Getting started with PIKO Digital

Jonathan shows us just how easy DCC can be with a PIKO Digital system. A follow-up video shows simple commands, located here • Fun With PIKO Digital
IMPORTANT INFO: Specs have changed on the 35020 Transformer (20V/6A as of January 2018!) 24V/5A transformers are no longer recommended. (We cannot change the video to correct this.) The correct transformer is located here...
www.piko-ameri...
We also have new product numbers for current items... the new 35017 Navigator Remote and 35018 Receiver. (Both are required and are designed for 2.4Ghz radio control.)
The "Getting Started" video is just that, this covers everything you need to get started with a PIKO G Scale digital system. The video goes over each component and how to be up and running with G Scale digital control in only a few minutes without needing 100 page manuals!
This 5 amp system is all you need to power just about any locomotive in G Scale. (If you do need more power, boosters can easily be added.)
About PIKO America:
Since 2010 retailers all across North America have trusted PIKO America for a reliable supply of quality PIKO products including over 700 G-Scale items and over 1600 HO-Scale, N-Scale, and TT-Scale models trains, buildings, and accessories.
PIKO G-Scale trains are truly made for the great outdoors!
"Quality products, Quality time"

[@seanmckee2774]

So excited! Mine is on the way and thrilled to finally have DCC after many years of G Scale railroading.

[@tregreco4410]

This guy loves his job like a job should be loved. With passion.

[@yonpol9888]

That Face at the end... I can tell he loves his job...

[@idontknowwhyimadethis5517]

I mean if I got to play with 900$ trains all day id be happy

[@trainfandrummerman2049]

i had no idea a digital system could be so simple, and that remote looks pretty cool. (I might need to get one) Keep the info coming, PIKO!

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Great Information John / High Quality Products.

[@gkrailroadfortsaskatchewan9216]

Good day , will the system damage USA train analog motors running them on address 00 ? Thank you 😊

[@PIKOAmerica]

Hi, the PIKO G-Digital System is capable of running Analog/DC locomotives, but the locos will likely have a high-pitched electrical whine as they run. Even though the system will run the loco, it is not recommended for long periods of time. (This is due to high-frequency Digital AC.)

[@kleinvosseven]

Hi Jonathan, Henk here from the Netherlands, I have 2 questions . Number 1; can I program the Locomotive that it needs to whistle at a certain place on the track every time he passes that place. and the 2e question, can you program the centrale ore locomotive , that the locomotive has to slowdown when it enters the station and when it leaves the station that he slowly speeds up. hope to hear from you , thank you in advance

[@gardendepot1]

Great Video! Love that Mogul painted in Bumble Bee paint job!

[@robertvittetoe6158]

I bought this complete system to include wireless for an outdoor Christmas train. For the most part everything worked fine. My track is a 75 ft loop with power only connected at one point. Some evenings the train would stutter or skip in some areas. At times an increase in power would help. Would a complete bus loop with feeders to more areas on the track help. Do I need a power booster?

[@PIKOAmerica]

That sounds more like contact issues on the track. Keeping the track, wheels and pickup shoes clean is very important, especially with DCC, so the train always gets uninterrupted power and DCC signal. Also, reliable contact from one piece of track to the next is just as important. Outdoors, it won't take long before moisture gets inside the rail joiners and starts corrosion. For a temporary display, a dab of our 36215 Conductive Paste in each joiner will do a great job. Or, you may want to look into our RailClamps for a more solid connection. For a 75 foot loop, one power connection should be okay. And with the excellent conductivity of PIKO rail, both power and DCC signal are carried with very little loss in that distance. A DCC Booster like our 35015 would really only be needed if the complete power demand on your system is near or over 5 amps. With just one train and a loop that size, this is probably not the case. A PIKO Mogul with smoke and sound going only takes about 1.5 amps. If you have any further issues, feel free to contact our customer service directly at [e-mail] or 877-678-4449.

[@Michael-yl2iq]

Can you have multiple handheld? Do you offer a 5 amp booster that can be added for larger layout and if yes how do you hook it up to the controller?

[@PIKOAmerica]

Hi Michael, Yes you can have many handheld Navigator Remotes. We also do have 5 Amp boosters for separate isolated sections of track, for a total up to 25Amps.

[@Michael-yl2iq]

@@PIKOAmerica Thanks. I look forward to using Piko to expand my system and to convert to DCC.

[@JoshuaWilliams-lx1vm]

Would this work with a track that circles completely around a house? I would not always have complete line of site with the base. Also would this work with other g scale manufacturers locomotives?

[@jimngugk4741]

Hi ! Does piko carry any over head system for the electric car's ? or those catching on the car is dummy ?

[@ahmetcelalkandemiroglu3931]

I am from Turkey,and I am very glad for this clear and nice information..:) If you are still there,I have only one question..:)..Actually I dont want this starter sets.I want to get and purchase what I like.So, should I buya set at the beginning.?..Cant I receive that command modules and other parts for my wish loks and wagens..?.. Many thanks,and regards from Turkey.. P.S. I have H0 Piko`s and very old KLEINBAHN from the sixties (Again H0 but 110 wolt..:)..)..Now I want to built G trains for my garden...

[@danpikoamerica7314]

Celal, You don't have to use a starter set if you don't want to. Many people find it a simple way to get started in G-Scale and it is an inexpensive way to get going. However, you can always purchase items separately in order to piece together loco, cars, track, and a power supply that you like.

[@ahmetcelalkandemiroglu3931]

Hi Jonathan (I hope the right name..:)..), MANY thanks ,thats the answer which I need and want....:)

[@dkw6227]

can every Piko train be ran in this digital mode ?

[@danpikoamerica7314]

Hi, Every PIKO loco with a digital decoder can be run on a digital system. If the loco has Analog Sound or has no decoder, then it would be run on an analog/DC system.

[@dkw6227]

Dan@PIKOAmerica Thank you kind Sir !!!!

[@andrewbradley6161]

Can I run a MTH and LGB locomotive with this system? Thank you

[@danpikoamerica7314]

Anthony, For sure you can run any pre-Marklin LGB locos, as PIKO G-Digital will also run older MTS I and II decoders. (Those decoder require serial pulses to activate functions) With Marklin MFX decoders - they supposedly work on NMRA standard DCC so they should work, however these are Marklin products and not PIKO ones so we have no way to test them for you. It is possible there are small issues as Marklin uses a parallel, not NMRA standard, digital system. (Marklin literature states it will work, but we cannot say for sure.) As for MTH, you would most likely have issues as DCS is a completely proprietary communication style that is not compatible with NMRA standard DCC. So, you are likely to have trouble running MTH locos on any system that is not MTH - that is the challenge of proprietary software systems.

[@graystrains9347]

You need to do a video on your auto reversing unit. I can’t even find instructions on your website on how it works. Speed, time duration, how to set it up, etc..

[@scarshieldlegionairre8576]

Is this the same for HO scale?

[@dylanhale7300]

How can I convert a analog train to digital, Do you guys offer DCC Chips for G scale?

[@PIKOAmerica]

Dylan, yes we do offer DCC decoders and sound for G-Scale. You will find those videos here on our KZbin pages. For a DCC & Digital Sound install on a PIKO steam loco with tender... kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2nGkJeQob6aq9E&list=PLLxO0OUTYRyDyJlKQZ5XCeGC7DAG10WLr&index=7 For a DCC & Digital Sound install on a PIKO steam saddletank loco...kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6fNnqqtg7ScsM0&list=PLLxO0OUTYRyDyJlKQZ5XCeGC7DAG10WLr&index=4

[@jazzytriddy744]

@@PIKOAmerica Hi team just wondering if it could run LGB trains on this and do I need chips to install

[@PIKOAmerica]

@@jazzytriddy744 With the PIKO G-Digital system you can run any loco with an NMRA compatible DCC decoder. This includes early MTS decoders from LGB making PIKO G-Digital one of the few systems that can run serial and parallel MTS decoders, as well as the most modern DCC decoders on the market.

[@mattbates481]

Where is the Loco address? I thought it was on the service manual and on base of Loco. I'm using what I think is 030 as the address for the mogal 30105 but I'm getting messed up sound. 4 hrs later I'm still getting nowhere.

[@PIKOAmerica]

Hi Matt: It might be better if you could give us a call (877-678-4449 or 619-280-2800) or email ([e-mail]) so we can discuss this in more detail. We don't mark the loco address anywhere, but it's standard with most manufacturers that locos come from the factory programmed to address 3. So if you have entered "030", that would not be for this loco as it came out of the box. If you are using the PIKO Digital system, it's easy to change the address of a loco, so you don't have multiple locos on the same address. Our two videos on the PIKO Digital explain this better than I can here. It would be helpful to know more of what you mean by "messed up sound" and also if the loco is otherwise running okay.

[@mattbates481]

+PIKO-America thanks for the swift response..... The Loco is incredible and so is the system. Just seen that I was mis sold the psu. The one I have is only a 32 VA..... I need to use a 100 VA. Explains all my sound issues! I'm standing by my mail box awaiting the upgrade!

[@PIKOAmerica]

Hi Matt: Yes, a 32VA power supply would be marginal, at best, for that loco. If the power supply is at it's limit, it might allow the voltage to drop, which could cause a repeating cycle of the loco's decoder shutting down and restarting, then the power supply restoring the voltage, then the loco drawing more current, beginning the cycle again. You would definitely have sound and operating problems! In the meantime, you could switch off the smoke unit (switch is under the water filler hatch cover on the back deck of the tender). The smoke unit draws quite a bit of power - about 1/3 amp. That may allow you to enjoy the loco and sound, till you receive a larger power supply.

[@mattbates481]

+Matt Bates awesome idea, never thought of that. I'll give that a go thanks!

[@danpikoamerica7314]

Just in case other people have a question about the loco address. Most loco's in all scale come from the manufacturer programmed for address 3. On most systems that means putting in "003" and in some systems it will need a four digit address, or "0003".

[@kc2tbag]

Will also work dc

[@PIKOAmerica]

Tomas, while the PIKO G-Digital system can run DC (non-decoder) locos it is something we regard as only for occasional use and not for long-term operation. (When run this way, there will likely be a high-pitched noise coming from the motor.)

[@christopherli135]

Very helpful video thanks so much!

[@kirbycannon453]

how much does this cost and where can i get it online

[@PIKOAmerica]

+Kirby Cannon There are several components involved. Here they are, with their MSRP prices: 35010 Digital Central Station $344.99, 35020 Transformer $99.99, 35021 Navigator Remote $459.99, and most people opt for the 35022 Wireless Receiver $184.99. Although that adds up to quite a bit, the system does work very well. Most retailers will not stock the system, but it should be available through anyone on the retailer list on our website. Many of them do sell online.

[@kirbycannon453]

+PIKO-America thank you

[@Furrylox]

wow

[@Kolsch221]

How much is that set up?

[@danpikoamerica7314]

You will find current pricing and info online at www.piko-america.com. The numbers were listed below under the comment by Kirby Cannon

[@timtiffany4302]

How much is it?

[@PIKOAmerica]

The new versions of the Navigator and Receiver are direct replacements for the item numbers shown in the video. They save a bit on the total system cost. Here are the prices: 35010 Digital Central Station: $359.99, 35017 Navigator Remote: $299.99, 35018 Wireless Receiver: $139.99, 35020 Transformer: $99.99. Those are the full MSRP prices in America. Check with your retailer, as they may be able to do better than that for you.

[@crockett11000]

That's great and all but still old tech. The track still has to be powered!. And running is still massively affected by dirt, Corrosion and bad joints!. It's old tech... With the Sound Traxx Blunami and battery power this system is now old and antiquated!!.

[@reinsdorfergartenbahn4374]

Bitte so etwas auch in deutsch

[@PIKOAmerica]

Schoene Gartenbahn Anlage auf ihre Kanal! Und, vielen dank! Aber, es hilft wenn Sie an unsere Eltern-firma PIKO in Sonneberg uber dieser Anfrage direkt schreiben werden.

[@reinsdorfergartenbahn4374]

PIKO-America Gut dies werde ich machen vielen Dank

[@習近平-g6g]

so complicated