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227 lines
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227 lines
13 KiB
Plaintext
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<title>JMRI Hardware Support - Connecting to a Digitrax PR3 (Xtra)</title>
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<h1>Hardware Support: Connecting to a Digitrax PR3 (Xtra)</h1>
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<a href="https://www.digitrax.com/products/retired/computer-control/pr3xtra/"><img src=
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"https://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/computer-control/pr3/images/PR3_jpg_350x900_q85.jpg"
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alt="PR3 picture"></a><br>
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<h1>Introduction</h1>
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The Digitrax PR3 (Xtra) can be used as a standalone decoder programmer with its own dedicated
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programming track (much like the Digitrax PR2), or as an interface between your computer and
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a LocoNet®, much like an MS100. It can only do one or the other of these at a given time. You
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select the PR3 operating mode in the JMRI preferences when setting up s "connection" in the
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JMRI "preferences".
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<p>Digitrax has released a product called the "PR3 Xtra". This is simply a PR3 device plus a
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suitable power supply. It may be considered as "identical" to a PR3 for all practical
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purposes.</p>
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<p>Digitrax introduced the DCS240 device in 2016. This command station includes an integrated
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PR3 device. For the purposes of JMRI, the DCS240 USB interface device is equivalent to a
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PR3.</p>
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<h1>PR3 as a stand-alone decoder programmer</h1>
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<p>When the PR3 is configured to act as a programmer, it is connected to a dedicated
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programming track via the screw terminals on the PR3. When JMRI is properly configured, JMRI
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can use the PR3 programming track to set CVs in any decoder that DecoderPro supports.</p>
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<p>It can also be used to download sound information into Digitrax sound decoders and, within
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its limited current capability, run one locomotive to test it. When used with Digitrax SFX
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decoders, "neutral mode" allows you to vary the speed without the motor moving the decoder,
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so you can hear how the locomotive sound reacts to varying speeds.</p>
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Note that Digitrax only guarantees programming for Digitrax SFX decoders with properly
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installed loads, etc, but our testing has found that the PR3 will work with many common
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decoders.
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<h1>PR3 as a LocoNet Interface</h1>
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<p>When acting as an interface, the PR3 allows JMRI to interact with devices connected to
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LocoNet. This includes programming decoders on a programming track attached to a LocoNet
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command station. Where the LocoNet command station supports "programming on the main", JMRI
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is able to make use of that feature.</p>
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<p>The PR3 can also be used to connect JMRI to a <a href=
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"StandaloneLocoNet.shtml">"standalone LocoNet"</a>, which may be useful when LocoNet is used
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for some aspects of layout control while some other control system is use for other aspects.
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An example may be track occupancy detection and signaling using Digitrax BDL168 and SE8C
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boards while locomotive control is provided by a non-LocoNet DCC system. More information on
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this advanced topic is available on the <a href="StandaloneLocoNet.shtml">"Standalone
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LocoNet"</a> page.</p>
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<p>For more information on the PR3 itself, please see the <a href=
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"https://www.digitrax.com/products/retired/computer-control/pr3xtra/">Digitrax PR3 page</a> and the
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<a href="https://www.digitrax.com/tsd/product/PR3/">PR3 Support page.</a></p>
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<h2><a href="https://www.digitrax.com/tsd/product/PR3/">Drivers</a>
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</h2>
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<a href="https://www.digitrax.com/tsd/product/PR3/">The PR3 needs to have a driver installed
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when used with Microsoft Windows. See the</a> <a href=
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"https://www.digitrax.com/tsd/KB196/pr3-software-setup-for-microsoft-windows-xp/">Digitrax PR3
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Windows Setup page</a> for more information. Make sure to follow the instructions exactly,
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particularly about the order of installing the drivers and plugging in the device.
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<p>See also <a href="#firmwareissue">PR3 Firmware issue which affects computers running
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Microsoft Windows</a> below.</p>
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<p>You don't need to install a separate driver when using current versions of Mac OS X or
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Linux.</p>
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<h2>Using the PR3 as a LocoNet Interface</h2>
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<img src="images/PR3toCommandStation.png" alt="PR3 Connection to Digitrax Command Station">
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<p>To use the PR3 as an interface, connect a LocoNet cable to the LocoNet connector on the
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PR3. (Although not required, it's also OK to connect a power supply to the PR3). Finally,
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connect a USB cable between the PR3 and your computer.</p>
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<h3>Recommended setup as LocoNet interface</h3>
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<p>To set up a JMRI application to use the PR3 as an interface to a LocoNet which includes a
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LocoNet command station:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>Start the program.</li>
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<li>Open the Preferences window from the Edit menu and configure the connection by:
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<ul>
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<li>Select LocoNet PR3</li>
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<li>Select the serial port that's connected to the PR3</li>
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<li>In the "<strong>Command Station</strong>" option, select the type of command
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station you've got on your LocoNet, e.g. "<code><strong>DCS100
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(Chief)</strong></code>", "<code><strong>DCS050 (Zephyr)</strong></code>", etc.
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<p>The "Stand-alone LocoNet" option should be selected if you don't have a command
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station connected; see the <a href="StandaloneLocoNet.shtml">"Standalone LocoNet"</a>
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page. In this case, the PR3 connection will not be able to program decoders.</p>
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</li>
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<li>In the advanced settings, the speed will be fixed at 57,600 baud.</li>
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<li>In the advanced settings, the "Flow Control" option defaults to "Use Hardware Flow
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Control", which is the preferred setting for the PR3. You should try that first, as it
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is the most reliable mode. Only if you can't reliably program decoders using that
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choice, and only after checking that you're using the right port, should you select
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"None" for this preference 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 window, quit the program and restart.</li>
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</ul>
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<h2>Using the PR3 Programming Track</h2>
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<img src="images/PR3standAlone.png" alt="PR3 Connection to Programming Track">
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<p>To use the PR3 programming track, connect the PR3 to its power supply and to a dedicated
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piece of track which you'll use as the programming track. Finally, connect a USB cable
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between the PR3 and your computer.</p>
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<p>The PR3 does not necessarily provide reliable readback of CVs for some decoders, including
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many sound decoders, when the power supply is a 12VDC or 14VDC power supply. Some users repot
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that using a 18 VDC regulated power supply enables them to reliably read sound decoder CVs
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via the PR3 programming track. <strong>Do this at your own risk!</strong> <em>Current
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Digitrax documentation for the PR3 defines a maximum input voltage of 15 Volts DC, where
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previously the maximum voltage was listed as 20 Volts DC. Use of input voltages higher than
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15 Volts DC could damage the PR3 hardware.</em></p>
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<h3>Recommended setup as dedicated programming track</h3>
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<p>To set up a JMRI application to use the PR3 as a dedicated decoder programming track:</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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<ul>
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<li>Select LocoNet PR3</li>
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<li>Select the serial port that's connected to the PR3</li>
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<li>In the "<code>Command Station</code>" option, select "<code><strong>PR3 Standalone
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Programmer</strong></code>".</li>
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<li>In the advanced settings, the speed will be fixed at 57,600 baud.</li>
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<li>In the advanced settings, the "Flow Control" option defaults to "Use Hardware Flow
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Control", which is the preferred setting for the PR3. You should try that first, as it
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is the most reliable mode. Only if you can't reliably program decoders using that
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choice, and only after checking that you're using the right port, should you select
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"None" for this preference 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 window, quit the program and restart.</li>
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</ul>
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<h1>Usage suggestions</h1>
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<p>You can use a JMRI throttle to control the locomotive connected to the PR3 Programmer. Use
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the JMRI Power Control or the "Power" menu item on the Throttle's menu bar to turn on track
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power, and then you can operate the locomotive normally.</p>
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<p>The PR3 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 PR3 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 PR3 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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<h2>Using the PR3 programming track to program Non-Digitrax Decoders</h2>
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To implement that "neutral mode" described above, the PR3 automatically writes CV128 to 0 or
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1. This happens when a JMRI throttle is used to run the locomotive on the PR3 programming
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track, and there's nothing JMRI can do to prevent it. Unfortunately, this can interfere with
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the CV programming on some non-Digitrax decoders. For example, it will set the "Master
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Volume" CV128 on some SoundTraxx decoders to a very low volume.
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<p>If you are using the PR3 with a decoder that uses CV128 for something, you should either
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not use a JMRI throttle to run the locomotive on the PR3 programming track, or remember to
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rewrite CV128 with the right value just before removing the locomotive from the track.</p>
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<h1 id="firmwareissue">PR3 Firmware issue which affects computers running Microsoft
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Windows</h1>
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<p>Note that some PR3 devices do not behave well with JMRI when running on some versions of
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the Microsoft Windows computer operating systems. This problem has been seen by some some
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users of Windows 7 and Windows 8. These PR3s can cause erratic JMRI operation and can cause
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the JAVA interpreter to fail abnormally. Recovery from the issue may require re-starting JMRI
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or even require a true power-cycle for the computer, and this can resolve the problem until
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it happens again at some unpredictable future time. Note that a "hibernation" or "sleep" mode
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might not provide a temporary solution to the problem.</p>
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<p>Digitrax has provided a PR3 firmware update which seems to resolve this issue. It may be
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applied by the user.</p>
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<p>The appropriate update files and instructions are available from the "Download" page on
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the <a href="https://www.digitrax.com">Digitrax</a> website. Digitrax provides an application
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to apply the firmware update; the software package runs under Microsoft Operating Systems,
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and this is the <strong>strongly recommended</strong> way to apply the PR3 firmware
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update.</p>
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<p>Alternatively, <strong>although not recommended for this case</strong>, JMRI provides a
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tool which can be used to update the PR3 firmware. The JMRI tool is <strong>not
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recommended</strong> for this case because the failure could happen during the JMRI firmware
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update process. If the failure happens during the PR3 firmware update process, it is possible
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that the PR3 might require factory repair.</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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