JMRI will Help

Jim,

Quick question,

Are you able to hook your system to a computer using JMRI?  If you can there is a way using JMRI to clear them out.  I know there is a way using a DT 400 to clear the slots but I do not know the correct steps to do that.

My setup uses a DSC 100 just for a command station and two DB200 boosters coupled to the PM 42s.  I use a PS2012 to power the layout and a PS615 to power the command station.

Send me a private email and we can talk through your issues and get you up and running.

Andy Hauser

Minooka, IL 

. . .

You can not have both a DCS100 and a DB150 as acting Command Station.  it is one or the other, not both.

That said slot max is cleared by using your DT400 / DT402 / DT500 or DT602 throttle.

1 - put the Command Station MODE switch on OP  (DCS100 or DB150)

2 - Take your throttle and plug it into the Command Station directly.

3 - Hit the SWCH key on throttle and enter 36  and select  CLOC / C 

4 - return the MODE switch to RUN and you should be back to all clear slots.

Marc

. . .

You can not get 120 slots out of the DB150.

You can get 120 slots out of the DCS100.

Same as above but enter 44 as the swch #  and send a CLOC / C 

By the way. This slot max message indicates you are not doing the RELEASE or DISPATCH of the engine/ decoders in the proper manner and it will return to bite you even with 120 slots.

Learn how to properly RELEASE / DISPATCH or turn on the  OPSW 15 of the command Station as this will Purge and set speed = 0 (Purging will force a loco to 0 speed)  which will help resolve slot max issues.   

The reason you get Slot Max is because the slot is in a COMMON state. On a  proper release / dispatch,  the slot is put in an IDLE state. Common  leads to Slot Max error.  

But it is good practice to clear the slots every once in a while.

Marc

As above, but also ...

Throwing a “c” at cv 39 resets the entire booster.  The only more complete way is to unplug it and pull the cmos batteries out of the chassis.

my DCS 200 seems flaky lately.  But I guess it is 20 years old. 
 

it occasionally gives me “state tri” messages when trying to acquire an engine.  Cannot fund that documenteod anywhere. 

. . .

That could be coming from two places: Command Station or the Throttle and is Decoder Status Code related.

Command Station defines what the Status Code is going to be for any NEW decoder that is acquired. This is controlled by three OPSW:  21, 22, 23

Throttle can override this and depending on what throttle you have is going to be in it's options setup. On a DT400 it is defined in OP 02 value.  On the DT402 it is  the  Nu-Type= option

You also may have change the Status Edit value by mistake when you acquired a decoder.  Review the Status Edit:  When you hit LOCO and select a decoder, hit the EDIT button to see what the Status Edit value is currently set at.

Marc

Command stations and bugs

As others have said, you should be using the DCS100 as the command station, not the DB150. Also, you cannot have two command stations on the same layout.

Digitrax seems to have some bugs, switching seemingly randomly to Motorola Trinary format is another one that I've encountered, which shows up as "stat tri".

You certainly can go into JMRI and look at the slot monitor, but it's not really that helpful unless you have a recurring problem that isn't explained by operators who aren't following proper procedure to release locomotives. If you've got some misbehaving operators, it's easier to just blow out all the slots and start over (noting that your UniVersal consists will all be deleted too).

For those missing the logic

For those missing the logic to the naming and numbering system....

DCS = "Digital Command Station"

DB = "Digital Booster"

This will remind you of their primary intended usage.

Curious if anyone knows

What State Tri means on a throttle?  It seems to not acquire well, only when it says State 128

Stat Tri

Is Motorola Trinary format for Marklin.

For those missing the logic

For those missing the logic to the naming and numbering system....

DCS = "Digital Command Station"

DB = "Digital Booster"

This will remind you of their primary intended usage.

. . .

Digitrax  just confused the many.

The DB150 was a Command Station/Booster.  Early Command Station/Booster had the DBxxx name

DCS50, DCS51,DCS52, DCS100, DCS200, DCS210, DCS240  are Command Station/Booster as well.

The DB200, DB210, DB220  are  Boosters  with no Command Station capability.

When the DCS50 and DCS100 came out they started differentiating the DCS  and DB.

Marc

Back and forth

Digitrax went back and forth, adding a rudimentary command station function to the DB150, then going back to differentiating boosters and command stations with the DCS210/240 and DB210/220.

I'm not a fan of Digitrax as a company these days, their use of proprietary technology, nor of their reluctance to embrace new technology, but I will give them credit for bringing the per amp cost down way below where anyone else is with boosters. The DB220 costs the same or less than some other single district boosters, and can crank out two 8A power districts. Pair it with a Meanwell power supply, and your per amp cost is about 1/3 that of most other DCC manufacturers.