DIGITRAX DT602 TRHOTTLE

[John]

Digitrax is proud to announce the DT602 family of throttles!

June 23, 2020



The DT602 Advanced super throttle gives you direct control of two locos at a time with all the powerful features and flexibility serious model railroaders demand.

Available in standard tethered or Radio Duplex.   The DT602 is designed to handle nearly every aspect of layout control.

With the DT602 you can run trains, create consists, set up routes, control up to 29 functions including sounds and so much more. With the soft On/Off switch and advanced power saving modes you can now operate longer than ever.

All DT602s are factory equipped with Infrared capability.  Just add a UR90 and you can use infrared for wireless operation.  DT602Ds are equipped with Duplex Radio, using existing UR92’s for operation.

Features:

    Works with compatible LocoNet systems
    Color 2.4” LCD Display Screen
    Advanced menu system and displays
    Built-in scrolling help and prompting
    Soft ON/OFF switch, with zero OFF power-drain
    Advanced display Power Saving for longer wireless battery operation
    No more 9V batteries to remove! Throttles are now powered in wireless modes by 3 AA cells!
    Can use recharged AA batteries
    Available in standard tethered or Radio Duplex
    Duplex Scan for available Networks and radio signal strength. Run without cords!
    All throttles come with a LocoNet cord that can be unplugged, and is replaceable
    Dual throttle controls let you control two locos simultaneously
    Run locomotives with “encoder click” knobs for both speed and direction control
    Full numeric keypad makes loco selection simple
    Control light and sound effects functions with the press of a button
    Control 29 functions (F0-F28).
    Function active/inactive indicators
    Convenient step-by-step throttle option set up
    Supports simplified decoder programming
    Simplified 2 or 4 digit addressing setup
    Over 9,000 locomotive decoder addresses
    Supports turnout and stationary decoder control
    Over 2000 turnout decoder addresses
    Fast clock display
    Recall feature
    Advanced Route editor

 

DT602 MSRP $195.00         

Visit Product Page >

[peteski]

Wow!  Impressive!

When, couple of years ago at the Springfield show, I first saw the new Zephyr box with that high-res color display and a "real" keypad with 6 soft-keys, I complimented the Digitrax reps on how their human interface has improved, and I asked if the same technology would eventually find its way to their handheld throttles? They didn't say anything, bud gave me a smile.  Well, here it is - they did it!  While it looks kind of funky (like some sort of space toy), if it functions similarly to the new Zephyr, Digitrax has definitely moved into the 21st Century. It was about time.

I was a staunch Digitrax-hater (for several reasons), but I will have to give them a second look now.

Still, one thing that is missing is direct easy access to F0-F28 functions (or at least F0-F14). With all the sound decoders out there, it would be nice to just press a single button to get those often used sounds.  It is not just Digitrax - others have the same limitation.

[EspeeGoldenState]

Mae West is for sell now?

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

[peteski]

Mae West is for sell now?

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

It is called "ergonomic design" (with boobs)!     You can wrap your hand around its waistline. It does look funky. 
Maybe Digitrax designed it to appeal to all those lonely heterosexual male model railroaders playing with their trains in dusty basements, longing for a women-figure to hold?   

[mmyers]

Started reading the manual on their website. It specifically says DT602 can be used without batteries when plugged into Loconet. It uses three AA batteries instead of the usual 9 volt. That's a plus for sure. There is an optional rechargeable battery pack available. There's a charging jack built into the throttle. It takes a 2mm coax plug and a 10 - 18 volt DC power supply 100ma min. Looks like another PS14 or similar.
Martin Myers

[C855B]

NOT WiFi - Digitrax duplex.

The saving grace over its predecessors is the high-res display with better graphics and text. I agree about the case shape and knob locations, it's going to create some interesting discussions in many households. And rude dialog in some settings, "grab her right **** and twist." Yikes.

Serious question - does it have the same system defect as the 400- and 500-series throttles? That defect being the ability to fat-finger reprogramming every loco on the layout to a single address? Maybe there's code in it that sets off an air raid siren or STOS "red alert" noises if that particular key sequence is fumbled.

I'll stick with the TCS.

[peteski]

NOT WiFi - Digitrax duplex.

That's an interesting point.
I wonder if Digitrax marketing is savvy enough to eventually re-spin the internal PC board (reusing the display, case, and everything else) to produce a voluptuous a WiFi throttle?

[Carolina Northern]

That's an interesting point.
I wonder if Digitrax marketing is savvy enough to eventually re-spin the internal PC board (reusing the display, case, and everything else) to produce a voluptuous a WiFi throttle?

It would be nice if their engineers were smart enough to put the RF on a plug in board. - Plug in a different board - instant Wi Fi.

I will say that it is the first Digitrax throttle that I'm even slightly in favor of. Really hated the previous ones.

Don

[wcfn100]

Why would Digitrax put resources into a WiFi throttle?

Jason

[jpwisc]

I had a Norelco shaver that looked just like that...

No WiFi, no bueno.

[DKS]

What I see when I look at that thing...

[C855B]

Why would Digitrax put resources into a WiFi throttle?

Maybe to not further encourage the exodus from their ecosystem?

Now more than ever they need an in-house entry in the growth side of wireless MRR throttles, which is WiFi. From an RF engineering perspective, their duplex system is steeped in 1980s legacy tech and is far from bulletproof. Many of my gray (and missing) hairs can be attributed to diagnosing Digitrax wireless glitches in the context of multi-user, multi-layout operation. WiFi isn't perfect, but at least it is scalable and can coexist with other operations without experiencing total collapse.

Don't get me wrong, my layout is Digitrax-based, and that's because it is a proven infrastructure with decent 3rd-party support. But their proprietary RF system will never see the light of day in my operation, redesigned throttle or not.

[peteski]

What I see when I look at that thing...

No way, I beg to differ.  Their older throttle looked like control console for a nuclear power plant.


The DT602 actually looks usable (with fewer buttons and a useful display). 

But if all you want is a direction switch, and a speed control knob, then correct, neither one is for you.

[CRL]

Yeah, definitely a female shape there.

[wcfn100]

Now more than ever they need an in-house entry in the growth side of wireless MRR throttles, which is WiFi.

Why would Digitrax need an entry throttle when there are millions of devices already out there that can do that?  Besides, Digitrax WIFi can't do much beyond selecting and running a train.  Any addressing or higher functionality requires RF or plugging in.

Digitrax Zephyr, LWNI module and a smart phone or tablet.  That's about as entry level you can get.


Jason