Hello. I'm building alayout using NCE PowerPRO as dcc system conected to a computer and using Railroad & Co. software as automatic controller. The whole layout is divided by blocks and each block have a Dcc specialties Block Watcher for detection. The computer software so far works fine and I'm able to control my trains by it, but it is not receiving feedback from the block watchers. I've set the addresses and are properly instaled, in fact a red led turns on when a locomotive or a resistor equiped car is on it's block. What I'm I missing? Please help here.
The Block Watcher is just a detector. It needs to feed that signal back into the DCC system somehow. For NCE you can use the AIU and connect each detector to one of the AIU inputs.
All of the TOny's products that have 'feedback' are advertised in a somewhat misleading manner - none of them have any actual feedback. You need an input device appropriate to whichever DCC system you are using in order to actually get any feedback from the devices, like the Hare with FB, Block Watcher, etc.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
The block watcher has to send a signal to the computer and into your RR & Co program. There are different ways to do this, but all of them require a wire or two from each block detector to the computer.
Depending on your DCC system, you may be able to input the signals into the DCC system as Randy said.
Also, depending on what type of interface hardware you choose, you may be able to input the signal directly into the computer via a USB port.
I use an NCE DCC system. I have a separate data bus to receive block detection information and send out signal aspect information. Both signal boards and detection boards are connected to this data bus. The data bus is connected to my computer and interfaces with my layout control program.
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.