My Digitrax DT 400 controller started to get “quirky” on me about a week ago as double clicking the knobs would not change the direction of the Loco. This problem cleared up and now I can only control speed using the “+” and “-” signs. Turning the throttles will not do anything, No speed, no programming, nada. Have I some how locked something up and need to do a “Reboot”, of so, how?
Thanks on advance
Fergie
Ah, the joys of Digitrax. I know it’s a good system and crammed with features, but it’s the computer geeks version of DCC. If you’re not a computer geek you’ll end up frustrated. That’s one of the many reasons I went with EasyDCC. One of my friends locally was all set to buy an EasyDCC wireless system. He came over to look at my EasyDCC system which includeds both thethered and wireless throttles and really liked it. The club he belongs to is all Digitrax so he bought a Digitrax system for his new layout. Last time I asked him how he liked it his anwer was, “I don’t like anything about it.”
I realize you already have Digitrax so none of the above is very helpful. I would suggest calling the folks at Digitrax and see what they say. You probably have locked out some feature without intending to. There are some die hard Digitrax guys on these forums, too. Maybe one of them will have the answer.
Best of luck on a quick resolution.
Ed
Na, there’s no way to lock out the knobs - at least that’s documented. And it takes very deliberate action to get into the options where it changes the throttle settings, in case one of the undocumented configuration items actually does disable the knobs.
It could be that you have a stuck key. I’ve had my DT400 for over a year and haven’t had this problem, but test running at a friend’s this evening I noticed his DT400 has the + and - keys getting al ittle sticky and not wanting to pop back up after pressing them (I hit Power + to turn on the track power and wondered why I couldn’t do anything else, then noticed the + key hadn’t popped back). I have no idea how long he’s had his DT400, but since his layot is not yet complete and operational I can’t imagine it’s ben used as much as mine. It might not be defective - just glue, etc. from sticky fingers operating.
I don;t think there’s a one shot factory reset for the DT400’s settings. But if you don;t find a sticking key, I can copy the values from my DT400, they are all definitely at factory default except the one that enables the playable whistle.
–Randy
I’ll assume you tried changing the battery ? If not, disconnect it from loconet, pull the battery and then repalce it. If this doesn’t fix it, you might try checking the DT400 options. The instructions for checking the settings are on page 104 through page 111.
Fergie, have you been hearing a series of beeps every now and then. Not sure what command station you have, but the DCS100s have a battery for the CMOS. If this is weak, it could be giving you all these weird symptoms.
Edit: Ugh! Jeff, you beat me. [:D]
Fergie,
It’s also possible that both knobs are simply broken. I’ve had to send in club throttles from time to time to get the throttle encoders replaced. However, usually it’s only one knob, not two, that goes sour. The trick to make them last longer is twist them with a thumb and finger, not to simply roll one finger with a lot of strength (the DT100’s were notoriously afflicted…the DT300 and DT400’s are using better encoders that are more rigidly mounted). Another idea may be to switch knobs. The DT400 knobs can be replaced with larger ones from Radio Shack.
Have you or anyone else recently dropped your DT400? It’s also possible that a chip set has come loose due to shock.
IMHO, you should contact Digitrax ASAP and send it in for repair. They may charge you a fee, they may not.
Ed,
You do realize that your comments are like telling someone asking about problems with their Ford that they should have bought a Chevy? What was the point? Well, besides a nice cheap shot at Digitrax…
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
Have to agree with Paul. Your throttle encoders have to be replaced. They will wear out from the constant clicking and twisting of the knobs over a period of time. Not much you can do about that. Had a devil of a time figgering it out myself and a club member gave me the same advice. Send the throttle back to Digitrax or find a competant LHS that can do the job.
Thanks Guys!
Called Digitrax yesterday and was told to send it in! Unfortunately it had been dropped, not hard mind you but this may have caused somwthing to loosen up.
Regards
Fergie
Actually, I was going to suggest tapping it against a hard surface. If there is a piece of debris inside the case which is interfering with the controls, then this might dislodge it. I fixed my computer keyboard at work yesterday by doing this. It’s the geek equivalent of kicking the tires.
My Lenz system has a “return to factory settings” option for the whole system, just like the one for decoders. (They aren’t the same, so you won’t reset your decoders by doing this.) This might be worth a shot before shipping the controllers off.