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Programming Track Setup Issues

1318 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  JDTractorGuy, 
J
Hello,

I've been trying to get back into the model railroad hobby after a long hiatus, and am discovering a lot of cool features that I'd like to use. I had a Digitrax DCS 50 as a kid and had no idea that it could program the decoders and am trying to set up a programming track. However, I keep getting a D nD error whenever I try and read or write a decoder address. I've tried with two different locomotives (One Athearn, no sound, and one Broadway Limited Imports, with sound) and both give the same error. A digitrax website said to put a resistor in the Prog A and Prog B outputs, and when I tried that, the Broadway limiteds sound and lights cut on when I attempted to write the decoder address. I'm sure that I've got my wires hooked up right. I read a constant ~1.5 volts on the programming track.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance!
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J
Thanks for the replies.

ncrc: my concern is that buying that won't fix my problem, because I can't get it to work with either of my DCC locomotives. My athern genesis diesel gives a d nd error as well.

mesenteria: I think you've misunderstood my problem. I can run the trains fine. One of them was already set to the address I want, the other is set to 03. I'm trying to change it to a different address but the control system doesn't detect the engine when I put it on the programming track, and it won't even detect the engine that has the right address either. I haven't even gotten to the Yes/No step because it gives me an error. I'm using the digitrax manual that came with the DCS 50.
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J
Thanks again for the help.

In regards to distance, its about 6 inches away from the unit on a single piece of straight track connected to the unit with 14 gauge wire.

The LED will light up and it pops up PAGE on the display--I can hit program again and it will then go to direct mode. I have tried setting the address using both modes but it still gives me a d nd error.

Thank you all again!
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J
Yes, I tried reading them as well--still just a d nd error.

Do you mean 14 volts on the main track or the programming track? I show 17 on the main track when I send it power and ~1.5 on the programming track when I put it in programming mode.
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J
Allright,

I did win an auction for a power booster on eBay, so I'll see if that helps, and then if not call them up.
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J
Right so still having issues. Got the booster in from the eBay auction and it works. However, I still can't read or write the address on any locomotive. I also got a new Digitrax decoder in and wired it up. Its running address 03 but won't read either. I've tried switching programming tracks as well--no dice. With the new booster, when I try and read or write the address the light in the engine comes on and I can hear the motor trying to turn a bit, so its obviously getting the signal. Any other ideas?
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J
I plan to on Monday, but even if I have a bad unit I doubt there's anything they can do--its over 15 years old...
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