Digitrax

Manufacturer: Digitrax

Summary: Manufacturer of a complete line of DCC products – Everything from Starter Sets to function, multifunction and accessory decoders.

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General information
Phone	+1-850-872-9890
Fax	+1-850-872-9557
Email
CV8 ID#
Main URL	Main URL
URL to manuals	Product Manuals
Address	Digitrax, Inc. 2443 Transmitter Rd Panama City, FL 32404-3157 USA
Date Opened	1993
Date Closed
Successor
Device Types	Other, Booster, Command Station, Mobile Decoder, Power Supply, Stationary Decoder, Throttle

Getting started with Digitrax

For those just getting started with Digitrax products, or want a quick over view, we highly suggest reading the Digitrax primer. It reviews basics the basics of the Digitrax system so that one can easily compare with other DCC systems out there.

Manufacturer ID # 129

Products Offered

Digitrax offers a large number of products. Please the Digitrax Products page for details.

Digitrax FAQs

Q: My Train Keeps Stopping

If a train, that for no obvious reason, suddenly comes to a stop and adjusting the throttle causes it to resume its journey, the likely cause is two throttles are sharing the same address.

Some DCC systems allow two throttles to control a single address for the purpose of operator training, creating consists, and other functions. Digitrax uses the term Steal to indicate that the address is currently in use, and the operator can choose to take (steal) control of the address or not.

The second throttle is often referred to as a Ghost or Phantom Throttle. A product of poor operator discipline, as someone hasn't cleared that address from their throttle during a previous operating session, or earlier in the current session. That throttle is set to a zero or non-zero speed, and will regularly be polled by the command station. When that happens the ghost throttle overrides the throttle in use.

Digitrax DCC Systems:

Every throttle, which is a LocoNet device, creates a slot when it selects a locomotive's address. The slot associates the throttle with that address.
Variables such as speed, direction and active functions are written to that slot by the throttle. This allows the throttle to be disconnected from LocoNet without impacting the operation of a train.
- This also allows a throttle to control multiple trains independently using multiple slots. Another throttle can steal an address, which creates a new slot associated with the second throttle.
There are two slots assigned to that locomotive's address. One slot is set to speed zero. At some point the command station will refresh the slots. It reads the slot which is set to zero speed and sends a packet addressed to your locomotive telling it the speed is zero…

JMRI can help by using the slot monitor to clear all unused slots, or to release a specific slot.

See the article about dispatching for more details.

Q: Reset a Digitrax Zephyr

There are three versions of the Digitrax Zephyr.

The original DCS50 Zephyr
DCS51 Zephyr Xtra
DCS52 Zephyr Express

Reset Process
- To change an option switch (OpSw), look in the table included in the manual for the option you wish to change.

Press PROG
Press Switch
Enter the number of the option switch using the keyboard
Use the c/– or t/+ keys to set the desired state (Closed or Thrown)
Press EXIT when the process is complete.

Reset Button
- A recessed button is found on the rear panel of the DCS52. Pressing it will activate OpSw36, clearing all multifunction decoder and consist information.
OpSw 39
- Setting this OpSw to Closed will reset the DCS50 to its factory defaults.
- This also applies to the DCS51.
OpSw 40
- Setting this OpSw to Closed will reset the DCS52 to its factory defaults.

Edit FAQ Related Articles: DCS50, DCS51, DCS52, Digitrax Hints/DCS Option Switches Related Manufacturer: Digitrax Categories: Command Station

Q: Auto Reversing Tips

The PM42 or AR1 require a short circuit. This requires a good current flow across the gaps between the reversing section and normal sides for them to act.

It is poor practice to have gaps immediately behind a turnout, relying on the switch rails to supply current to the frog and point rails leading toward the reversing section. If possible a short isolated section connected to the main track bus should be inserted between the turnout and the loop

On long reversing sections too few track feeders from the auto-reversing unit can lead to same problem. Additional feeders should be used to reduce resistance of the rails and their joints which can lead to erratic operation.

For proper operation the wheel tread of the vehicle must make contact across the gap simultaneously to create the necessary short circuit required to trigger the phase reversal. Avoid insulated rail joiners which are proud of the rail head, or those which are level with the rail head. These will prevent the wheel's tread from contacting both sides of the gap and completing the circuit.