Ok, that is about the coolest thing going. It is just utterly amazing how much model trains have have involved since I was a kid in the 70's. Looking forward to this series.
My JMRI Adventure
In this thread i will be documenting my experience with model railroad computerized cotrol.
JMRI suite is running on dedicated machine mounted under the layout.
Main interface is 15" Touchscreen. Train control is accomplished with Powercab system which attaches to PC via NCE-USB module. Turnout control with feedback is accomplishe with Digitrax DS64' decoders attached to PC via PR3.
this is still work in progress. the panel is not final, there is still no block detection and i'm still learning a lot about the JMRI solution.
short video above showcases several conseps
1. flipping through several locomotive throttles.
2. switching individual turnouts via touchscreen and PC recieveng feedback when turnouts are overriden manually
3. manupulating routes. panel on the bottom is a demo panel showing 3 virtual sensors anunicating route status (green/red) and 3 virtual sensors triggering the route. 0.5 second delay is set beteen turnout actuation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmRov5cy2mc
the panel screen itself (as shown in other thread)
![]()
"under the hood" look - component tables.
![]()
JMRI suite is running on dedicated machine mounted under the layout.
Main interface is 15" Touchscreen. Train control is accomplished with Powercab system which attaches to PC via NCE-USB module. Turnout control with feedback is accomplishe with Digitrax DS64' decoders attached to PC via PR3.
this is still work in progress. the panel is not final, there is still no block detection and i'm still learning a lot about the JMRI solution.
short video above showcases several conseps
1. flipping through several locomotive throttles.
2. switching individual turnouts via touchscreen and PC recieveng feedback when turnouts are overriden manually
3. manupulating routes. panel on the bottom is a demo panel showing 3 virtual sensors anunicating route status (green/red) and 3 virtual sensors triggering the route. 0.5 second delay is set beteen turnout actuation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmRov5cy2mc
the panel screen itself (as shown in other thread)
"under the hood" look - component tables.
Attachments
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
That's awesome! You should talk in your video and tell us whats going on. Don't be shy bud! Some day I will get there. I am still a DC guy for the moment! Not for long though! 
:thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
well, i hope it was at least somewhat self explanatory.
i can't possibly explain the entire JMRI proccess in a minute and a half video. and frankly those that already use or learn about it have much better resources. this is just a quick preview that perhaps will entice some .
CP, if you have a specific question on your mind let me know. but regardless you definetly should try and get here. this is IMHO where the fun begins
i can't possibly explain the entire JMRI proccess in a minute and a half video. and frankly those that already use or learn about it have much better resources. this is just a quick preview that perhaps will entice some .
CP, if you have a specific question on your mind let me know. but regardless you definetly should try and get here. this is IMHO where the fun begins
now that i have block detection i can skip the virtual sensors and place actual ones on the panel. track was easy, just icons of different color. to display occupancy on turnouts however i drew my own custom turnout icons. instead of white lines these pained with transparent color. this way i can place a sensor on background and its state will show thorugh
notice occupied left-top section on upper picure and aligned crossover on bottm one
![]()
notice occupied left-top section on upper picure and aligned crossover on bottm one
Attachments
Very Cool!
Hi, new to the Forums. Your interface is exactly what I kept day dreaming about, then I get side tracked .
I just started back up with model railroading (HO Scale DCC). I had never went as far as a loop and consisiting two trains using the computer interface (serial cable).
Right now I am using an old macbook pro, with JMRI installed and digitrax system (PR-3 for the pc interface). I have a touch screen made by HP and I am going to see if that works with the apple OS. I use my IPOD touch as the cab control (I believe that is the term)for now, so I guess that is kind of touch screen <heh>.
I was wondering what kind of switching mechanism you are using? I like the clack sound I hear when you press on the switch on the screen, which gives a nice aural feed back that the switch moved
For now I am just learning about my hardware and applying it to a simple oval track, soon switch control then block detection and signaling. I guess that is a logical progression I still have to work out the space then layout design. Will be great fun
For now exploring the forums and taking notes.
Thanks again!
Hi, new to the Forums. Your interface is exactly what I kept day dreaming about, then I get side tracked
. I just started back up with model railroading (HO Scale DCC). I had never went as far as a loop and consisiting two trains using the computer interface (serial cable).
Right now I am using an old macbook pro, with JMRI installed and digitrax system (PR-3 for the pc interface). I have a touch screen made by HP and I am going to see if that works with the apple OS. I use my IPOD touch as the cab control (I believe that is the term)for now, so I guess that is kind of touch screen <heh>.
I was wondering what kind of switching mechanism you are using? I like the clack sound I hear when you press on the switch on the screen, which gives a nice aural feed back that the switch moved
For now I am just learning about my hardware and applying it to a simple oval track, soon switch control then block detection and signaling. I guess that is a logical progression
I still have to work out the space then layout design. Will be great fun For now exploring the forums and taking notes.
Thanks again!
no prob.
No AIU support, No Turnout MONITORING, No Clock functions.
Power Cab and SB3: Can only access accessory addresses between 1 and 250.
indeed NCE does not have practical hardware to provide block occupation information or turnout position back to JMRI. but is it a constrain to you? AIU? Clock functions, what are those? as you can see that constrain has 0 impact on me . limit of 250 addresses is of no concern, unless we talking huge club sized layout
"SB3: No programming track support, operation mode only."
that one is easy solution, your everyday switch (DPDT for example) - need program track? flip the switch, cut the SB3. as added bonus this will disconnect your entire layout and keep only the isolated programming track on! and then, will you be expanding with smart booster right away? i would imagine no.
IMHO NCE is a winner when racing against digitrax, and for that opinion i vouched with my wallet. it does have limiting factor - no feedback. look at what you want to do and decide if this affects you. if it does and you will want feedback it is not expensive at all to add. even with Dgtrx zephyr you will need to get a PR3 ( or the other interface)
No AIU support, No Turnout MONITORING, No Clock functions.
Power Cab and SB3: Can only access accessory addresses between 1 and 250.
indeed NCE does not have practical hardware to provide block occupation information or turnout position back to JMRI. but is it a constrain to you? AIU? Clock functions, what are those? as you can see that constrain has 0 impact on me . limit of 250 addresses is of no concern, unless we talking huge club sized layout
"SB3: No programming track support, operation mode only."
that one is easy solution, your everyday switch (DPDT for example) - need program track? flip the switch, cut the SB3. as added bonus this will disconnect your entire layout and keep only the isolated programming track on! and then, will you be expanding with smart booster right away? i would imagine no.
IMHO NCE is a winner when racing against digitrax, and for that opinion i vouched with my wallet. it does have limiting factor - no feedback. look at what you want to do and decide if this affects you. if it does and you will want feedback it is not expensive at all to add. even with Dgtrx zephyr you will need to get a PR3 ( or the other interface)
Power-cab here. i have a small garage layout, no need for the higher end system, i even do without Smartbooster at this point. as i said IMHO it is superior to digitrax, we have at least several "nce vs Digtrax" threads i did and can once again explain my opinion there.
i wanted turnout position and occupancy feedback so i run both. powercab is for controlling trains, digitrax interface for a Loconet gateway. best of both worlds, i probably could have left out the NCE-USB interface, thats only 45$ "wasted". EDIT : with that it provides a certain flexibility
my hardware below. since these pictures i added 2 team digital SIC24AD devices and prettied up the wiring
![]()
![]()
i wanted turnout position and occupancy feedback so i run both
. powercab is for controlling trains, digitrax interface for a Loconet gateway. best of both worlds, i probably could have left out the NCE-USB interface, thats only 45$ "wasted". EDIT : with that it provides a certain flexibilitymy hardware below. since these pictures i added 2 team digital SIC24AD devices and prettied up the wiring
2
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
