The question was prompted when I contacted Digitrax to check whether they would repair a DT402D Throttle that had died several vears ago and service a DB150 Command Station which I bought about 20 years ago, and advised that they no longer service or repair those products.
I chose an Empire Builder intermediate level Digitrax starter set for an American N gauge layout I started around 25 years ago and gradually built up the system adding a second starter set, additional throttles and radio control. The system morphed from controlling American N Gauge layouts with around 30 DCC fitted locos to controlling a G Gauge garden railway before I abandoned track power changing to battery radio remote control.
The DT402D was one of the final additions and probably the first to fail when I upgraded the garden railway to Digitrax "Duplex" radio system around 2010, but recently un-earthed the Digitrax system to control a small OO Gauge shunting layout.
Given that my modelling/type of railway I operate has shifted from an American style 'walk around' layout capable of keeping several operators busy, to focusing mainly on building/assembling models and very occasionally running a train on the garden railway or one of my Irish 4mm efforts, I find it difficult to justify the cost of replacing a Command Station (£343 (Coastal DCC or Throttle (£250 Rails) with their equivalent when they fail £50 for a Gaugemaster DC hand held controller appears more affordable on a fixed income. Costings are based on replacing the existing Command Stations with the current/upgraded model.
Fortunately the 2 DB150 command stations and other 3/4 throttes still work, but the command stations struggle with the programming function.
I wonder whether it will be feasible physically or financially to replace the chips in the locos as they fail. Thankfully all my Irish steam outline Broad and Narrow gauge are DC only there is too much hassle wiring a kit or scratch built loco for DCC.
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Question
Mayner
The question was prompted when I contacted Digitrax to check whether they would repair a DT402D Throttle that had died several vears ago and service a DB150 Command Station which I bought about 20 years ago, and advised that they no longer service or repair those products.
I chose an Empire Builder intermediate level Digitrax starter set for an American N gauge layout I started around 25 years ago and gradually built up the system adding a second starter set, additional throttles and radio control. The system morphed from controlling American N Gauge layouts with around 30 DCC fitted locos to controlling a G Gauge garden railway before I abandoned track power changing to battery radio remote control.
The DT402D was one of the final additions and probably the first to fail when I upgraded the garden railway to Digitrax "Duplex" radio system around 2010, but recently un-earthed the Digitrax system to control a small OO Gauge shunting layout.
Given that my modelling/type of railway I operate has shifted from an American style 'walk around' layout capable of keeping several operators busy, to focusing mainly on building/assembling models and very occasionally running a train on the garden railway or one of my Irish 4mm efforts, I find it difficult to justify the cost of replacing a Command Station (£343 (Coastal DCC or Throttle (£250 Rails) with their equivalent when they fail £50 for a Gaugemaster DC hand held controller appears more affordable on a fixed income. Costings are based on replacing the existing Command Stations with the current/upgraded model.
Fortunately the 2 DB150 command stations and other 3/4 throttes still work, but the command stations struggle with the programming function.
I wonder whether it will be feasible physically or financially to replace the chips in the locos as they fail. Thankfully all my Irish steam outline Broad and Narrow gauge are DC only there is too much hassle wiring a kit or scratch built loco for DCC.
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