[shumifan50]

I am having a serious look at JMRI for controlling the trains. I have bought the bits to build the XnTCP interface and I am hoping to eventually control the layout using PDAs. But as a first step control from a laptop will do the trick using JMRI software.
Does anybody here use, or have used, the JMRI software? If so what has the experience been like? Is it worth the effort?

 

[shumifan50]

Hi Michael,
Thanks for that.
I will put it together and see how it goes. I currently have a Bachmann Dynamis, which I WILL be replacing with a Lenz system as the ProBox will have no PC interface, which is what I am after. So much for Bachmann promises.
My initial tests will be VERY limited as I have a Hornby Select lying around that I will do the first tests with.
I have now built the XnTCP interface and just have to knock up a cable to connect the ExpressNet and then we will see how it goes.
Cheers for that info.
Gerhard

 

[shumifan50]

JMRI runs on MAC as far as I can see. There are special downloads for MAC and Linux. You should also be able to use VNC to connect from a PDA and get wireless CABS that way as VNC is available for Linux and Mac.

I've been looking at the panels and they seem far superior to any commercial throttles/point controllers etc. The really nice thing is that you can open many throttles (one per loco it looks like - depends on desktop space). The same applies to points control panels etc.

I have had a play with the XnTCP interface and that seems quite capable. Needs a lot more testing tho.

Also tried JMRI through terminal services on a PDA and that looks like it will work. Now just have to wait for the RJ12 plugs to arrive so I can make a cable and test proper. The XnTCP adapter with JMRI turns the whole thing into a wireless solution and the nice thing about the throttle on JMRI is that it has buttons for 15 functions + horn + lights on the panel (no shift required for soundtraxx sound decoders). Also means I can hook the coach lights that use a FL-4 decoder onto the throttle for a loco - this has some drawbacks tho when you swap coaches/locos.

It also looks like you can define your own panels, but that is for MUCH later.

So far JMRI looks really promising - and like most open source projects it is likely to be reliable.

 

[shumifan50]

If you search for XnTCP it will show you how to build an easy interface from the LAN to ExpressNet (Lenz/Hornby etc). If you search for ExpressNet, you will find a full specification of commands and their parameters that can be fired at the controller. Unfortunately not all controllers support all commands, so some of it is a bit hit and miss. To get an idea of what is possible with your controller JMRI can be usefull.

 

[shumifan50]

Just bought myself a Lenz Set90 on fleabay for a bargain and will now embark on JMRI big time as that seems to be the controller it likes the most (most feature support). Will let you know how I get on. Not looking forward to the LH90 but hopefully it will be replaced with PDAs soon.

 

[shumifan50]

I finally gave up on JMRI and decided to develop my own software, running on a PDA. This is now working great guns. It allows full controll of locos. You can draw your track layout through WYSIWYG, including points etc. You can assign decoder addresses to points, switch points, program routes and fire them and it has support for setting up all the CVs for a decoder with nice meaningful descriptions and programming them on main or program track. All the things that most people would want. I have reprogrammed the XnTCP interface to support up to 4 PDAs on a singe interface (limited by available memory on the SBC65EC). I use the whole lot through a normal wireless router, so it is all wireless. This beats any commercial stuff I have looked at. So I am a happy bunny and my grandson (that I did all this for) is even happier!