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Linux and Digitraxx Sound Loader

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  • Member since
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  • From: Alberta, Canada
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Linux and Digitraxx Sound Loader
Posted by chochowillie on Friday, March 22, 2013 11:47 AM

Has anyone found a version of the Digitrax Sound Loader software that runs under Linux? I've been googling for hours and haven't found anything. I want to use the Sound loader software on my Linux computer with a PR3 interface. Confused

Dennis

CDN Dennis 

Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada

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Posted by jrbernier on Friday, March 22, 2013 12:13 PM

Dennis,

  Digitrax only has a Windows version available on their web site.  Where did you get a Linux device driver for the PR3 to start with?

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

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Posted by rrinker on Friday, March 22, 2013 12:22 PM

 PR3 works fine with Linux, the driver for Windows is just a generic one for the particular USB controller in it. My train room computer runs Ubuntu and works with my PR3 and standalone program track plus Locoubuffer that is connected to my system all at the same time.

Soundloader is Windows only though. I haven't tried it with WINE. JMRI was working on some sound loading capability but I don't knwo how far that has progressed or if it is currently reliable.

 

           --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, March 22, 2013 12:28 PM

Have you tried contacting Digitrax?  As I recall, the Soundloader program for their decoders is pretty much a one-guy project.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by DigitalGriffin on Friday, March 22, 2013 1:27 PM

jrbernier

Dennis,

  Digitrax only has a Windows version available on their web site.  Where did you get a Linux device driver for the PR3 to start with?

Jim

The USB chip on the PR3 makes it look like a Serial COM port.  So you program it like a serial COM port if you have the drivers for the USB chip.  Linux (Ubuntu in particular) has a driver for this USB chipset built in.  So all you have to do is program it like a serial port (which Java has full support for)

This is how you can run JMRI on Linux with PR3.

I'm toying with JMRI + PR3 + Wheezy/Raspbian Linux (Ubuntu derivative) on a $25 Raspberry Pi.  So far it seems to work.  The PR3 is bigger then the computer itself!

http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs

 

 

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

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Posted by chochowillie on Friday, March 22, 2013 5:32 PM

I wish, no and that is what I was asking about. Apparently, there isn't one available so either I go back to running windows (gag) on that computer so I can run sound loader or no sound loader. As for good old Microsoft, I am having a little problem with their new trick of extorting more money out of you because "your subscription has run out". Angry

So, two choices, 1 - Pay MS the $130 to renew my so called operating system for 2 years or do without Sound Loader. I just hate the corporate greed now days.

End of Rant.

Dennis

CDN Dennis 

Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada

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Posted by chochowillie on Friday, March 22, 2013 5:34 PM

No, I haven't contacted them as yet. I'm still trying to get a computer to talk to JMRI, Windows or Linux.

CDN Dennis 

Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Alberta, Canada
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Posted by chochowillie on Friday, March 22, 2013 5:37 PM

DigitalGriffin

The USB chip on the PR3 makes it look like a Serial COM port.  So you program it like a serial COM port if you have the drivers for the USB chip.  Linux (Ubuntu in particular) has a driver for this USB chipset built in.  So all you have to do is program it like a serial port (which Java has full support for)

This is how you can run JMRI on Linux with PR3.

This I will pass on to my Son in Law who is some sort of Linux geek. He's coming up to give me a hand during Easter Break so that info may twig him.

Thanks one and all for the feedback Thumbs Up

CDN Dennis 

Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada

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Posted by rrinker on Friday, March 22, 2013 6:13 PM

 What OS did you get that is subscription? They haven't done that - yet.

If you have XP, 7, or even a new copy of 8, it's yours to use as long as you like, XP won't be supported after next April, but it doesn't stop working. And Office is available either way, subscription or one time payment, I haven't upgraded to 2013 yet but my copy of Office 2010 will continue to work for as long as I even need it, even after support ends ina  few years, it will still run.

          --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
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Posted by chochowillie on Friday, March 22, 2013 7:44 PM

rrinker

If you have XP, 7, or even a new copy of 8, it's yours to use as long as you like, XP won't be supported after next April, but it doesn't stop working. And Office is available either way, subscription or one time payment, I haven't upgraded to 2013 yet but my copy of Office 2010 will continue to work for as long as I even need it, even after support ends ina  few years, it will still run.

          --Randy

Nope, I pulled out a laptop that I hadn't used in a year running Windows 7 upgraded from windows xp pro. The minute I connected to the internet, I got a new window that told me that my OS was no longer valid and that I had to re-up my "subscription". Went to the site and it was $130 to make the message go away. Otherwise it just keeps popping up.

On my workstation running Windows 7 Ultimate, when I tried to run Office 2010, I got the same darn message so I un installed Office and Re installed it, put in the right Key off the package and it tells me the same thing and re-directs me to the MS re-up site. Can't remember how much they want for Office but I just decided it was too much and I wasn't going to play their game. I am now running Open Office.

I have been buying MS Operating systems and software since windows first came out but this latest stunt about does it for me.

Update to above.... I just installed Office 2010 on a different computer and it asked me for the KEY which I supplied and it went ahead and installed Office 2010 via a download off the internet. What the heck is that about?????????????????? 

Cheers

Dennis

CDN Dennis 

Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada

  • Member since
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Posted by rrinker on Friday, March 22, 2013 8:34 PM

 Sounds like a virus or malware, or it was upgraded with the wrong type of license. Or you never activated it back when it was originally installed. If you have a valid key, it should activate it, with no cost. I repalced my old system with a new one and used the same key and had no trouble getting it to activate. There is definitely no 'subscription plan' for Windows 7 that would require you to pay a yearly fee to keep using the software.

 If your install media of Office 2010 was an original version - most of the new stuff automatically grabs the lastes service pack version during setup, so you don;t end up installing old versions and then have to run through a zillion updates. Of course with both Win7 and Office 2010 due for new service packs, there still are a half a zillion updates.

       --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Alberta, Canada
  • 624 posts
Posted by chochowillie on Friday, March 22, 2013 9:05 PM

rrinker
 Sounds like a virus or malware, or it was upgraded with the wrong type of license. Or you never activated it back when it was originally installed. If you have a valid key, it should activate it, with no cost.

Don't think it's a virus or malware. I've got major securtiy in place on my network. Used to run a couple of large enterprise networks so I'm really cautious on that front with both hardware and software in place. These days of course nothing is perfect. Whistling

The Operating system on the laptop was OEM installed..... ah ha, just remembered that I had that laptop sent in for warranty work.... I wonder if they re-installed the OP system and didn't tell me. That would explain why my Upgrade to Win 7 Pro would not be accepted. Because the OEM was wrong.... Hmm good discussion Randy. Methinks I smell a rat Huh?

Now all I have to do is find the Original OEM Win XP software. Re install it, then do the upgrade again. Now finding the Original OEM disk(s) could be a challenge. I've got OEM's from all sorts of long gone computers and since we moved..... Maybe it would just be faster to pay the money.... Sigh.

Anyway Randy, thanks for your thoughts, you got me thinking.

Cheers

Dennis

CDN Dennis 

Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada

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