I am a long time dreamer and hope to be a first time builder. I was looking at the CTI computer control system. After browsing through this forum I see nothing on computer control. Years ago Model Railroader Mag. used to have a column on this subject. What gives? Too many problems? Too steep a learning curve? Does anyone have any Pros or Cons?
I'm not sure what it is, a form of DCC?
I use a laptop to control my system through an USB/loconet(LAN) interface with the DCC system. It runs JMRI software also known as decoder pro, which is really only a part of it. This LAN can be used to connect with smartphones, etc.
Richard
Here's a link to the CTI website:
http://www.cti-electronics.com/
They claim to have been in business for 15 years, but this is the first time I have ever heard the system mentioned in these forums, and I have never known anyone who uses it.
I saw them at a train show once, does that count?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I looked into CTI several years ago, when I was deciding which DCC system to get.
What I found was that CTI is not DCC, although they say their software interfaces with DCC systems.
My impression was that it was sort of the same concept as C/MRI, in that it's non-DCC hardware used with a computer to perform various layout functions such as signaling, automation, and so forth.
I never looked at it again, because the DCC system I eventually chose (Digitrax Super Chief) does everything I could ever want, and more, with it's LocoNet. There really didn't seem to be any benefit in stringing up another control bus under the layout, just to duplicate functions I could do with LocoNet.
My take on it is that if you want computer control, get software such as JMRI or RR&Co that lets you choose the hardware you want, instead of being tied to one vendor for everything.
If I may - CTI is a building block computer interface system for model trains that can be used for "Computerized Block Control" or can be used with DCC and a PC to provide full or partial automation.
It consists of specailly designed computer interface logic modules and a propietarty softeware system that allows the user to do almost anything with the inputs and outputs on the modules.
In other words, you can control the assignment of throttles (DC or DCC) to sections of track, speed them up, slow them down, control signals and turnouts, etc,etc,etc,etc.........
BUT, you have to have the knowlege and underatanding of computers at a programing level to use the software - it is not "plug and play" type software - it is "write your own code" kind of software. Similar to the work done by Bruce Chubb.
The guy has been in business a long time and he lives not real far from me. I have spoken to him on the phone several times about his products. I looked into it as part of my own process of exploring both DCC and Computerized Block Control. It is just one of 4 or five products out there that will do that sort of thing. Others are offered by those following Bruce Chubb's work and by Oak Tree Systems, and another called Signal Research. They all have working systems, but all can be pricey and have high learning curves.
For anyone who has been to the B&O Railroad Museum in the last few years, the HO diaplay layout there in controlled by a Computerized Block Control system custom built by Oak Tree Systems (www.oaktreesystems.com). I know Chuck at Oak Tree as well. He did my circuit board work for my walk arounf cab selector system.
Unless you contract one of these guys to design a "complete system", you are on your own to design what you need around the hardware they have developed.
After seriously considering all of these choices, including DCC, I decided my needs were better served by a more traditional relay based advanced cab control system and CTC/signal system taking major elements for MZL Control by Ed Ravenscroft, and using Aristo Craft Train Engineer wireless DC throttles.
CTI is a long standing good company, question is, is it what you want?
Sheldon
I have set up and used a CTI system. My experience with it was on a DC system, but it will interface to a DCC system for controlling locomotives as well. On my old DC layout, I had it fully automated to start one of three trains from a staging loop, enter the layouts mainline at a wye, go around the layout and return to the same staging track in the loop and stop. All the trains would cycle through, then the next time when the train was at the wye, it would run the mainline in the other direction. It is a very sophisticated system and has many capabilities.The starter system is $100. You then build on that by adding different modules. It is well built and has very good support from the manufacturer.There is an active YahooGroup for it also where you can get lots of help. The computer language is similar to BASIC and is easy to learn.
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 alot you guys. You all have given me more food for thought. I have done some VB programing as a hobby and find it to be great fun. Maybe I will look into it a little deeper.
Thanks,
Stew'
We use CTI in a variety of capacities at our club - http://ramapovalleyrailroad.com/ . We run DCC with multiple NCE boosters on the layout. We have added numerous modules that allow the program to do the following:
Control signals, switches, block detection, random lighting effects (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvVs4CwLXE0&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL) and railroad crossing signal lights and associated sound (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu-thg4SqLs&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL)
Programming is fairly easy once you get the hang of it. You can also have the program run your trains thus making it a fully automated layout.