Digitrax PR3 Troubleshoot

[davefoxx]

I bought a Digitrax PR3 today.  The DB150 is working presently, so I don't think there's any problems with the existing DCC system.  When I plug the PR3 into the LocoNet and my Mac via USB, JMRI does not recognize a port.  Here's what happens in the JMRI Start-Up Wizard.

I made the following selections:
System manufacturer: Digitrax
System connection: LocoNet PR3

But, when I get to the Serial Port selection, I only get these options: (none selected) and (no ports found!).

Seriously, WTF?!  How do I get the system to recognize the USB port?  I'm running my MacBook with Mac OS X 10.6.8.

Thanks in advance,
DFF

[PAL_Houston]

Dave:

sorry I can't help you, as I don't do anything with Mac. 

However, have you tried going online with the experts?  There is a Yahoo group that is called JMRIusers, that includes the JMRI developer group.   They have been very helpful for me in the past, and given it is a volunteer organization they are amazingly responsive.

[John]

At 8:51 PM -0600 12/28/09, Jerry Jankura wrote:
>Hi, Folks:
>
>I recently purchased a Digitrax PR-3 and intend to use it with my
>"Early 2008" Macbook Pro. I downloaded the latest version of JMRI
>for the Mac and am currently using Snow Leopard with the 10.6.2
>update installed.
>
>When I start up JRMI, I get a dialog screen asking for information
>that it would use to set the software up. It requests a serial port,
>but the PR-3 uses a USB connection. What am I missing in the setup?

The PR3 USB connection looks like a serial connection ("communication
port") to the computer.

Make sure you've got the communication libraries installed, step 3 here:

http://jmri.org/install/MacOSX.html>

Step 7 talks a little bit about how the port names work.

Bob
--
Bob Jacobsen, UC Berkeley
jacobsen@... +1-510-486-7355 fax +1-510-643-8497 AIM, Skype JacobsenRG

[davefoxx]

Thanks, guys. I'm away this weekend, but I'll look into this when I get home.  Thanks for responding.

[Rich Businger]

I have 2 Imacs and a Macbook Pro.  I followed the JMRI instructions and everything works as advertised.  The link above is incorrect, here is the link:

http://jmri.sourceforge.net/install/MacOSX.html


Rich

[timwatson]

Hey Dave I have this problem often. It's the macs inability to work with serial based devices properly. When you boot up make sure not to save the configuration in the system preferences for the vcom port. If you have saved it delete it (-). When you reinsert the usb the mac will make a new one. if you have system preferences loaded to the "Network" area you can see it being added. I also try to plug in the pr3 after I reboot some reason that seems to be better. Not sure why. So try those 2 things. For some reason not all macs do this but my white MacBook does and sounds like yours does too. I should try my retina MacBook sometime to see if its a hardware or software issue.

Hope that gives you some places to check. When you get the port recognized the default cu.tty may not be the device where the pr3 actually is set at. John (above) tipped you toward this as well.

The thing that not many have to do is the deleting the vcom port.

[wm3798]

One day, someone will have to enlighten me as to the benefits of Digitrax.  I have a Zephyr set that was graciously provided to run my now abandoned layout, so I've been trying to use it to check and program decoder installations.  I have read and re-read the manuals for doing the most basic task of programming a 4 digit address, and it just plum evades me.  I follow each and every step, and even get the 4 digit address to read back, but under track power, the locomotive only responds to the factory set 03, and not always then.

I finally got aggravated enough to pull the Digitrax system out, and replaced with the MRC Prodigy Advance that I'm more accustomed to, I pushed a few buttons, and the job was done.  I realize there's a certain learning curve for any system, but the Prodigy was installed up and running in about a half hour.  I've had this Digitrax system for over a year, granted, using it only sporadically, but dammit, when I read the manual EVERY time I want to program a decoder, follow every step to the letter, and get a different result each time, there's clearly more at work here than me being an electronics illiterate.

Lee

[johnhale]

Lee,
   I run a Digitrax system, Eric ones one, and Bantrak runs one. Operationally, they is more ability to make Digitrax do what you (or any other operator) wants it to do (it is very versatile).  I will tell you, if you are programming CVs, it is tedious, I do all my programming through a PR3 and JMRI/Decoder Pro. Point, click, save, done.

Building things like speed tables would require days through setting CVs by hand via a Digitrax throttle, but with Decoder Pro, its a matter of minutes.

The difference is like buying pre-fab turnouts vice laying your own. One is quicker and easier, but there are only certain configurations you can use, where the other one it limitless, but requires more up front planning and work.

[wm3798]

But it literally takes seconds to program the basic CVs on the MRC throttle.  You can set speed ranges, start voltage, acc/dec rates.  Then you can customize whatever else you want to.  Setting up an MU is fast and simple, too.

I can see JMRI being handy to store the information, but can't you take a pre-programmed decoder and simply read it back through JMRI to store it?  Can I program quick and easy, and still have the option to store it later?

I just think Digitrax is cumbersome for the sake of being cumbersome.  I suppose they invented the technology, then left it to everyone else to improve and simplify it... sort of like the B&O...

They really need to make a user interface that is more intuitive.
Lee

[davefoxx]

But it literally takes seconds to program the basic CVs on the MRC throttle.  You can set speed ranges, start voltage, acc/dec rates.  Then you can customize whatever else you want to.  Setting up an MU is fast and simple, too.

I can see JMRI being handy to store the information, but can't you take a pre-programmed decoder and simply read it back through JMRI to store it?  Can I program quick and easy, and still have the option to store it later?

I just think Digitrax is cumbersome for the sake of being cumbersome.  I suppose they invented the technology, then left it to everyone else to improve and simplify it... sort of like the B&O...

They really need to make a user interface that is more intuitive.
Lee

It also only takes seconds to reprogram a four-digit address or MU a set of locomotives on a Digitrax throttle, if you know what you're doing, Lee.  Your MRC throttles were Greek to me.  You're just used to MRC.  Once you figure out the procedures on Digitrax, it really isn't that hard.

DFF

[peteski]

Lee,
compared to other DCC systems I had a chance to play with, IMO, Digitrax does suck!  The interface sucks, the programming is non-intuitive, the prompts are cryptic and the manuals are atrocious!   You're not the only person who feels this way.

My favorites are CVP EasyDCC and NCE systems.  I know that there are people who love Digitrax and Digitrax does have some advanced features not available in other systems, but I don't need those features and I hate Digitrax.

[davefoxx]

Thanks for your help, guys.  I got past that problem.  Somehow (I don't even know what I did to fix it), my computer, after many attempts, suddenly recognized some port options.  Per Ed's recommendation on his Conrail 1285 website, I chose the "usb/cu.something" port.  I can get into DecoderPro and was actually able to change the decoder's address on a locomotive.

However, I cannot get to any other screens or options, e.g., no options to control the locomotive from a throttle on the computer.  There's supposed to be a menu that is missing on my screen.  The screen is supposed to look like this (please ignore the different look of Windows versus Mac on the following screen grabs):



But I get this, where there is no menu (e.g., File, Edit, Tools, etc.):



See what's missing?  Any suggestions?

DFF

[wcfn100]

I think it's Mac thing.  Is there a menu at the top of your screen up by the Apple that says 'Decoder Pro'?  Are the preferences in there?

Jason

[C855B]

Bingo. It's a Mac thing. The JMRI menus are in the regular Apple menu bar at the top of your screen and not in the app window. You should see an "Actions" menu item, select "New Throttle" and you'll get a throttle window.

[davefoxx]

Mike and Jason,

You guys were right.    But, in my defense, since I recently upgraded to Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard my menu bar across the top is translucent.  So, it wasn't that obvious.  Thanks for your help.  It appears to be working properly, so I just have to learn how to use it.

DFF