A response from Digitrax to a dealer

[Paradise275]

My local Digitrax dealer sent the following to Tech support and there answer is below.

Rick

> From: SLN Hobbies (sln@nor-del.com)

> Phone Number: 51958390975

>   

> I have talked to a couple customers who say there is a problem regarding using the DN163K4A decoder in the Kato FEF3.

> The problem is getting the locomotive to operate smoothly at low speeds, with BEMF on or off.  The problems seems to be with the core motor.  Have you heard of this problem, and do you have any information which I could pass on to my customers.

> Thanks, Gord

> SLN Hobbies

From: Digitrax Techsupport [mailto:techsupport@digitrax.com]
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2015 2:31 PM
To: sln@nor-del.com
Subject: Re: Tech Support submission from digitrax.com

 

It is probably something with the Kato motor.  You can try adjusting CV9, anywhere from 1 to 255, experimenting as you go.  That adjusts the "supersonic".

On 1/5/2015 12:14 PM, submissions@digitrax.com wrote:

> Tech Support contact submission from digitrax.com, This is a web-based

> contact submission from IP Address 142.46.242.253:

[peteski]

LOL, the motor must obviously be the problem!  It is too efficient!!  What a joke. 
What is also laughable is that Digitrax just recently (finally!) adopted their FX3 lighting to work with LEDs! That is in their Type 6 decoders.  I think they were the last holdout to adopt to LEDs.

Before you yell at me, I mainly use Digitrax decoders myself, except for few applications which they did not work out for (like LED lighting effects).  So, I'm not a Digitrax-hater by any means.  It just seems funny that one of the oldest DCC companies (probably 2nd oldest after Lenz) is so slow to adopt new technology.

[jdcolombo]

Perhaps a better response would have been "Replace it with a Zimo." 

I don't understand why the U.S. companies like Digitrax and TCS seem to be so far behind the Europeans (Lenz, Zimo, ESU, CT Elektronic) when it comes to motor control.  I've used a Digitrax Chief system since they first came out in the mid-1990's, but quit using their mobile decoders when I discovered Lenz in 1998. 

John C.

[djconway]

Like so many tech support calls I've made - our part is fine must be the add on.

[jagged ben]

What is also laughable is that Digitrax just recently (finally!) adopted their FX3 lighting to work with LEDs! That is in their Type 6 decoders.  I think they were the last holdout to adopt to LEDs.

And you still can't program prototypical Rule 17 dimming for separately controlled front and rear lights.  I don't know why I keep buying Digitrax.  (Oh, that's right, because they are cheaper, and unlike TCS don't loose their programing when there's a short.) 

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

Digitrax uses old technology in almost everything they do. I use digitrax for everything because they use to offer a club discount and i ordered a lifetimes supply of stuff about 9 years ago,   but i wish they would update there PM42.

Jeff

[Burlington Bob]

Took me a while but I finally came to my senses and have quit buying Digitrax decoders.  TCS decoders have worked much better as far as I'm concerned and I won't be getting a FEF now or anytime in the future.

[OldEastRR]

Took me a while but I finally came to my senses and have quit buying Digitrax decoders.  TCS decoders have worked much better as far as I'm concerned and I won't be getting a FEF now or anytime in the future.

Not buying an FEF will not solve the problem, because it's obvious that coreless motors will  be used in many future releases of locos. Bachmann already uses them, KATO just came on board, and I suspect Atlas will have to jump in to keep pace with those guys.
Interestingly enough, current DCC "state of the art" equipment seems to be obsolete when it comes to coreless motors. Does this mean we'll have three types of loco control? DC, DCC, and DCC-Coreless? None of which can operate with the other?

[jdcolombo]

Took me a while but I finally came to my senses and have quit buying Digitrax decoders.  TCS decoders have worked much better as far as I'm concerned and I won't be getting a FEF now or anytime in the future.

TCS admitted the FEF decoder wasn't up to snuff, found a solution (reprogramming with new software) and is offering to update all previously-purchased FEF decoders for free.   This kind of customer service deserves our attention and support via future purchases.

John C.

[Burlington Bob]

By jdcolombo;

This kind of customer service deserves our attention and support via future purchases.

Most definitely!  And I will be supporting them.

[superchief]

John, I check TCS website and I did not see anything about an update for the FEF decoder, where did you find this information? Thanks, Gordon

[jdcolombo]

John, I check TCS website and I did not see anything about an update for the FEF decoder, where did you find this information? Thanks, Gordon

Check the last few posts in this thread:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=34879.60

John C.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Wait... TCS needs to be reprogrammed with every short? Really? What about NCE decoders?

[RBrodzinsky]

I have never had to reprogram a TCS decoder simply because of a short.

Rick