hello all,
looking for some help on digitrax detection and signaling. im currently in the process of wiring my layout for block detection. i have not purchased any equipment as of yet but would like to know if its possible to have prototypical signaling that works automatically with the digitrax block detection? everything ive read so far explains it can be done only with a computer and 3rd party software. is there any way to do this without a computer...say with a dgitrax BXP88 or a BDL168 and an SE8C signal decoder and just your standard DCC system (DCS210), no computer??
any help is much appreciated,
thanks
With Digitrax equipment alone? No, you need a computer to create the 'logic' of what signal indication to display via the SE8C based on the block occupancy and turnout positions comign from the BDL168 and DS64.
Third party products have ways to create the logic by programming lots of CVs. You still use the BDL168 for detection and DS64's or other Loconet aware stationary decoders to report turnout position, but the signal driver board would be one of these third party ones from, for example, Team Digital. Go ahead and read the manuals on their web site, it discusses how to set all the CVs to set signal indications based on the various conditions. The computer way is easier, really. You just need a PR3 or Locobuffer-USB and free JMRI software.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
As an additional comment, you are not limited to digitrax equipment for signalling and block detection. Companies such as RRcirkits and Team Digital are loconet compatible (works with digitrax) and have some really good products. I use RR-Cirkits for my block detection circuits because they are completely isolated from the DCC signal. It also is not a centralized system (means less wire to run).
I'm to a particular fan of the BDL-168 which is why I used RR-cirkits option. The cost per block is about the same but I like how it can be tuned and also that it is a current sensing technology and isolated from track power.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
I second Randy’s thought. I have a 24 block layout with BDL-168, SE8C and a computer running free JMRI software.
The only part I don’t like is building signals. Even with a fully built signal, interfacing with se8c requires a lot of fine work.
NP.
Great thanks for the feedback. This does however create a few more questions. Just some background i have been running Digitrax DCC layouts for a while but the detection and signaling portion im very new at. My layout consists of two large ovals with a yard connecting to the outter oval and some sidings and crossovers on the inner oval. the layout is still in its very early stages of construction as to the point i havent laid any track yet but layout and wiring im starting to do. this is my third DCC layout and fourth all together.
I want to run my thought process by some of you to get your feedback, basically im considering separating the two ovals and the yard each its own power district. then obviously dividing each power district into 6-8 detection zones keeping each turnout as a zone. not sure if this is the correct means of accomplishing detection or if the detection zones should be separated diffrently. in addition, im having trouble deciding which block detector i should use from digitrax (BDL168 or BXP88 or something else)? not sure why digitrax has so many diffrent detectors to choose from are they simply just more detection zones or are there other diffrences i should take notice to.
Second... can i have all three power zones working off the same detection controller?? Reason being i have probably 12-14 detection zones between the two ovals and yard that could all be done via the BDL168 (max 16 zones). Or do i need a detection controller for each power zone??
lastly, my final outcome is to eventually use a computer with the software to prototypically animate the signals. it seems as if this is the best way to accomplish what i want to do.
any help is appreciated, and thank you in advance.
Ryan
MasR1229 hello all, looking for some help on digitrax detection and signaling. im currently in the process of wiring my layout for block detection....is there any way to do this without a computer...
looking for some help on digitrax detection and signaling. im currently in the process of wiring my layout for block detection....is there any way to do this without a computer...
Well, yes and no.
Yes, there is a way to do block detection and signaling without a computer.
No, in that you don't use ANY Digitrax product.
As I have mentioned recently, it is called MSS.
Ed