Digikeijs DR5000 Setup ~ Step By Step With No Step Skipped

[@bobdoug8]

Amazing product!!!! It's about time model train DCC was updated to today's tech.

[@limosalimosa]

Great video, nice and quick. (Another tutorial took ages to not even get half way ;-) keep up the good work, I for one will be back!

[@Caz_Rail]

Great video, got me through the setup easily. Thank you.

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

Glad it helped

[@captainbill12]

I do have one question...has the ability to use NCE been finally added to this command station?

[@roydom5]

Good vid thanks! How do you choose the voltage setting on the transformer output to the dr5000?

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

Use the lowest for N & Z scale and 18 for HO. Go higher for S or larger.

[@filip78channel15]

Hi Ryan, great video. I'm just entering the world of DR5000 and have the following questions: 1) By connecting the DR5000 via WiFi with the PC, at the same time I'm loosing internet connection to my PC. In order to run trains my PC is disconnected from internet, which is not ideal as this is my all-purpose PC. What would be the best solution? Would be a designated laptop a solution? 2) Is PC required at all to install the DR5000 application? Can be used a tablet instead? 3) Is the PC required to run the DR5000, when using Z21 app? Your answers would be helpful. Thank you

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

Glad to help. 1. USB is the best connection for the DR5000 and PC. 2. Once you setup the DR5000, you don't need the PC anymore. 3. Once you setup the Z21 protocol then you can point your PC back to your home WiFi. Let me know if you have any other questions. Ryan

[@filip78channel15]

@@IronPlanetHobbies Ryan, many thanks for your answers. Just to double check my understanding is correct, I expanded your answers (continuing the bullet points): 1) When connecting using USB, I don't need to use WiFi to connect to DR5000, so the PC can stay connected with home WiFi? 2) Is the PC absolutely required to setup DR5000 - I mean, can be used a tablet instead for this purpose? 3) Does the setup of Z21 protocol require WiFi? Can't this not be done via USB cable (similarly like setup of DR5000)?

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

@@filip78channel15 1. Yes, no need to connect with WiFi when using USB. 2. The DR5000 will work right out of the box but you need windows on a tablet or PC to make changes. 3. The newest version (not sure if it is out yet) of the app will allow the protocol change without the WiFi connection. This only needs to be done once. You can point the Wifi from the tablet to the DR5000 and that opens protocol options. Make the changes and your done. Hope that helps.

[@filip78channel15]

@@IronPlanetHobbies Ryan, truly appreciate your further clarification. Thanks very much.

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

@@filip78channel15 You bet, let me know if you have any other questions.

[@alapanda1582]

I just received my DR5000 and got it set up and running trains using the USB option, but when I tried to set up Wifi, it didn't work. With experimentation (and hints from the log file) I discovered there may be a couple of steps missing. I watched the video several times to be sure I didn't miss this: after connecting the PC to the DR5000 Wifi, the LAN protocol needs to be set to DR.Command and the Control Properties "Connect via" needs to be set to Network (the DR5000 IP address will populate automatically). Once that was done, Wifi control worked great. My question now is: can loco decoders be programmed via the DR5000, or do I need to do that via JMRI or some other controller that has that capability?

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

Yes, you can program with the DR5000 via the PC App. Just open the PROG TRACK tab and then you can program on either the programming track or the main.

[@kitchenhamfarm]

can you connect train controller to the dr5000 as there's no option in traincontroller great vid tony

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

Thanks Tony, Yes, lots of people use Traincontroller with the DR5000. I believe you can use either the Digitrax or the Roco connections. I don't use it personally but I know others do. The Z21 & Digikeijs Facebook group or the Digikeijs.io group are great resources for Traincontroller.

[@littlestar5737]

Is this a substitute for Digitrax Zephyr Express?

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

It gives the same functions but has more features. It works with other Digitrax items and if you already have a Zephyr then you can still use it as a throttle.

[@littlestar5737]

@@IronPlanetHobbies thank you.

[@jsleee1146]

How about a 100% step by step how to for the DR5088RC? Great video by the way!

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

Thanks, It is in the works!

[@ravenscrossmodelrailway3281]

If connecting to pc via wifi dose the protocol need to be default for it to use the dr5000 software? I am using z21 profile and I can see it connects via wifi but the dr5000 software dose not communicate with pc. Works fine via USB.

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

At this time the DR5000 PC App only works when connected via USB (Someone may find a way). JMRI, RocRail, Z21 App, Etc., can be connected and controlled via WiFi with multiple computers.

[@ravenscrossmodelrailway3281]

@@IronPlanetHobbies thank you.

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

@@ravenscrossmodelrailway3281 One more thing. Once you get the DR5000 setup, just like any of the Digikeijs products, you don't need to have it connected to the PC to run trains.

[@ravenscrossmodelrailway3281]

@@IronPlanetHobbies I use rocrail on the pc. But also use the z21 app.

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

@@ravenscrossmodelrailway3281 If you set it up with XpressNet you can use both at the same time.

[@donaldsmith6987]

What do you use for power management?

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

On my personal layout I don't use any. I use the DR5033 boosters and they have short circuit management built in. The boosters feed the DR5088RC and DR4088LN. Another reason I don't use circuit breakers is that I have 8 power districts. The DR5088RC only has 1 power input and it covers 16 detection zones. With the cost of a PM42 at $56.99 without power supply or breakout board and another booster with power supply is only $99.95 the cost difference isn't that much. Plus the time and extra wire just didn't make sense. During our opp sessions we rarely have a single derailment and even the few that we have had over several sessions didn't affect the other operators due to the number of power districts. Therefore a short affecting another operator would be even more rare. I know that this doesn't apply to every situation or layout. Therefore we recommend the PSX and you see all the options here: www.ironplanethobbies.com/?s=psx

[@donaldsmith6987]

@@IronPlanetHobbies Thanks for the quick reply. Was going to get a ESU Cab Control but this seems like a flexible solution.

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

@@donaldsmith6987 It really is. That is why I chose it for my personal layout. Plus the ability to use so many products for other manufactures really makes this one a top choice.

[@chustaceTheLoftyN-Scaler]

Ryan, what is the latest firmware version and date released?

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

Hi Curtis, the latest is 1.5.2 from January the 15th, 2019.

[@denisobrien8340]

So it is not mac compatible?

[@IronPlanetHobbies]

The computer app is only for a PC but many people have been able to run parallels on a mac.

[@WickedMuis]

JMRI has a Mac version as well and should be compatible with this.