HO scale How to - Setting up a Programming Track

Tutorial on how I set up my programming track to use with JMRI & my PR3

[@jvanamb]

Nice job son. I've been a RxR Modeler for over 65 years & it's great to see some young blood in the hobby. HOWEVER, before installing or mounting hardware try to do as much as possible at your workstation. For instance, you mounted the wood mockup facia to the benchwork before installing the DPDT switch. And you would have had an easier time mounting the switch if you made your metal plate the closest to the wood. Then apply the two nuts as locking nuts. Attach as many as possible lines to connectors at the station. NOW go to your layout, attach the wood mockup to the benchwork, and finally under the benchwork (on your back side) connect your switch line to you Bus or Feeders. But I am impressed with your talent. SEE YA' DOWN THE LINE, Jim

[@ScottDowneywoundedbear]

Great demo. I have to put one in and now I know how.Scott

[@DaveCoTrains]

+Scott Downey I'm glad I could help!

[@chumbo7945]

Great video mate cheers. Andrew

[@DaveCoTrains]

Thanks Andrew. :)

[@skelligringphotographyandw7012]

is there any chance you could add some more jargon and abbreviations in your introduction? this was only 80 percent confusing. Let's go for broke!

[@DaveCoTrains]

Sorry you feel that way. I assume the jargon you're speaking of is JMRI and PR3. The JMRI stands for "A Java Model Railroad Interface" and is used in place of a directly connect DCC programming track. the PR3 is actually called that, it's not an abbreviation, and it's a product from Digitrax. You may need to consult google on anything else you're confused about as I'm not an expert instructor, just trying to do what I can to help.

[@willparsons32]

I would have placed the DPDT Switch - ON/OFF/ON indicator flesh to the mounting of your switch holder - not extending as it could be a potential "Razor blade" for the side or tips of your fingers.

[@MarkInLA]

5:47 I had no idea toggles now can come with screws in the posts; no need for solder !! Great ! Does look costly, though ! I'm betting $7-10....

[@DaveCoTrains]

If I remember right I got it from China off Ebay so it was like $1 but probably took a month to arrive.

[@sparky107107]

nice video , very helpful , but where do you pick up a switch like that , hardware store ?

[@DaveCoTrains]

In this case, I purchased it off of EBay.

[@ianturner2229]

I suggest you are VERY CAREFUL about the switch you use. I did exactly the same thing for my Prodigy Advance 2 system, and it seemed to work well, but suddenly I found that my programming track would not read CV valaues at all, and then it decided it would not program any locos either. I tried everything, and in desperation sent my unit back to Gaugemaster, who very kindly repaired it FOC, commenting on the paper work that you must ENSURE that the main track and programming track circuits do NOT come into contact with each other. That is what apparently happened to mine, blowing a couple of resistors etc in the controller unit. Nobody knows how this happened, but quite obviously as the two SPDT switches I was using to make up a DPDT switch managed to somehow connect before the other was disconnected. This could be even more likely if you are using a single DPDT switch, so I did as advised and kept my programming track TOTALLY SEPARATE from the main track feed, and all has been just fine ever since. CAVEAT EMPPTOR as they say

[@DaveCoTrains]

That is why when I did this, I made sure to get a switch with an off position, just to ensure I had a bit of space in between contacts. Everything is gone now, but it worked up until the very end without issue.

[@ianturner2229]

Good idea, but even then, I am a bit lairy of "potentially" mixing the voltages of full DCC and programming track voltages. Maybe there is some form of latency in the track of the wiring, but I reckoned mine was safe, but it blew my DCC controller as you know.

[@QNERailroad]

Can you run through how you set up the cell phone connection to your PC/Loconet/PR3?

[@DaveCoTrains]

Sure. I'll see about getting that done this weekend.

[@QNERailroad]

+Daveh88 Thanks

[@skipduld3630]

IM LEARNING DISABLED SO IS HARD TO UNDER STAND 8th grade challenged. How dose the pr3 fit into the sys.? can u have programing track just for programing and nothing else with out connecting it to the rest of sys or main line ?

[@DaveCoTrains]

Skip Duld yes. if you don't want to connect it to your main system then you can connect the programming track directly to your PR3.

[@skipduld3630]

TKS DAVE; ITS NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE U TO HAVE AROUND, FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME. U SEEM TO HAVE AN INTERGETE KNOWAGE OF TRAIN SYS. I USED TO WORK ON A SHIP AND U GET TO DO EVERYTHING BUT WHEN COMES TO TRAINS I JUST DON'T GET IT. TKS AGAIN FOR ALL UR INPUT

[@skipduld3630]

O BY THE WAY I DON''T HAVE I PHONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!