DIGITRAX DT602 TRHOTTLE

[C855B]

To set the context, I showed a DT402 to my wife, explained that it was a throttle and programmer. She had used it before, so it wasn't foreign to her. Then I explained that the company had just introduced a new version (without embellishment), and I scrolled to the picture. She burst out laughing.

It's obvious they used the same industrial designer that did the NMRA's new logo. 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Awesome: good design, dual controls, high quality screen
Not awesome: not a wifi throttle, Stupid Digitrax hex programing

Yeah I'll pass unfortunately.

[wcfn100]

Stupid Digitrax hex programing

What do you mean?

per article KB696 from 2012.

All current Digitrax throttles use only decimal notation for CV programming.  No conversion charts or confusing formulas are needed to determine the CV values to program!

Jason

[Steveruger45]

I like the look of it.  Reminds me of one of those cute Gremlins characters.

[Maletrain]

Mae West is for sell now?

I'm interested in getting one, but seriously this thing looks like a woman figure.

Apparently some posters have been in COVID-19 lock-down too long. 

[dem34]

Apparently some posters have been in COVID-19 lock-down too long. 

The model railroaders manatee.

[DKS]

[thomasjmdavis]

When I saw the thread last night, I checked the first post, assuming the thread was resurrected from April 1. 
Nope, not that.
So, I checked the Digitrax website....sure enough, this is an actual thing.

A controller designed by Hedley Lamarr himself....

[Ed Kapuscinski]

You guys might be laughing at the shape, but I think it's great.

One of the things I really LIKE about the existing Digitrax throttles is their ergonomics. I know it sounds crazy, but it's possible to cradle the throttle in your hand in a way that makes it really easy to operate the throttles without looking at it and the encoder wheels give a really great feedback as to what you're doing. With NCE throttles and that weird free wheeling wheel, you have to look at the throttle to know how much you just throttled up. With the Digitrax knob you get built in feedback. 

They were held back a bit by the boxy construction though, and this seems to solve that.

As for why not wifi? Well, I'm not sold on wifi being the end-all solution for model railroad control. It might have advantages for being "easy" and "cheap" since the components are widely used but there are downsides too.

[CRL]

Instant feedback?

Oh, baby... yeah, baby! Ahhhhh, that’s it babyyyyyyyy!

[MK]

Instant feedback?

Oh, baby... yeah, baby! Ahhhhh, that’s it babyyyyyyyy!

Wait!  It has a voice option???   

[Dave V]

Glad my DT400 is still working after all these years.  The MSRP on the DT602 is a bit steep.  Par for modern DCC throttles, but still a bit steep.  For that same price I could buy kits for four more C&S/RGS boxcars and four more C&S/RGS stock cars plus the decals to finish them.  Besides, I just replaced my DB50 and power supply with the new Zephyr Express (for half the cost of this one throttle, LOL) so I'm in good shape.  Maybe not as good a shape as that throttle though...   

[peteski]

You guys might be laughing at the shape, but I think it's great.

One of the things I really LIKE about the existing Digitrax throttles is their ergonomics. I know it sounds crazy, but it's possible to cradle the throttle in your hand in a way that makes it really easy to operate the throttles without looking at it and the encoder wheels give a really great feedback as to what you're doing. With NCE throttles and that weird free wheeling wheel, you have to look at the throttle to know how much you just throttled up. With the Digitrax knob you get built in feedback. 

You liked ergonomics of the old throttles (like DT400)?  OMG!  Wow! Gou gotta be kidding!    IMO, there was nothing ergonomic about them - just the opposite - very poor ergonomics.  The only thing going for them is that they are true dual-throttles (and now the sexy shape). 

As far as speed control knobs, the old Digitrax  throttle, and the new ones have those endlessly spinning encoders (just like the NCE scroll wheel).  No difference there. Can't tell the speed by looking at either Digitrax knobs or NCE scroll wheel without looking at the display.  Only the utility throttle uses a potentiometer with defined stops, and a mark on the knob to show the speed.

[Chris333]

Why not make it all a touch screen with a goose neck light over it to simulate sunlight to render the screen useless?

[C855B]

I think the thing with the case shape is mostly a bad choice of photo angle. You see this all the time in car advertising - certain angles are "oh, that sucks", yet when you see one in person, "it's not so bad". Even color influences that perception.

Anyway, our friends at Digitrax are going to be dealing with this first impression for a while, then they'll get around to changing the product images to better represent the new ergonomic design. But we'll still chuckle.