Dave check out this

Dave check out this review

http://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/staff-reviews/2018/10/digikeijs-dr5000-digicentral-dcc-command-station

Looks like you have to have a PC to do the set up of the unit, but there is Wifi so you maybe able to run on ipad. The reviewer uses an Android. 

My money would go on something like the Digitrax or NCE system. Seems a little friendlier.. 

@neil

Thanks for the link to the review. I had seen similar info but wanted to know if there's a way to work around the PC for setup( when my last PC crashed I just bought a Chromebook). Looks like one can run trains with an Android or ipad but not set the thing up with them? I have a Digitrax system on my TT scale layout that I could install on the S scale layout then get a Power cab for the smaller TT layout but it would be handy to keep the Digitrax on the TT layout and get a new system for the S layout. I'll look into it more and hopefully more Digikeijs users will add some input....DaveB

If you require not having a

If you require not having a PC even for initial setup, the Z21 is an option (but it is pricier).

Digikeijs DCC

I have the Digikeijs DR5000, purchased from Iron Planet Hobbies and couldn't be happier.  The Digitrax BDL168s and SE8Cs work seemlessly with the Digikeijs, and I have several Wifi throttles from Roco along with the Digitrax UT4Ds. 

Ron

@Ron

  Do you need a PC to just run trains with it, or is the PC only needed for more advanced features? .....DaveB

DIGIKEIJS VERSUS z21 / Z21

Major advantages of the z21 or Z21 are:

-no pc needed

-ALL OPERATIONS controlled via tablet or cell phone via Wifi.

It's a COMPLETE SYSTEM  right in your hand. EASY to use - even speed curves are visual and can be modified in a second; Change Signals / Turnouts - line up a route etc. Consisting the easy way; Library of your loco's on easy imported photo.... etc etc.

There is simply NO system on the market offering the possibilities of the Z/z21 - almost perfect and still getting better. See the new app.

Just check it out on youtube and SEE for yourself.

greetings & happy railroading

Digikeijs without the computer

Sorry for the delay in responding.  I have been off the site for awhile.  You can run trains and throw turnouts without having the computer on.   I do that all the time instead of firing up the CTC panel on the computer.  But I did need the computer to set it up and to set up my Roco wifi throttles.  It makes everything so much easier to use the computer.  And updates are alot easier than when I used my Digitrax system.  More than once the Digitrax updates bricked whatever component I was trying to update.  Those turned into expensive updates.  Haven't had that problem once with the Digikeijs.  We had an Ops Session Saturday with 15 operators and didn't have one hiccup.  Very reliable.

Ron

@ Ron

   Thanks for posting, it's great to hear from someone experienced with this system. If I just want run trains it sounds like I wouldn't need a computer in the train room, just need it for initial set up? If I link a DR5000 and a DR5033 booster can I use regular digitrax loco net cable or would I need a different cable?  Once set up by computer could I then run trains with just an ipad or phone for throttle? or apparently I could add a UR92 to the digikeijs loco net and use my Digitrax UT4D throttle? .....DaveB

Digikeijs DR5000

I just got one of these and am seeing what I can plug into it... as well as plug it into.

I've got a UR91 and a couple UT4R's, and I'm interested in seeing what of my CVP equipment will work with it as well.

I've already determined that I may need to do a bit of rewiring of the layout back near the control centers just to wire the 3A output into my PSX circuit breakers for power to the track.

There will be a First Look coming out of this, but I might leak some of my discoveries beforehand as well.

Anyone in the mid-Willamette Valley have any equipment that they think might work with the DR-5000 and are willing to have me give it a try?

"I just got one of these and

  Hi Jeff, Great to hear that you are checking these out. I'll be following your experience with interest. Have you done the computer set up yet? I'm wondering how hard the set up program is to get installed and running, I might buy a small laptop if I like what I hear from users of the Digikeijs system. Will any windows 10 machine be good enough for setup and layout utility use? .....DaveB 

Digikeijs Compatability

Yes, you can use your loconet system with this.  You can add the UR92s as well.  My experience with the UR91 was not good.  They are aware of this issue and working on it, however, they needed a few key pieces of information about the UR91 that Digitrax would not provide.  So it may take a while longer before that piece of hardware is consistent in its performance.  What exactly they are looking for in the communication handshakes, I don't know.  I am using Digitrax BDL168s and SE8Cs for the CTC portion of the layout.  No hiccups there at all, except for ones I create out of ignorance.  I also know that the CVP products work very well with this system.

Ron

android throttle?

  Target is selling amazon fire 7 tablets for $30, can these be used with a dr5000 to run trains (once the dr5000 has been set up with a windows computer)......DaveB

Setup

Setup is easy - unzip and install. Plug it in, run the program.

As for the Amazon tablets, if you can get Engine Driver on them, you can feed them through JMRI or Digitrax LNWI to the DR5000, per the instructions.

It's one of the things I need to test..

"As for the Amazon tablets,

  Hi Jeff, I got engine driver app to install on a fire 7 tablet with no problem. Looks like it should work. I have a Digikeijs DR5000 and 5033 booster but haven't hooked them up yet,still have to run loconet across to the other side of the layout and figure out where to mount the command and booster hardware. I'll let you know how the tablet works once I get it the system going. I had to switch a laptop from windows 10 s to windows 10 home to get the Digikeijs setup program but it looks like it installed fine. ...DaveB

@DaveB

Hi Dave,

Check out this series of very interesting Digikeijs DR5000 tutorials by: Rudysmodelrailway on YouTube

All you need to know ... and do is well explained.

A PC on hand seems a must - but maybe not necessarily in the layout room - see the video's on YouTube

Success !

Digikeijs DR5000 + LNWI + Protothrottle

I went out and bought a Digitrax LNWI a couple days ago, and yesterday I hooked it up to the Digikeijs DR5000 and pointed my ProtoThrottle receiver at it.

It works - it also worked with Engine Driver on my Android phone.

I don't know for sure that I'm the first person to run this config, but there can't have been many to come before me.

Jeff,   We've been waiting to

Jeff,

We've been waiting to hear your take on this. In my case, somewhat impatiently. I'm torn between this and a Cab Control since TCS is still a long way from ready.

This one sounds really good with all the support for other systems on the plus side. On the minus, I keep reading that the manual needs some help. That can be said for the Cab Control, too. I belong to the ECS forum and they seem to have stopped answering questions. I have heard that they do on Facebook, but I don't belong there and never will, so that's a big negative.

What's the word?

Don

It's a nice command station

I have it working with the LNWI without issues. As far as I know, it doesn't have any native throttles - but there are other manufacturers throttles that can work with it, either directly like the WLANMaus by Roco, or through something like an LNWI. Lenz throttles should work, but the only example I have is so out of date it doesn't. 

I'm hoping to correct that problem in West Springfield, if I can find some nice used hardware. Lenz doesn't appear to exist anymore in Oregon. 

The UR91 doesn't work wirelessly (known issue) but plugged in Digitrax throttles do work. I'm told the UR92 Bi-directional wireless system does work. 

The level of control over the Command Station is very impressive - it comes with software that lets you turn ports on and off and configure them, all graphically. 

As for the manual, yes, it does appear to be behind the actual functionality of the system. Iron Planet does have some nice videos that should be able to get anyone up and running. 

Thanks for the update. Iron

Thanks for the update. Iron Planet has a bundle of the DR5000 and the Roco Z21 controller that is awfully tempting, especially after your comments.

Off to their website.

Don

Pulled the trigger

Will let you know how it goes when it arrives.

Don

A new Digikeijs owner

Recieved my Digikeijs DR5000 command station, DR5033 booster and a DR5088RC block detector late last week.  Spent the holiday weekend installing and learning about the system and have some comments to share.

The layout had two10+ year old Digitrax Zephyr DCS50's, one running as a booster.  I am planning to utilize RailCom to report the loco number back to JMRI for automated running, among other things and all decoder purchases during recent years are RailCom capable(ESU and TCS).  RailCom requires a command station that will use an interupt for the RailCom signal, and a detector that can receive the signal. 

Looking at available options, TCS is still working on their command station which has RailCom and LCC, RRCirKits is still working on a block detector with RailCom and LCC capability, and ESU's Cab Control has RailCom but their LocoNet is not yet active.  Because I have a significant investment in SE8c,s, BDL168's, DS64's and Digitrax throttles having LocoNet is important.  With the TCS/RRCirKits combo I would end up with an LCC bus and the LocoNet bus connected via JMRI but the Digitrax throttles would not function.

Digikeijs components seemed to answer all my needs.  They have RailCom capability and the command station handles LocoNet complete with working Digitrax throttles.  Ryan at Iron Planet Hobbies is the USA distributor for this Dutch company and great to work with.  Free shipping is prompt and the components arrived in good time and great shape.

First task was to download the software and manual, upgrade the firmware, do some setup on the command station, then hook up and run trains.  The software runs on a PC and connects via USB using 3 COM ports: config, LocoNet, and XpressNet.  I need to run the LocoNet-over-TCP server on the command station.  The setup went well and when hooked to the track, to LocoNet and to power the Digitrax throttle worked perfectly.  The software could also open a throttle and run trains.  So far, so good.

My layout has a couple of unique 'opportunities'.  Mounted on the layout is a RaspberryPi 3 B+ running JMRI connected via a Digitrax PR3 to LocoNet.  The PC (located across the train room) is connected to the internet, can run JMRI, and uses an RRCirkits LocoBufferUSB to also connect to the LocoNet.  This allows remote control of the layout for such things as grandchildren and remote dispatching.  JMRI handles two or more computers connected this way very well.

The Digikeijs DR5000 command station has a built in LAN and wireless WLAN which I understand is the same module. RocRail and other software can connect thru your home router to the LAN.  The Z21, Roco and some other throttles can connect directly to the WLAN.  You can run JMRI on a laptop using a LocoNet-over-TCP (LNTCP) connection, run the WiThrottle server in JMRI on the laptop, and run trains with your smartphone running Engine Driver(Android) or WiThrottle(iPhone).  There are aso a couple of other phone apps that can connect directly to the WLAN.

Here's where things went a bit south.  My objective was to connect the RaspberryPi to the LAN and eliminate the PR3 to LocoNet connection.  The RPi running JMRI was set up with an LNTCP connection and after some experimenting and learning I was able to connect the RPi to the LAN and control the layout.  Engine Driver could connect thru the RPi to the DR5000 and run the trains. 

But when I connected the laptop to the WLAN, the LNTCP connection on the RPi crashed.  Restarted the RPi and connected the PC running JMRI via USB and the LNTCP COM port, and the RPi crashed again.  Connected the PC running JMRI first and had the train running then connected the laptop and LNTCP crashed on the PC.  Subsitiuted a second laptop on the LAN for the RPi, with the same results.

My conclusion at this point is that the LocoNet-over-TCP server on the Digikeijs DR5000 can only handle ONE attached device connecting via LNTCP.

The one benefit to the Digikeijs system (and the ESU Cab Control) is that it is upgradeable.  This was one major factor in my initial decision.  I have been in touch with Digikeijs support in the Netherlands and have had many email exchanges with Ryan at Iron Planet Hobbies.  I do expect that I will see a solution some time in the future.

My present solution is to connect the RaspberryPi thru the PR3 and LocoNet, and to connect the PC thru the LocoBufferUSB and LocoNet.  That combination is bulletproof.  Phones and the ProtoThrottles still connec thru WiThrottle on the RPi.  The LAN receptacle and WLAN are currently un-used.

I gained an upgradeable command station that utilizes my Digitrax throttles and Digitrax accessories (for a lot less money than the LCC option), and one that can utilize RailCom.  I've lost the conveniece of a throttle on the Zephyr.  All-in-all I am happy with where I am at with this system.  Below is a graphic of how my layout wiring is connected.  BTW there are two LocoNet connections on the DR5000.  The LocoNet-B has RailSync and is required for boosters and Digitrax BDL168's.  The LocoNet-T is for throttles and everything else.

Got an email from Iron Planet

Got an email from Iron Planet that it's on it's way. Getting excited.

Don

DR5000 videos, a.o. how to connect the z21 tablet app

Here's a seres of videos on the DR5000,amongst others on how to connect the z21app to control trains and turnouts. Maybe they can halep answer your questions. You need a PC to cnfigure the DR5000 via USB. The layout canbe controlled via the z21app. Don't need to have wifi in your room, the DR5000 has its own wifi access point which your tablet can connect to.

https://rudysmodelrailway.wordpress.com/2018/05/06/digikeijs-dr5000-03-connect-phone-tablet-to-wifi-and-use-the-z21-app/

Rudy,   Always enjoy your

Rudy,

Always enjoy your videos.

My DR5000 had a problem. After working with Ryan (who I can't say enough good things about), it was decided to replace it. Nobody that I or Ryan talked to had ever seen this problem before, so it had to be a fluke.

Waiting for the new one. Will let you know how it goes when it arrives.

Don