Digitrax throttle conversion.

[wcfn100]

I have a DT400 and UT4 that I've had forever and I'm think about upgrading them through Digitrax but want to make sure I know what's going on.

From what I see, I have the choice of Simplex or Duplex with the big difference being the Duplex I don't have to plug in to select or dispatch locomotives.  Also, if I go to Duplex, I'll have to update to a UR92 panel.

Is that it?  And is Duplex worth the extra $$$?

Jason

[seusscaboose]

do you use radio a lot?

do you have people over with the 402?


if you have users who come over who use the 402... then upgrade to the 92 panel

if you operate at friends or clubs with a 92 panel... then get it


otherwise... just plug in and run trains

[reinhardtjh]

The problem with the simplex upgrade is that you can't get new UR91 receivers any more.  There are electronic parts that are no longer available and Digitrax has discontinued making them.  You can find them used on Ebay and such, but at some point that will dry up as well.  I'm not sure that Digitrax will even repair them any longer.

It sounds as if you already have a UR91?  In that case I might go with a simplex upgrade. If you don't have either, then do the duplex as the UR92 will be available longer. But you'll have to buy a UR92 before you can do radio.

[davefoxx]

It was worth the upgrade for me.  When a capacitor died in my DT400 throttle a few years ago, I sent it back and had it upgraded to the DT402D at the same time.  I appreciate not having to plug in to acquire and dispatch locomotives, which, when that feature is lacking, is a minor inconvenience that can become annoying.

DFF

[jdcolombo]

I upgraded my simplex 402's and UT4's to duplex ones via Digitrax's upgrade system.  All went as they describe on their web site: you send the throttles in with a form filled out that includes payment info, and in about 30 days you get them back with new insides (the plastic cases will be the same).

I haven't yet tried my upgraded throttles in a full operating session, but so far they work as advertised, with one caveat: the UT4D's are a little hard to get to communicate initially with the UR92 receiver.  On my layout, you seem to need to select a valid locomotive address, plug the throttle in without a battery in it, then put the battery in (while still plugged in), then unplug, then wait 10 seconds.  After that, you can select and dispatch locos without plugging in.  The DT402D's seem a bit easier to get to talk to the UR92; with that one, plug in without battery; put battery in; unplug, and all is immediately well.

It may just be that because the communications protocol for duplex is more complex, it takes the throttles a bit longer to establish communications after being unplugged.  All I know as that so far, once they start communicating with the UR92, they work as advertised.  We'll see how the system works with 8 operators all using the system, in a combination of 402D's and UT4D's.

I would NOT upgrade to simplex - as John R. points out above, that is dead technology. 

John C.

[wcfn100]

Okay, thanks guys, that's probably all I need to hear.

Now to find them. 


Jason

[davefoxx]

The DT402D's seem a bit easier to get to talk to the UR92; with that one, plug in without battery; put battery in; unplug, and all is immediately well.

@jdcolombo,

Wow, this is not my experience at all.  I can plug in the DB150 command station, flip the toggle from "sleep" to "run," put the battery in my DT402D, turn on track power from the throttle, and acquire/run locomotives without ever plugging in.  Granted, my layout is small so I'm not far from the UR92, but I have never had a problem that I can recall getting the throttle to communicate wirelessly.  What you have to do, especially with the UT4Ds, would bother me.

DFF

[wcfn100]

Okay, so I dug out my Digitrax stash and I was wrong on the UT4.   Along with the DT400R, I have a DT100 and a UT2.  Without knowing any better, I imagine those last two are cause for a chuckle.

So the whole list is as follows -

DT400R
UT2
DT100
AR1
UP3
DS52.

So I can only upgrade the DT400R at which point I don't need the UR91 which it sounds like I could sell that (not even sure if I ever used it).

If I upgrade to all Duplex throttles, do I need the UP3 anymore?

And what about the other throttles?  Any market for them?  Maybe just sell the knobs to Ed so he can play with them?

Jason

[John]

I think I would keep the UR91 as backup ..

[robert3985]

If you want to run both simplex AND duplex throttles, then don't disconnect your old UR91 simplex receiver.  Just plug in your new UR92 duplex receiver and both your simplex AND duplex throttles will work just fine.  I run three simplex UT4R's, one simplex DT400R, three duplex UT4D's and one duplex DT402D without any problems whatsoever.  Loconet proves its worth again!

And, unlike the new simplex DT402R and duplex DT402D, my old simplex DT400R will only access 12 functions, which really limits the old super-throttle when most of my motive power has new sound decoder and lots of other effects.

I haven't taken advantage of Digitrax's upgrade offer yet, but eventually, all of my throttles will be converted.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[mmyers]

You have one upgradable throttle. That is the DT400R. It can be upgraded to a DT402R (simplex) and it will still work with your UR91 receiver. It can also be upgraded to a DT402D (duplex). Duplex will not work with your UR91 and you have nothing else that will work with UR91. So that could be sold off. I got $50 for mine last year to some one who wanted a spare. You will need to acquire a UR92 duplex receiver to work with a DT402D.
I would hang on to and use that UP3. You own two older non radio throttles (UT2 and DT100) that will still work just fine when plugged in. Also it never hurts to have a plug in jack available even with duplex. Murphy's law applies.

Martin Myers

[mu26aeh]

To add to this thread, I have a DT300 and a DT400R.  I want to go wireless, would these throttles work with the UR92 ?  Or the UR91 (you might have a buyer for that if you want to sell )

[John]

Those throttles will only work for the UR91

[mu26aeh]

I found this on the Digitrax website, reason why I asked...

http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/universal-panel-ir-radio-receivers/ur92/documents/Digitrax%20Wireless%20Options.pdf

[John]

I found this on the Digitrax website, reason why I asked...

http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/universal-panel-ir-radio-receivers/ur92/documents/Digitrax%20Wireless%20Options.pdf

I assumed you meant radio when you said  wireless .. but .. IR would do the trick .. I have several IR receivers around the layout .. and they work ok . especially for yard areas ..