BEST program for decoders?

[Anonymous]

Try using Decoder Commander from KAM industries. WWW.trainpriority.com
This What I am using. It was introduced at The NMRA National Convention In 2006.
jwennis

[claycts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

If it's the Athearn Genesis Challenger with sound, it's an MRC decoder. There may or may not be decoder definitions in JMRI for it - part of the problem is I don;t think they read back on ANY system so there'd be no way to identify it.
Don't forget to stop in Miami and do your best Don Johnson...

--Randy

The RED HEAD did very well. Did not even check the gas millage. Drive 624 miles and it was very funny. Krysti kept a score card of pictues taken when ON THE ROAD it was 11. We had one couple take a picture with there phone pull in front, yake another then wave me by to get the back. Never went to the auction or show. I saved a ton of TRAIN money, LOL
We stayed in Jekel Island Ga at the golf club with RROC. Good food, nive place and very quit. The car now has 9864 miles.
Glad to get back.
OH, got decoder pro working, now all I have to do is learn the program. It likes the Digitrax and BLI not to craz about the Challenger. Oh, welcome to the LEATHERIQUE group.
Take Care
George P.

[rrinker]

If it's the Athearn Genesis Challenger with sound, it's an MRC decoder. There may or may not be decoder definitions in JMRI for it - part of the problem is I don;t think they read back on ANY system so there'd be no way to identify it.
Don't forget to stop in Miami and do your best Don Johnson...

--Randy

[Stevert]

The BEST program for decoders? Define "BEST".

If by BEST you mean a program that will run on just about any platform, support just about any DCC hardware, includes the ability to create dispatching panels, do signalling, routes, scripting for custom functions or automation, is frequently updated, gives you direct access to the developers, hasn't sued anyone for infringing on questionable patents (don't laugh), and is FREE, well, I can think of only one.

(As an aside, JMRI being written in Java has nothing to do with it's user-friendliness. Believe me, I've seen some real application disasters written in "better" languages.)

Steve

[claycts]

Thanks Randy, I got JMRI worling with loco buffer USB. The BLI is a pain and need to figure out which decoder is in the Genesis Challenger. I looked for a operations manual for JMRI and the HELP is not for DUMMIES like ME. I guess I just wanted a simple windows pprogram, oh well time to learn JMRI 101.
What mode are you using Windows or Windows Classic? Or does it matter. Just bought ANOTHER 48 Tortise machines ONLY need 76 more!!!!
Thanks AGAIN!
Take Care
George P.
P.S. going to the R&M auction at Amelia Island Fl. we are DRIVING, see that, DRIVING the Testarossa down!. I must take pictures of how you have to pck that thing to travel WHAT A JOKE!

[rrinker]

I still like JMRI, although I tend to do most programming from my DT400 anyway - it's not like I'm doing speed curves or anything time consuming. Just set the address, maybe start/mid/high. About the only thing I fool around with other than that is sound volumes for sound units, but I do that while the train is running, so it's a lot easier to just dial up the CV in the DT400 than run back and forth to the computer.
As for stationary decoders, that really depends on how they are programmed. Some you have to press a button or conenct a jumper to set them to program mode - in which case doign saidprogrammign from a computer woud be a real pain, if the statonary decoder is at the opposite end of the layout. Even those that can be programmed in Ops Mode while connected to the track power, the first time around you have to do one at a time, otherwise they will all get the same programming. Once they all have unique addresses, you can further program them from anywhere.
I do like to keep track of WHAT I've programmed, so eventually I will at least read them with JMRI to have that information in an electronic format. One of my way back burner projects is an extension to Dave Husman's excellent roster program (already have all my rolling stock and locos in it - still need to make a simplified report to carry around to trains hows to avoid bying duplicate road numbers) what will store and export the XML produced by JMRI.

--Randy

[claycts]

Do not care avout price. I have Loco net-USB with all Digitrax equipment.
Want the BEST computer program for doing decoders. I have Decoder pro already, looking for something more user friendley than a JAVA driven program.
I will be programming over 60 locos plus 50+ stationary decoders. I tried the 400 finger wave and that does not get it.
We are close to having the phase 1 plywood central running.
My R&D lab MAY have the answer to the perfect QUIT ballast cement. 1st tests are very good. Production figures look like about $40.00 per quart ready to use. The test did 200 ft of track with 8oz's. anyway, back to the question of the program.