95 lines
4.6 KiB
Plaintext
95 lines
4.6 KiB
Plaintext
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<title>JMRI Hardware Support - Connecting to a Digitrax PR2</title>
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<h1>Hardware Support: Connecting to a Digitrax PR2</h1>
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<a href="https://www.digitrax.com/products/retired/computer-control/pr2/"><img src="images/PR2.jpg" alt=
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"PR2 picture"></a><br>
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The PR2 is a standalone programmer that can be used to set CV's in all decoders that
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DecoderPro supports. It can also be used to download sound information into Digitrax sound
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decoders and, within its limited current capability, run one locomotive to test it.
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<p>To use it, you connect it to its power supply and to a dedicated piece of track which
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you'll use for a programming track. Also, connect the 25 pin RS232 connector to a serial port
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on your computer. You may have to use a USB to serial adapter, and/or a DB25 to DB9 connector
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adapter (The PR2 has a standard RS232 25 pin connector; most computers now have a 9 pin RS232
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connector, and there are simple adapters available to convert the wiring.)</p>
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<p>The PR2 is not a LocoNet® interface, and does not connect to the LocoNet on your layout in
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any way. It cannot attach to a command station like the MS100, PR3, LocoBuffer,
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LocoBuffer-II, and LocoBuffer-USB do. The cable that comes with the PR2 is not a LocoNet
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cable, and you should not plug a LocoNet cable into the PR2.</p>
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<p>For more information on the PR2 itself, please see the <a href=
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"https://www.digitrax.com/products/retired/computer-control/pr2/">Digitrax PR2 page</a> and the
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<a href="https://www.digitrax.com/tsd/product/PR2/">PR2 support page</a> in the <a href=
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"https://www.digitrax.com/tsd/">Digitrax Tech Support Depot</a>.</p>
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<h2>Recommended setup</h2>
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<p>To set up DecoderPro to use the PR2:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>Start DecoderPro.</li>
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<li>Open the Preferences window from the Edit menu and configure the connection by
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selecting the Connections item at left and:
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<ul>
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<li>Select Digitrax as the Manufacturer</li>
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<li>Select the PR2 as the Connection</li>
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<li>Select the serial port that's connected to the PR2</li>
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<li>The speed will be fixed at 57,600 baud; don't try to change this in your computer's
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settings</li>
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<li>The "Flow Control" option defaults to "Use Hardware Flow Control", which uses the
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status leads in the serial connection to determine when the PR2 is ready to send and
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receive. You should try that first, as it is the most reliable mode. Only if you can't
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program decoders using that choice, and only after checking that you're using the right
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port, should you select "None" for this Preference field and try again.</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>Click Save at the bottom of the Preferences pane, quit the program and restart.</li>
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</ul>
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<h2>Usage suggestions</h2>
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<p>You can use a JMRI throttle to control the locomotive connected to the PR2. Use the JMRI
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Power Control or the "Power" menu item on the Throttle's menu bar to turn on track power, and
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then you can operate the locomotive normally.</p>
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<p>The PR2 can only provide very limited current, so Digitrax has built a "neutral mode" into
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their sound decoders. When JMRI and the PR2 is running a Digitrax sound decoder, the motor is
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disconnected to reduce the current load. You can still ramp the speed up and down with the
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throttle and listen to how the sound responds, but the motor won't move the locomotive.</p>
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<p>Other decoders, including decoders from other manufacturers, may draw enough motor current
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to trip the PR2 internal circuit breakers. This will cause JMRI to mark track power as "off".
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Just wait a couple seconds and turn the track power back on to recover.</p>
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<p>LocoNet® is a registered trademark of <a href="https://www.digitrax.com">Digitrax,
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Inc.</a></p>
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