Networks for model layouts and for controls of accessories

[Anonymous]

Are there any standards for simple networks - like industrial control networks or local area networks - to conrol accessories on a model layout? I am thinking of something like I2C (between small microcontrollers) or RS-422 or HART type of standards but focused on model railroading.

Forgive my ignorance, I am returning to MR after 30 years and am finding it a steep learning curve.

[Rotorranch]

I have no idea what you just said! [(-D] But it sounds like you know what you mean! [;)]

Check out the NMRA standards for Digital Command Control (DCC). I think that might be what you are wanting to know. I'll try to find a link.

Rotor

[Rotorranch]

Oh BTW...[#welcome]

I'm sure some of the electronically inclined here will know what you mean!

Rotor....( they call me One Wire...if it's got more than that, I'm lost! )

[SpaceMouse]

There are programs that run turnouts, train locations etc. Most of what I have heard of link-up through the DCC Network and every company has a different system. I have a Digitrax system which uses their proprietary 6 wire "Loconet" You need a black box adapter to connect. Most systems connect through the serial port.

Like Roto said, someone will know.

What system are you thinking of getting?

[Anonymous]

My interest is to simplify wiring under a layout down to a small 2-wire cable that "daisy-chains" between each accessory's plug or connection. An accessory might be a light or a motor or some sort of display or a buzzer/horn/speaker.

[SpaceMouse]

I re-read what you said. Most accessories can be control via DCC decoders. You have a limited amount of control drectlyu through the throttles, but for more advanced control, you might need a conmputer. Depending on what you need.

If you don't know what DCC is, here's a primer. This will be at the core of what you want to do.

http://www.tonystrains.com/tonystips/dccprimer/index.htm

[Rotorranch]

Here's the link to the NMRS DCC Standards and Practices page. Maybe this will help. ( It just confuses me! ) [:0]

http://www.nmra.org/standards/consist.html#standards-DCC

Rotor

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kimfowler

My interest is to simplify wiring under a layout down to a small 2-wire cable that "daisy-chains" between each accessory's plug or connection. An accessory might be a light or a motor or some sort of display or a buzzer/horn/speaker.

You are asking about DCC. It runs the trains (as opposed to the track) and through decoders if you wish, accessories and turnouts.

Accessories have not yet advanced to a standardized plug. You still have to solder and attatch to wiring blocks, but DCC makes it a lot simpler. You also can't really get away with small wires unless the distance is short. You need to deal with voltage drop issues.

However, if you've been away for a while, DCC simplifies everything quite a bit.

[jrbernier]

What you are looking for is Bruce Chubb's series of articles in MR, it is also as soft cover book IIRC. Search the Kalmbach site for it.

Jim Bernier

[bpickering]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kimfowler

Are there any standards for simple networks - like industrial control networks or local area networks - to conrol accessories on a model layout? I am thinking of something like I2C (between small microcontrollers) or RS-422 or HART type of standards but focused on model railroading.

There is more than just DCC. I'll need to check my back-issues to remember the print references I've seen in the past year (since I got back in), but Googling gave a bunch of hits just on RS-422.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=RS422+%22model+railroad%22&spell=1

OTOH, DCC also gives a nice way of controlling which gives the flexibility of both hand-held and computer controls.

Good luck either way. Personally, unless I find something I can't do, I'm going with DCC. My only problem so far has been that the older Digitrax MS100 (RS-232 to Loconet) I bought doesn't seem to like my computers. I've seen a number of references to there being problems with this unit (see the middle of http://www.nscale.net/PNphpBB2-viewtopic-t-146.html for example), and I'm considering between a couple of other alternatives right now.

Brian Pickering

[cjcrescent]

Brian;
For connecting to the computer via loconet, the best interface I've used so far is the LocoBuffer II. (I have Digitrax). It'll work when the MS-100 won't. I've used the PR-1, the MS-100 with JMRI's Decoder Pro and the LocoBuffer II with it as well. The LBII is far superior to the MS-100. A big advantage with JMRI that I see over the kamind software is the JMRI software is basically open source and free to download. The kamind software has to be bought.

[rrinker]

The other option not mentioned is Bruce Chubb's CMRI which uses an RS-485 interface to various I/O cards distributed around the layout. It's been around a long time and is well suppported and widely used. My only beef with it is the cards are rather on the expensive side, even getting just the bare boards and buying parts from the cheapest sources. At least compared to the DIY interface boards for Digitrax Loconet, such as the LocoIO, or *** Bronson's forthcoming TowerIO, or the boards from Team Digital.
Digitrax is the only one with a true peer to peer network, the others are all variations of polled serial busses based on rs-422 or rs-485.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

There is also the matter of the detector network to figure out where the trains are to fill in the gaps between DCC engine control and DCC acessory control (switches, signals etc.) You may want to do some studying on what DCC is capable of doing in terms of a "simple' two wire control system and the possibility of interfacing it with a lap top or desktop.
Oh and we all forgot to mention the "sound" possiblities just now coming into their own!
Welcome back to the hobby, some "stuff" has happened during your absence! Enjoy runnig some trains.
Will

[bpickering]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cjcrescent

Brian;
For connecting to the computer via loconet, the best interface I've used so far is the LocoBuffer II. (I have Digitrax). It'll work when the MS-100 won't. I've used the PR-1, the MS-100 with JMRI's Decoder Pro and the LocoBuffer II with it as well. The LBII is far superior to the MS-100. A big advantage with JMRI that I see over the kamind software is the JMRI software is basically open source and free to download. The kamind software has to be bought.

Yes, I'm trying to use JMRI, with mixed success:
My ancient laptop (says "Made for Windows 95") with an honest-to-goodness Serial Port wouldn't connect at all from JMRI.
My new, kick-a$$ Athlon-64 system, using a USB-to-Serial converter, can HEAR traffic, but can't SEND it. [8]

I've looked at the Locobuffer II, and almost put down cash for it. However, I'm wondering what the effect of two other interfaces will be:
Digitrax PR2: http://www.loystoys.com/digitrax/pr2.html (interesting that Digitrax doesn't have a link I could find on their OWN pages...)
ESU LokProgrammer: http://www.loksound.de/en/index.php?showId=47

Both state that they can be used to program new sounds into their own decoders, as well as sounding like they can be used as general-purpose computer/DCC interfaces. My big question is, will they be able to program other company's decoders' sounds (i.e., is this functionality covered by the NMRA DCC RP)? I guess I would stick with Digitrax if so, since I'm mostly a Digitrax "shop".

So, anyway, I'm keeping those options in-mind. Any further comments about the above questions would be appreciated, of course.

Thanks,

Brian Pickering

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jrbernier
What you are looking for is Bruce Chubb's series of articles in MR, it is also as soft cover book IIRC. Search the Kalmbach site for it.

The book is:
Chubb, Bruce "Build Your Own Universal Computer Interface, 2nd Ed.", McGraw-Hill,
ISBN 0-07-912639-1 ($35).

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CMRI_Users/