Wow, these are excellently done videos. Every modeller doing Digitrax signals should bookmark this. I myself started this way and wired up my layout like this. But I quickly found that I had to run a lot of wiring and use a lot of hardware and still needed to have a working computer and software. A lot of debugging if something went wrong. I ended up reducing the wiring by using locally installed signal decoders SHD2’s from RR-Cirkits that connect to a DCC bus. Later I upgraded to MGP signal decoders that again reduced the wiring and replaced a computer to run the logic and I don’t need to figure out turnout addresses. But as we say, do what works for you 😃 thanks for your extensive work. 😎
I’m glad you found them informative! I had already decided to go down the computer road because I liked using the interactive ability of an iPad and JMRI. The signals were a more recent addition to my layout. I will continue with JMRI because I also wanted to use some of the automation capability to run an automatic Budd car back and forth on a commuter route. So many possibilities and the SE74 is just one, but a complex one!
Jim, When you had the problem with the sensors not working correctly, did you power up and power down as per the Digitrax recommended method....ie trk_off, sleep,power off ? then power on, sleep to run, trk_on ? just trying to work out why the failures!
Without going through the video, I don't remember what "sensors not working correctly" you are referring to. I have encountered a couple of occasions where the SE74 would re-boot to it's original state without an obvious trigger. We suspect that there was a power surge, or someone accidentally playing with "programming mode" when they should not have done so. I did not go through the sequence you mentioned. If the situation presents itself again, I just go in and reset the CVs. Overall the system works well. It is just complicated to figure out how to set it up.
Thanks. Not sure what reference you are looking for, but I am currently using signals I bought from “wehonest.com”! I know! Crazy name, but they are inexpensive, of good quality, look good and work! I’ve used them almost exclusively on our club layout. They also are on eBay which is a little easier to work with. They have good customer service as well when contacted by email.
Ugh. The lack of railway engineering terminology in the USA is just mindboggling. "Two Head signal" You mean a Junction signal !!! And I suspect "A Security Element" means "Interlocking". In other words Signals B & C have to be "interlocked" through the Point (US "Switch") to ensure either signal can only give a "Proceed Aspect" when the route has been set for that signal !!!!
