Digitrax UT4R

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi-

I am thinking of buying the Digitrax UT4R (http://www.digitrax.com/prd_ut4r.php), but I have a few questions.

First, can you consist locomotives with it? (advanced consisting, I think.)

Second, Would you recomend it? The price is right, and I think it does everything I need it to.

Thanks for your input,

Tyler

Springfield Central Railroad

Route of Pittsfield Pass

http//

2

If you can consist on it, it wouldn’t be any fun. For running trains, it is just fine though. What I do if I need to consist a locomotive is do that on my Zephyr, release the address, and steal it with the UT4. The large knob is nice, but the little number knobs are hard to turn all the way around. Good starter throttle and I do recommend it.

3

It’s my favorite throttle for running a train. I have three so I can have three people run three trains. For consisting I still like the DT100R. I have not learned how to hook two engines to one throttle because I do not have two engines that run the same speed. Thus I double head with two throttles, like the prototype back in the steam days. When I do it alone. I use the DT100R. When I have two people double head, they use two UT4Rs and talk to each other a lot.

4

No, you can’t consist locos or throw switch machines with the UT4R. You can run consisted locos with it, but you can’t do it with just the UT4.

I like the feel of the UT throttles, as I do prefer the UT pot throttle to the encoder on the DT’s. And if all you want to do is run trains with it, you can’t really go wrong with the UT4. But if you were only going to buy one throttle, I’d recommend saving up and getting the DT400R instead. It does so much more. But if you already have one, then the UT4 should be fine.

Paul A. Cutler III

Weather Or No Go New Haven

5

Thanks everybody. I will probobly use my Zephyr to consist becouse its in the yard where the trains are made anyway.

I thought about getting the DT400R, but it costs WAY too much and I never use 2 throttles at a time anyway. Thanks again,

Tyler

Springfield Central Railroad

Route of Pittsfield Pass

http//

6

If you do a search thru this forum, you should come up with several topics on how to adjust a decoders CV’s to “speed match” two engines so they run together. It’s not hard, sometimes just adjusting one CV can make them run together. Once you do that, you’ll start running two or more engines together in consists, it’s much easier (and with diesels, more prototypical) than controlling each engine separately.

7

I have two and love them!

I use them in conjunction with my old BigBoy system so I’m limited in some functions…But… The feel is good and they do everything I need them to do.

wjstix is correct in his comment regarding the changing of the CV (for speed) to MU and run two engines with one throttle. And “Yes”, for the most part changing just one is all that is necessary. Of course that changes if you are going to run more then two!

Just get them on tracks, side by side, and match up the speed of travel. A little time consuming but woth it.

8

Good suggestion, but I run old steam and I like the challenge. My two main articuateds are a brand new P2K and a PFM brass with a undersized motor. They are so different that I am not sure I want to slow the P2K down to match. Anyway, it is important for newcomers to know that they can be matched but that some of us like the challenge of the prototype struggles with two engines and two engineers. I especially get a kick out of running them myself with the two knobs on the DT400.

I understand that with the deisels, the prototypes connected them and it was a different story.

9

Since getting my DT400, I almost NEVER touch the Zephyr console anymore. The control with the encoders is just so much finer and more precise than any pot could ever be.

The UT4 is the result of customer response on the Digitrax Yahoo list. Polls and discussions generated a feature set for a new utility throttle to replace the old UT1 and the UT4 is the result. It can only select and run a loco, and supports F0-F12. No consisting, no operating stationay decoders, no programming. You CAN create a consist ont he Zephyr console and hand it off and run it on the UT4.

–Randy