Your laptop would be conencted to either the PR3 or SPROG. The interface device would connect to a piece of track - NOT connected to your layout in any way. JMRI will then be able to readn and write CVs on the loco and set them up, and so long as you keep the address set to 1-9, it will still run on the Bachmann EZ system. Other changes you make to adjust sounds or momentum or things liek that, will carry over and be in effect when run on the EZ Command.
Actually, the SPROG is a full-featured command station as well, just that the only throttles you have are on-screen throttles in JMRI, or, if you have an iPhone or Android, you can use WiThrottle (iOS) or Engine Driver (Android) to turn your phone into a wireless throttle. You can use cab numebrs as addresses, and you have access to all 20 functions.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Interesting, Joe! Wonder how the laptop would be connected to the programing track? Will surely be studying the possibilities with JMRI. Thanks for the feedback! Mike
Useful feedback...thank you Cacole. Mike
Yes you can. Either find someone with a better DCC system or save up for a better one. One work around is a computer interface and JMRI. Digitrax has the PR3 or the Sprog unit that is similar. JMRI is free software that you can use to program decoders with. The computer interface is used to hook up a programming track to a computer running JMRI. Google JMRi to see what it does. Joe
Yes, once a decoder is programmed on one system, it should perform the same on any other system, especially the CVs that you need to adjust for momentum and the start voltage; CVs 2, 3, and 4.
I bought my first DCC locomotive with sound a couple of months ago. Earlier, I only had the two DCC non-sound locomotives that came with the Bachman Digital Commander starter set. The Bachman "Sound Value" locomotives are economical for the initial purchase (@ $105 via Amazon). Mine is an F7 with Norfolk Southern livery. I am impressed with the diesel idling sound in particular. Quite realistic and I'm surely hooked on sound now!!! The bell and horn sound good too. I bet the high end sound encoded locomotives would be even more impressive! I have the Bachman EZ Commander and know that I can only program limited functions......mostly just give an address. My new locomotive has a value (maybe control variable is the proper language) for starting and braking momentum (i.e. realistic gradual starts and stops even if the throttle is opened or closed completely). The two non-sound locomotives that came with the Digital Commander set do have gradual braking.....momentum controlled braking. The new locomotive, with sound, has momentum as a control variable. With it's current out of the box programming, stops and starts are jerky and not at all smooth. I read on the Bachman site that the EZ Commander could not program this control variable. Question: Can I progam on a more sophisticated DCC system and then return to my own layout with the momentum variable programmed? I have this locomotive at address 4 on the EZ Commander....maybe this would be 04 rather than 4. I am new to DCC. Would a helpful full service model railroad store perhaps help with this programming task would you think? I don't know any other hobbyists so this might be my only option short of a new DCC system.....which I'd like; but feel that I must get some considerable usage out of the EZ track set up I now have since I've invested quite a bit in it.... Thanks in advance for any guidance!!
Mike