Need an article: computer running

[Anonymous]

I just saw a zimo (DCC) demo of a layout with the track on the computer and dots representing the trains going round. I was impressed.

I'm one of many who is interested in computer run trains, full time (computer runs it all), part time (computer represents one or two operators supplementing human operators), or taking trains out of staging. I am having a tough time as there is little out there in the printed land to shed light on what is available, a rough idea of how it runs and how to plan for it.

MR needs to run "An Overview of Computer Run Layouts." I want to know what the owner uses in terms of hardwear and softwear, and computer interface goodies. I am coming across more people who are interested in computer operations, but don't have a clue as to where to start.

[Anonymous]

Rich:

I support your request for such an article but I don't have the time to write it. I run my layout with a computer and find it pretty easy to do. I think the reason we don't see more of this is that it can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Decoder programming is the first step anyone should take. Once you have read or written CV's by computer you will never want to do it with your throttle or command station again.

Turnouts are perhaps the next eaisest to control. With a little block detection the computer can ensure that a train never enters a turnout that's thrown "wrong". Tracking a trains position on the layout is the most complex. Transponding with block detection can work but has limitations caused by the lenght and number of blocks. Optical sensing can help improve the resolution.

The computer can also estimate the speed of the train based on the throttle setting but this requires carefull calibration of the decoder speed table and can drift with distance. The TDR systems railroads use are very expensive for a model because of the short track length.

I have a computer controlled layout and it works as well as I need but it's far short of a real railroad.. Technology marches on and in time it will get better. For now, a fair approxmation is the best I can hope for.

Ken

[Anonymous]

Ken,
Sorry for the delay in responding. I forgot about this post but then became serious about finding it to see if anyone had responded.

In my area, I don't know anyone who is computer running trains. That doesn't mean there isn't some one out there, but I don't know them. MR has done a lot of computer related articles over the years, surely some kind of over view of whats out there would be helpful.

For example, one sentence in your reply sent a shudder through me (maybe it isn't warranted) but I purposely made each piece of track and turnount its own block so that detection/location would be easier. I did that on my own as I don't even know if that is a requirement. However, I figured more blocks narrowing down location would be more beneficial than fewer blocks.

Just trying to get a basic handle on this topic is tough as there is no written resources that I know of. We need a Bruce Chubb type book to get me going.

[Anonymous]

Rick:

If you have that much isolation in your layout then what you want to do will be eaiser. Yyou are correct that the more blocks and the shorter they are will improve the accuracy of train location. The problem may end up being the cost of all the block detectors and an encoder to couple them to a computer.

Before we get too involved with this it would help me to know several things:
How many total blocks will exist on your layout?
Do you have a list of functions you want this system to do?
What's your comfort level with setting up computer train software?
Are you yet committed to a specfic vendor for DCC?
Do you have a budget in mind for the cost of doing this?

I ask these questions because there are several ways to approach the problem and they vary from "make everything yourself" to buying commerical products with a large range in between.. There are a few commericial software products on the market that may provide a good base to start.

If I had a better understanding of these questions I think I can be of more help.

Regards;

Ken