. . .

Older BLI's required a Program Track Booster. If your engine has a PARAGON 3 decoder it could also require the Program Track Booster be in the Program output circuit.

Those using the Soundtraxx PTB-100 Program Track Booster have had better success than those using the DCC Specialties PowerPax (me included).  I can not recommend the PowerPax, but I can recommend the PTB-100.

Now does this all still apply to this ESU Command Station/wireless gizmo. You would have to ask ESU.

A Program Track Booster is NOT required for ESU decoders, but we are not talking ESU decoders are we.

You might try finding a FRIEND with a PTB-100 in your neck of the woods, to try out the theory before plunking down 53$ for one.  And this gets convoluted. Program Track Boosters can cause issues with more recent decoders and in many cases, must be taken out of the loop. People wire in DPDT switches to take the PTB out of the circuit.

Other options are a SPROG, or the Digitrax PR4 used as a Standalone Programmer. Both do not require the PTB.

Marc

Thank you for the response. 

Thank you for the response.  It does indeed have the Paragon 3 decoder in it.  

I will check into the PTB-100 and see if this rectifies the problem.  Once I have installed the PTB-100, can I leave it installed for all programming of other brand locomotives (atlas, athearn, etc)?

Thanks again,

David 

I had a programming track on the layout and was unable to

 Program my new P3 steam locomotives. My programming track was a c55 yard track that normally holds cars. Turns out I had a micro short and the track not being perfectly flat prevented the locomotives from getting a clean dcc signal and taking commands.

I ended up building a programming track on my work bench and it works 100% of the time. 

. . .

" Once I have installed the PTB-100, can I leave it installed for all programming of other brand locomotives (atlas, athearn, etc)? "

My PTB-100 is a permanent addition to ONE of my program track setups. I encounter no issues programming sound or non-sound decoders with this setup.

My Digitrax decoders (sound) are programmed via a PR3/PR4. so the PTB is not required or involved here. This is my second Program Track setup.

Does  the PTB-100 need  to be remmoved in certain cases ? , it depends on the decoder involved. IF programming fails, disconnect the PTB-100 and try again.

Marc

PTB-100

Best product investment I have done.  Programs ALL my decoders flawlessly. ( MRC Prodigy Advance2) 

I have mine wired in line permanently to a stand alone programming track and I use the JMRI Decoder pro do do most all decoders.  The key is using the proper power supply with the PTB-100.  I use a 15v DC 1.5 amp power supply and rarely get read/write errors.  Word of caution, if you have keep alives installed, you may not be able to read/write large CV sheets,  If you are programming 1 CV at a time you will have no issues.

BLI decoders have large capacitors and require a lot of power to program.

I purchased the

I purchased the PTB-100....there was not an easy way to wire it up correctly to the ESU system....but Nelson's comment about BLI decoders needing a lot of power to program was an important clue.  I simply turned up the power on the system (there is a dial on the power station) and voila....it worked!  Interesting because I had the power turned up to where ESU suggests for HO systems.....more power must have been the key to getting the signal to the decoder.

Thank you all for your help!

David