@Tracker John posted:I don't know if the SER2 will work with the DZ2001A + DZ2500, but Lionel has the CSM2 specifically for DZ2500s.
Actually, I wouldn't count on the CSM2 to drive the serial data to the DZ-2500! I went that route, and I had to retreat to the DZ-2001 for my layout. This only happens once out of every five or six power on events, which had me going for a spell. The SER2 also reportedly has an issue driving the DZ-2500, though I didn't actually try that.
I had occasion to chat with Jon Zahornacky, who you might know was formerly Lionel CTO. Jon has an extensive layout with 60+ DZ-2500 switch machines. When I couldn't get the CSM2 to properly drive the DZ-2500's, he informed me that he knew of the issue and had seen it as well. It appears that if the CSM2 and DZ-2500 are powered up at the same time, something about the initialization of the CSM2 or DZ-2500 can cause the DZ-2500 switch machines to all lock up and ignore commands. They won't even manually change with the switch machine manual button, they're frozen! It's obviously some sort of timing issue because a subsequent power cycle will usually clear the condition and all is well, until the next power cycle. After discussion, I think I have a solution, but I haven't spent the time to see if it will work. My idea is to delay the power up of the DZ-2500's a couple of seconds after the CSM2 to allow the serial data to stabilize. However, since the DZ-2001 works fine driving all my Z-2500's, it hasn't been a top priority item on my to-do list.
