I bought a Digitrax DN163K1B and I've been having an awful time programming it. It was supposed to be new / unused buuuuuuuuuuuut ......... I could not get it to respond in any way ,,,,, I tried "Factory Reset" but that did not seem to trigger any response ....... by response I mean lights flashing as can typically happen when identifying or writing CV's. At first I could not get it to respond at all. I used one of my very few DCC skills and went to the CV list and wrote in a "copy" of CV's from a DN163K1C that definitely works fine. The lights did blink as I wrote each CV but the motor did not rotate a little each time a CV was written ....... I've come to find lights blinking and motor inching around a little when CV's get written is a good thing. I'm hoping identical CV's from the K1C can be written to the K1B. The K1B still cannot be identified by Decoder Pro but if I manually select it from the roster it will partially respond. I can get the front and rear lights to turn on and off and I can get the loco to run backwards but not forwards. I looked at Digitrax web site to check something is not locked but it says to set CV15 to 0 ............. There is no CV15. Does anyone have any ideas how to get it to run forwards AND backwards ???
CV15 and CV16 are used as decoder lock, in JMRI DecoderPro navigate to Tools -> Programmers -> Multi-Decoder Control. From that dialog you should be able to force reset the decoder via the Reset button which will scan for options to unlock the decoder. Details: https://www.jmri.org/help/en/manual/DecoderPro/Multi_Decoder_Control.shtml
I'd start with CV29 as that controls so many things and compare it to the other decoder and also use this.... https://www.digitrax.com/support/cv/calculators/ Sumner
Hi ,,,, Uuuuuuurgh. Things are getting worse. I have tried to reset the decoder an no positive change has occurred unfortunately. In fact any loco I put on decoder pro will now only travel in one direction and its quite random as to whether they only go forwards or only go backwards. Dad enthusiastically went out and bought 3 Kato's with MRC sound units and asked me to change the numbers from 3 to match the locos and now they are all only running one way. I'm not popular right now. Is there any known faults with decoder pro ?? I have a Sprog 2v4 and Digitrax PR4
Did you buy this as new? Wouldn't Digitrax repair or replace it if you contact them and send it to them as warranty?
It is new but its an old model , DN163K1B , and if I was to send it back the postage is the same if not more than buying another would. As with many things if you're not in the USA the warranty is not much use unfortunately. I'm sure it's not the decoder because I have 3 MRC's doing exactly the same thing.
Hi, I removed Decoder Pro and reinstalled a new version and I'm starting from scratch. I think you're on the right track with unlocking the decoder , I tried to add a "New Loco" and make the loco number 1234. The process stops when it gets to the loco number ..... To me that means the decoder is locked ...... I hope I'm right. I'm trying to get to the "Tools" thing you mentioned but the problem is I think I am looking in the wrong place to make the changes you recommend. I can't find any "Tools" on the JMRI screen. I guess it should be up with " File. Edit. Settings ......... " etc I've looking under "Decoder Pro" and then "Preferences" but can't seem to find anything .........
I just tried adding a perfectly functional loco into the new roster list and I think the Sprog 2 just toasted it. It's totally unresponsive now .......
Put together a cheap DCC-EX system. Works great at programming and has other features to help that I don't know if any of the commercial systems have..... https://dcc-ex.com/reference/tools/diagnostic-d-ack-command.html#gsc.tab=0 Sumner
It looks way beyond my aptitude ........ I'm feeling that it would be a great system if I'm understanding it ...... and honestly I'm guessing. Does it work with a Mac ? Decoder Pro is still a challenge for me , , I can't even find the "Tools" part to get to the decoder lock. I don't have anyone local that can help me with it. I know a lot of model train people but when it comes to the crunch they just say "Get a professional to set it up" ....... and they literally walk away saying they are quite busy. Postage is a bit of a killer too ..... one small box for a Digitrax decoder to Australia is US$60. I had hit US$300 and was only part way down the list. I do appreciate the suggestion though , , you guys are a long way from here and you ARE trying to help.
Assembly of the command station is quite simple.... .... the video shows how to connect the components together, no real wiring, no soldering. He goes into loading the software the older way if one is use to going through those steps. No need to though. They have an auto-installer. Connect the command station to your computer (Windows, Mac or Linux) and it will load the software onto the command station. Now you have a functional command station about like any other in that you connect the wires to the track and connect to a power supply (simple brick)..... https://dcc-ex.com/ex-installer/installing.html#gsc.tab=0 The link I posted I've never had to use but if one has a decoder that is hard to write to the tools at that link can help. As I said I've never used it as the command station has always had no problem programming decoders I've install as is. Now you do still need decoderPro. Work on that as it is great and not that hard to use after you get past programming a couple decoders and it has features that are easy to use once you get past the first couple along with advanced features that make programming most sound decoders pretty simple. The parts for the command station are dirt cheap if you can wait a bit and get them out of China. Here in the states with Amazon they are still only about $50 the last time I checked. Sumner Sumner
Looks like it is exposed in PanelPro and not DecoderPro, not sure why it is listed in the docs under DecoderPro. But if you start PanelPro you should be able to find Tools -> Programmer -> Multi-Decoder Control.
My apologies. I had not checked your profile and was not aware of your location before responding. Postage WOULD be crazy, not to mention the item would travel almost as far by mail as if it were sent to between locations within the US!
Thats OK mate ... It's 7181 miles from Brisbane to Los Angeles (BNE to LAX). ......... so yeah returning a faulty item can be a bit futile if it's not several hundred dollars worth. Anyway I'm more driven to figure out and truly understand what the problem is first.
I have a similar problem with that decoder. The loco has been in storage for a while but ran fine after locating it on the roster in Panel Pro and selecting the loco number. I decided to change the loco number on the program track with my Digitrax 210 system. It got no response from the loco. I also attempted changing it with the ESU programmer with no results. I will try the previous suggestion in Decoder Pro to unlock it and report back if successful. I don't lock any of my decoders, if it is locked it was by error.
All I can suggest is making sure the front of the decoder is making good contact with the chassis. I have tried that with mine and it didn't work. Please let me know if you get any result.
