I have a friend that would like to sell me a Digitrax Chief with a DT200 controller (Instead of the usual (DT100, DT300 or DT400). Questions: 1. What is it worth with a DT200 Controller? I have seen Chiefs with a DT400 for around $350. 2. Is their any issue with using the DT200 as the only/main controller other then possible limiting the number of loco to 99? I would probably purchase a DT400 at some later time but want to make sure the chief is usable with only a DT200. From what I heard, the LHS sold the original controller to another customer then sold the chief with the DT200. [ 29. September 2004, 18:53: Message edited by: John Graser ]
not sure but i think the dt200 belongs to a bigboy system and is NOT compatible with a chief. a bigboy system has the command station built into the handheld (dt200). a chief system has the command station inside the booster. if you consider of getting a chief then i'll strongly recommend to go with the dt400 as it is way more comfortable to work with than a dt300. i heard of some modifications done on a dt200 to make it work on a chief but i never saw one working.
The DT200 will not work with a Chief unless it has an adaptor. As was previously stated, the DT200 contained the command station internally. It didn't combine it with the booster like the current generation of equipment. I looked on the Digitrax website and couldn't find an adaptor listed. Digitrax used to offer a kit to convert the DT200 to a DT100 but they no longer do so. If you buy the Chief, I would consider the DT200 a throw away and base the price on just the DCS100 command station/booster. The current discounted price at Tony's Train Exchange for a DCS100 is $226, NEW. Depending on the age and condition of the DCS100, I would probably offer about $125 and go from there. David
Thank for the info on the DT200 controller. I'll have to check it out to see if it had been converted to a DT100. John
David, Are you sure about the DT200 not working with the chief without being modified? I have a chief and had a visitor who brought over his DT200 and it worked fine, but I don't know if he had had it modified. John, you may be best off just checking with someone at Digitrax. Gary
I am not really sure on this Gary. My information is from the Digitrax Yahoo Group over the years. As I understand it, the DT200 is not a LocoNet device. To use it with LocoNet (i.e. DCS100, etc) you need an adaptor called an LA1 or LA2. David