Building an 22' x 24' N scale layout and initially started trying to develop a computer control system using JMRI using CATS. But I'm spending more time trying to get and keep the software running than in designing the system for my layout.
I've found two other computer control program, one from CTI and another from Oaktree System. There may be others out there. You can even write your own programs based on Bruce Chubb's programing examples.
I'd like feed back as to which systems others use and your opinion of them.
Also, if anyone out there feels they are a knowledgeable JMRI/CATS trouble shooter, I'd like to see if you can help me get JMRI/CATS software running on my Windows XP system.
Thanks.
I have automated a previous DC N scale layout a little smaller than yours with CTI. It was easier than JMRI. (I have not tried CATS) CTI was fairly straight forward and has instructions with it and worked really good for what I did. CTI also has a user group at Yahoo. (JMRI does also)
I am now into HO with NCE DCC and have my present layout fully signaled using JMRI and Digitrax signaling and detection boards. JMRI was much harder to learn than CTI. You still have to write the program for CTI, but it is BASIC which is easy to learn.
In my opinion, JMRI is good if you are into two hobbies: computer programming and model railroading. It is not for the begining model railroader unless you are a programmer already.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Thanks for your reply. With JMRI alone, are you able to run and control trains?
Also, I'm curious as why you switched to JMRI for your HO layout rather than sticking to CTI.
I'm going to give CTI a call on Monday to see if any of my Bruce Chubb C/MRI occupancy detection and turnout interface components will work with CTI Train-Brain.
I have NCE DCC. How do you feel about using the Digitrax components?
Take a look at Railroad & Co (Google). Easy to use, little or no programing experience needed, cut and paste interface and works with most any DCC controllers should one wish manual override. There site allows free play and simulation before purchase. You decide on detectors, but most use the cheaper resistors while the Brits are using RFID which even tracks the passenger and freight cars for operations(Wow). They offer several levels with the Bronze level more than effective for most layouts although our club uses Gold. As with all good programs, the time killer is drawing the first layout on the screen--which can end up being screens as one gets better at setting up block zones which then will allow more people to cut and paste routes for the computer to decifer. I suggest the cheapest used desktop capable of booting a three screen graphics card as ones skills ultimately get out-of-hand (we now have more than one such desktop station hooked up as well). You will still need to use JMRI Decoder Pro to set up the CVs easily. This programe is about running trains-lots of them. If you go on You-Tube, Hamburg's Wunderland it the ultimate with full time IT crews. Joel
If you're using DCC, RR&CO will be a lot easier to set up for automated running than JMRI, less coding.
Lots of NCE users use Digitrax components for the signaling and detection - they tend to be less expensive than other alternatives, plus there are MANY options to choose from, lots of them not made by Digitrax - the Loconet bus has probably the biggest 3rd party support of any of the DCC command busses. From ready to use commercial components down to code libraries for Aurdino microcontrollers, and everyhwere in between. Take a look a RR_CirKits, they have some nice options for signal drivers and expecially detection - I much prefer the current detection coils to the diode drop method used by things like the Digitrax BDL168.. To establish a Loconet alongside your NCE system, all you need is an interface device that can act as master, which the RR-CirKits Locobuffer-USB can. Most of the control software, like JMRO or RR&CO, can support more than one system at a time, so you can connect your NCE as well to create the logic that drives the trains based on the sensor information coming in over the Loconet.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Kudlor 1- Thanks for your reply. With JMRI alone, are you able to run and control trains? 2- Also, I'm curious as why you switched to JMRI for your HO layout rather than sticking to CTI. 3- I'm going to give CTI a call on Monday to see if any of my Bruce Chubb C/MRI occupancy detection and turnout interface components will work with CTI Train-Brain. 4- I have NCE DCC. How do you feel about using the Digitrax components?
1- Thanks for your reply. With JMRI alone, are you able to run and control trains?
2- Also, I'm curious as why you switched to JMRI for your HO layout rather than sticking to CTI.
3- I'm going to give CTI a call on Monday to see if any of my Bruce Chubb C/MRI occupancy detection and turnout interface components will work with CTI Train-Brain.
4- I have NCE DCC. How do you feel about using the Digitrax components?
1- I could probably run trains with JMRI, but I don't want to take up a second hobby of computer programing. I am fairly certain that you have to write a script to do it.
2- I had just joined a club, and as a retired electronics technician, they wanted me to install a signal system. They were using Digitrax and JMRI. So I did. That is when I found out how good the Digitrax block detection and signal boards were. So I decided to use them on my own layout. Doing the same with CTI would require more hardware that I didn't want to invest in. Signaling code for JMRI is mostly done with a point and click GUI (graphical user interface), where CTI would require writing the code. RR&Co is an alternative to JMRI and has a GUI for all functions including automation.
3- I don't think they will work together.
4- I love the Digitrax BDL-168, SE8C, and DS-64 units. Go here for more information on using Digitrax boards with NCE:
http://waynes-trains.com/site/LocoNet/LocoNet-for-Non-Digitrax-Layouts.html
http://waynes-trains.com/site/Signals/Model-Railroad-Signaling.html
gandydancer19 Kudlor 1- Thanks for your reply. With JMRI alone, are you able to run and control trains? 1- I could probably run trains with JMRI, but I don't want to take up a second hobby of computer programing. I am fairly certain that you have to write a script to do it.
Kudlor 1- Thanks for your reply. With JMRI alone, are you able to run and control trains?
You don't really have to do any "computer programming" to automate with JMRI, but depending on exactly what you wanted to do and how you set up your layout, yes, you might have to write one or more scripts, or modify existing ones.
But a lot of the work to create scripts you can immediately use, or at the very least good foundations to start with, has already been done.
Here's the JMRI Automation page. Following the "Scripting" and then the "Examples" links will get you to a list of scripts that includes a couple to start with: The "BackandForth" ones, and RobotThrottle.py.
Also, JMRI's "Dispatcher" function will also allow automated running of trains, and as far as I know, no script writing (or computer programming) by the user is required.
Maybe, if you can get it all to work. Granted it was a few versions ago, but I had a bear of a time trying to get just one trolley to run around automated on my friend's layout using JMRI. Part of the problem was constant false detections, which the JMRI and Digitrax folks put down as the BDL-162 he was using not being compatible with high frequency drive decoders. So he downlaods a trial of RR&CO and the next work session, he shows me how he has 4 trolleys running around, stopping so they don;t run into each other - it works perfectly, they chug around without a hiccup for over an hour solid. And he set this all up himself - NOT a computer guy. I'm the computer and wiring guy helping him out. RR&CO is not cheap, but a non-programmer (he's a lawyer) got it all working perfectly, and it all worked fine with the same old BDL-162, no false detections in RR&CO. Hmm...
Still not sure how I will control my future layout. I'd love to build a physical CTC panel and just have the computer handle the logic, but an on-screen one would be much more affordable, even if I had to buy a pair of widescreen monitors to get the display space needed. I find myself less and less using JMRI for anything, not the JMRI is bad, but the Java VM keeps getting worse and worse. It's already horriblky unreliable in the communications area, at least on Windows, in that if anything disrupts communications, it just crashes hard, hence all those "Java Virtual Machine has stopped" queries on the JMRI group. It used to be only if I let my laptop sleep, nothing would work unless I rebooted. Now it happens even after some idle time, and I DID set Windows to NOT turn off the USB ports to save power. I usually take my setup along to club shows to help people program their locos - mine have nothing fancy so I rarely need JMRI to set them, just an address and some momentum. Last time, it was bad enough that I had to reboot almost every time and it was faster to just put the loco on a program track and read the CVs myself. Again, this isn;t the fault of JMRI and its programmers, but the underlying Java runtime itself. It's gotten progressively worse under Oracle ownership.
I'd love it if there was a .Net alternative. There's one, but it only has Euro-style signals in it. I suppose I could code US&S style controls myself - I may end up doing that. Or I might just bite the bullet and pay for RR&CO.