clubs at shows. I was never able to get the PR3 to work properly, and the only support Digitrax would offer was exchange of the PR3 if I sent it back to them (so I did just that). Hopefully, Digitrax has changed their policy by now. I purchased my SPROG II after the US importer offered me full support and even a refund if I had any problems, so I never even opened the package of the replacement PR3 when it came from Digitrax. Unlike the PR3, I had absolutely no problems with the SPROG, it worked first time out of the box. As a result, if you are looking for a stand-alone DCC programming setup, I can't recommend the SPROG highly enough. And as for the PR3, unless you want to use it to modify the the sound files on your Digitrax sound decoders, I can't recommend it at all. I also do not have any Digitrax sound decoders as a result of my experience with the PR3, all of my sound locos are either Soundtraxx or QSI, along with one LokSound On30 Goose, and I'm quite happy with them all. If you want to operate your layout with a computer controlling your Digitrax system, look into the LocoBuffer as an alternative to the PR3. Buyer Beware, Bill in FtL
I use JMRI Decoder Pro (at the club). I just tried to program a caboose and I couldn't figure it out with Decoder Pro. Engines no problem, but no caboose.
You arouse my curiosity a decoder in a caboose, I guess for lighting only? What is the make of the decoder?
My experience with the PR3 is entirely different than your. I installed 6 PR3 so far on notebooks and PC and on different operating systems. Win XP, Vista 32 bits and Win 7 64 bits and they all work flawlessly. At my club the layout is connected to the PC using a Loco Buffer USB. We also have a Think Pad connected to a PR3, it is used with JMRI for programming. Home I use a Loco Buffer II to run locos and JMRI and a PR3 for programming. No problem whatsoever. While I highly recommend the PR3 I also think the Sprog is a good unit. Jack W.
I use both the throttle and JMRI Primary configuration is with JMRI an a LocoBuffer-USB for the interface. Minor changes including consisting is with the throttle Gary
That's what we didn't know. JMRI did not identify it. It is one of those 100 US$ cabooses with exterior lights, forward and reverse, interior lights, conductor desk lights, etc. Intermountain? BLI? I'm not sure. If I could have opened it I could at least set the CVs. I expect someone else here has used one successfully.
I was about to suggest the same thing, you beat me to the draw. I yould also install the latest version of JMRI. V3.4 is the current production version and V3.5.4 is the development version.
The latest: I was able to program the caboose on the programming track using the individual CV programmer. After programming, I could see the results by placing the caboose on the main line. I am unable to read any CVs in the caboose. The error message is "No locomotive detected."
Glad you are able to program your caboose! Your decoder may not allow you to read CVs. Typically the motor (or a load) is pulsed by the decoder in order to provide a signal back to the DCC programmer. Bob
PR3 and JMRI are the bees knees. If I couldn't use this pair to program decoders I'd probably go back to the stone age or more than likely just collect and not run. There's probably other methods/programs/hardware out there that will do the same thing but for me this duo dosen't get any easier. Brian and thanks for reminding me to update JMRI jalajoie!! ;-)
Some decoders have a small amount of current that "flows" into the motor during programming, but they are usually motion decoders. If the decoder inside the caboose is one of those, that may be you problem. This is one of the reasons that Lighting only decoders were developed, there is no motor drive circuit to be detected. If you pull the shell off the caboose, you could see if there is an extra set of leads, if they are Orange and Brown, you have a motion decoder. You may want to add a 100K resistor between them and see if that is enough of a trickle to be "Found".
Yes your are right about that. It could also be the caboose is too light and the contact with the rail is not adequate to allow a read. Also it could be a Lenz decoder and a 100k resistor between the rails should be used. Jack W.
“... increased load (positive-delta) on the programming track of at least 60 mA for 6 ms +/-1 ms.” & “the decoder must source 30 +4/-6 mA to the rails” Based on NMRA recommendations, to me, it looks like 100K ohm “motor load” would not generally create a large enough current for decoder readback. Bob
