NCE booster system add on with JMRI integration

[Muskoka Kyle]

Just looking for some advice on what it takes to upgrade a NCE Powercab system and keep my JMRI integration. Also does the powercab now become lovable to other terminals if I add them in a second layoit extension location?

thanks.  

[rrinker]

 Two ways to upgrade. One is to use the SB5. The PowerCab then becomes mostly a ProCab, you cna unplug it and plug it in to any of multiple plug panels you install. Or you can add radio to the PowerCab and get an RB01 to go along with the SB5 and run wirelessly. In this configuration, you can use the JMRI throttles to run trains through the USB interface, but you can't program with the SB5. The PowerCab Panel becomes your program station. You have to switch the connection of the NCE USB over to the PowerCab when programming to use DecoderPro. Typically you'd set that up at your workbench so you cna test and program locos as you install decoders.

 Option 2 is to go full on PH Pro system. To interface this with your computer for JMRI you need a USB to serial cable, the USB interface does not work with the PH Pro system. But with that in place, you can use the program track outputs of the PH Pro box for programming with JMRI and without changinging anything, use JMRI throttles and panels to control the layout. You can still put the PowerCab Panel and power supply on your workbench and use it as a standalone program/test track. Buying a full PH Pro system comes with a ProCab throttle, so now you will have 2 usable throttles with it.

                                         --Randy