Hey all. I have been shopping around lately for a few items. I wanted to try and clear some space in my head with all of these units. They are similar in names. However I cant seem to wrap my head around what functions a few of these items have. Mainly the SE74 and the DS78V. I know the The Ds74 replaced the 64. This is for turnout control. Now I have been hearing the the SE74 is replacing the DS74 ?! I cant keep up. I like the fact that you may be able to add signals but now what is the DS78V for ? you see... So confusing ! Also what is this "DCC 9-Aspect control mode" See it on the Digitrax website Any thoughts? Cheers!
The SE74 is not replacing the DS74, it replaces the SE8C. It's a signal controller that can also control turnouts. Since it can control turnouts, it can be used in place of the DS74, but since it is significantly more expensive it doesn't make since unless you plan to use the signaling functionality. The DS78V is for driving servos, either for turnout control (the DS74 will only control solenoid or "regular" slow motion turnouts) or three position semaphores.
Great Reply. Thanks for the info. Well this surely helps me narrow down my search for parts. As far as Block detectors. I have heard the BD-4 is fine to use. Anyone care to chime in on this one ?
The BD-4 has been discontinued. It didn't have LocoNet, so you'd have to use it in conjunction with something that did (like a SE8C, also discontinued).
Hey all hope all is well. I am lost. Digitrax has a lot of products when it comes to automating your layout. Including signaling, turnout control, Power Control, and block management. Based on the above post my initial questions were answered. But now i'm in a hole other hole lol. I am in the process of making my 12'x32" n scale layout fully automated. Hopefully to be computer controlled. I am having trouble figuring out what I Need. The layout is fairly simple. 12 turnouts with tortoise switch machines. You probably are only going to be able to run 2 main trains at a time since the main thoroughfares share a turnout. (Meaning you would have to stop the other train and wait for a train to pass in order to continue. Hence the automated part) No signals and as far as power management I dont feel it is necessary. But thats why I am here. Been scouring youtube videos and not really getting the information that I need. I was thinking 1 BL168 and 4 DS 74/64 with my dcs52 command station could be enough to carry out everything. Especially since the 168 has Loconet. Any thoughts on this ? I have been looking at the BX88 as well which looks like it requires a DCS210 or equivalent. Uh just lots of products and not to sure how the exact mechanics of them working together is. Thanks in advance.
The BX88 does not need a DCS210 or equivalent, it will work with any Loconet command station, or even a no-Loconet one as long as you have an active Loconet network. If you do not require Transponding (which is not required for automation but can make it easier depending on how you go about it), the DBL168 is a much better deal, but if you do require Transponding then the BX88 is.
Thanks for that. That is what I was thinking however the transponding deal. What is it ? I’ve seen videos about it but can’t wrap my head around it. Is it just to locate certain cars/locos ?
Yes, Transpoding lets you locate certain cars or locos. Block detection will just tell you "something is in this block" while Transponding will tell you "loco xxxx or car xxxx is in this zone" (zone instead of block because sometimes a single Transponding zone consists of more than one block). One thing I forgot to mention is if you do want Transponding you will have to use Digitrax decoders though Digitrax does have small, low cost, function only Transponding decoders that you can add to locos that already have another brand decoder.
Does Digitrax transponding let you read back Digitrax decoder register contents from the mainline? I'm just trying to understand differences and similarities between Digitrax transponding and RailCom (NMRA) transponding (TCS, ESU and Zimo).
Great stuff! This really clears things up for me. Would a good example of the necessity of transporting be that you have a big layout and need to know where a certain loco is ? Or rolling stock for that matter? As far as operation mode. Can I poke the bear ? Im curious lol. What does that mean ? You mean during an operating session ? Appreciate it ! Cheers !
Operations mode refers to the mode of the command station when you are running locomotives and commanding stationary decoders (for signals, switches, etc.), as opposed to programming their decoder on a programming track, one at a time. Without transponding (whether Digitrax or RailCom), the only way to read back a locomotive decoder's register contents is on a programming track, while the decoder pulses the loco's motor to draw current that can be detected by the command station. This can only be done with one locomotive at a time on the programming track.
