I have an old digitrax big boy system. It’s been in storage for years. I’m thinking about using it on a new layout. What would be the disadvantages in this ? Are there sound decoders out today for this system?
Not entirely sure what this “Big Boy” system was… but i doubt that any of the newer (sound)decoders would listen to it if its particularly old - in my mind it wouldn’t have the functionality that is required to run them.
I wish I could give you better information, although Digitrax doesn’t seem to even acknowledge the system ever existed (although, they might havejust hidden details about it in some obscure page of their website that requires you to junp through many hoops to get at it)
The Big-Boy is mentioned on the Digitrax web site, the manual is still there for download at http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/Big%20Boy%20Manual.PDF according to the web site it was superseded by the Empire Builder set in 1998.
What you have is a 4 function plus lights on/off throttle/command station with a 5 amp booster. Bell and whistle sounds on modern sound decoders can be accessed by the system using the F1 and F2 function keys. So while it may be limited, it is certainly not incapable of running modern sound decoder equipped locomotives. Since it uses the Loconet system, I am almost 100% certain that both the throttle and the booster are fully compatible with current Digitrax components, so you could upgrade the system if you so choose.
The BigBoy system was also limited to 128 decoder addresses
BOB H - Clarion, PA
I run an old BigBoy and have absolutely NO complaints!
As “simon 1966” has stated the system does have some limitations, but will operate additional functions and depending on your needs it may well be all that you will ever need.
With that said: I will share an up-grade I did to my system, by adding a UR91 (Universal Receiver) radio station and several UT4-R radio throttles. It is worth mention that I have only one UR91 in my 24x24 Trainroom and I have no “dead spots” at all regarding the reading of the radio throttle signals.
This radio conversion was relatively cost effective and simple to do, just plugging it into the Digitrax LocoNet, and made the system a real treat. The only drawback that I feel I have with the BigBoy is that the DT200 throttle is the command station and needs to be plugged into the LA1 at the DB100a booster for the system to work. This is now a different scenario on the newer Digitrax systems with the command station being part of the booster (I think).
Anyway…This really isn’t that much of a bother for me as I have my LA1 and “main” throttle at a very busy junction on the pike. Other throttles can be plugged in and used at any UP-5 (Universal Panel) or the UR91 and the UT4R’s, or other radio throttles for that fact, can also be plugged in anywhere to catch an address of a loco.
Bottom line here: Unless you will be running more than 99 addresses and / or have a need for more than the number of functions (four, I think) available, I think you would be happy with the BigBoy. A great place to get answers on any Digitrax systems, new or old, conversions and so on is http://www.loystoys.com/
Colvinbackshop, I have a question for you. Your new UT4r’s can support up to F12. Do you have access to these functions with the UT4 or is it constrained by the command station limit of 4? I am curious about this because a Zephyr command station is limited to F8, but you can access up to F12 with the UT even though the Zephyr continues as the command station. This is quite an important question, because if the UT when working with the Big Boy does access up to F12 then one of the biggest shortcomings is overcome.
simon1966:
VERY good question! I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.
It could be that the Zephyr is the command station, where as the DT200 throttle is the command station with the BigBoy. Those functions, limitted to what is on the throttle, may be a factor!
I’ll find out…For sure!
After fumbling about trying to access functions with the UT4R on my BigBoy…I got nowhere. On the other hand, I don’t have a loco that has anything more then lights at this point…So I was hard pressed to really test any theories.
Wanting to know if I could or not…I followed up with a note to Fred (the tech guy)at LoysToys. Loy as been my “go to” guy since I got onto DCC. He (and Fred) know my system and my pike, so it seemed that those good folks would be able to help me out. Here is what I got from Fred this afternoon:
Hi JB,
You are limited to 5 functions (0 - 4) with the BigBoy. The command station being the DT200 throttle. You are sort of right about the Zephyr. The command station part of the Zephyr has 13 functions available but the throttle part of the Zephyr can only access 9 of them.
Regards
Fred
Your best bet with a Big Boy is to buy a Zephyr and use the DB100 as an extra booster and the DT200 as a throttle only. You’ll gain all the modern features and the only piece you will have no use for is the LA2 Loconet Adapter.
The Big Boy will function just fine even with newer decoders, but you ar elimite din functions and limited to 2 digit addresses. And programmign is more complex then it needs to be due to the lack of enough buttons on the DT200 and the fact that it uses a psuedo-hex notation to represent numbers over 99 for CV values. ie, A0 = 100, B0=110, A5=105
-Randy