JMRI - DecoderPro

Discussion in 'Computer Automation' started by paul_l, Dec 21, 2015.

  1. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Go for it grasshopper, may the force be with you
    Paul
     
  2. ed

    ed Full Member

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    Thought you were going to use RR & Co, Toto.

    Ed
     
  3. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Hi Ed,

    I have both but JMRI may have the edge. Certainly with the loco library.

    Toto
     
  4. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Also RR&Co doesn't surpport the NCE PowerCab usb interface.
    Paul
     
  5. ed

    ed Full Member

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    paul_l wrote:
    ... and it only runs under Windoz, yuk :lol:

    Ed
     
  6. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Hi Ed,

    I saw a demo when visiting Paul some time ago. It was pretty amazing. You can do a lot of CV changes ( relatively ) easy and copy them as a default to each loco depending on how you want the characteristics to be set ie, a shunter, an express train etc etc.

    It's also handy just to have a stock library. You can use it for wagons as well so if you had a " train " of wagons made up, you be able to call them up as well. I think you can enter destinations of where they are on the layout at any one time so you could create schedules as well.

    I stand to be corrected by Paul but between the library and scheduling thingy bob, I'm sure it is all possible.

    I will certainly give the roster a go ......... A bit at a time.

    Cheers

    Toto
     
  7. mattc6911

    mattc6911

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    The library would do it for me, all those settings in all those Locos, so great to have a backup to re program if you change a chip or have other problems + a photo library of all your stock
    Cheers
    Matt
     
  8. mattc6911

    mattc6911

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    Sorry Paul missed your question. . . Cant remember the spec off hand but it was a half decent gaming spec so will handle what I will be putting on it no problem. It gives me one to tinker with without touching the newer laptop. I'll look up the spec on it sometime as I need to see what state its in anyway. Last time I fired it up the DBM had been corrupted and the dual boot manager wasn't playing nice so It's time to clean it down and start again

    Cheers
    Matt
     
  9. nairepooc

    nairepooc Full Member

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    Just got my old pc out, rebuilt a few areas ram hdd etc and bunged windows 7 on to it. Now starting this afternoon when I get back from the Sutton Coldfield railway show, to download jmri.
    Looking forward to more progress on this and also keeping an eye on Toto's jmri postings too.
    ATB,
    Ian:D
     
  10. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Hi Ian, you'll need to have Java version 8 installed, just the latest jre install, I'll post the link once I'm on a pc.
    Paul
     
  11. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Hi Ian,

    I'll need to get back on the JMRI trail. I've been up to my ears in Scalescene kits. :avatar:

    Keep us posted as to how you get on.

    Cheers

    Ps enjoy the show.

    Toto
     
  12. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Toto wrote:
    And I thought this would be a quiet weekend :giggle:

    Ian

    Java download site link

    http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

    The online version is the easiest if your PC is connected to the internet (only needs to be for the install) as it will pick between 32 and 64 bit versions.

    Use the offline version if the PC is not connected to the internet, or as Oracle put it " if you are having issues with the online install" :whatever:

    For XP users use the offline 32bit version and ignore the error messages, they basically let you know its no longer supported and this is at your own risk :eek: - :avatar:

    Before you install JMRI, make sure your interface to the DCC system is installed, and you will need the com port number allocated to the device. If this is a usb device, changing the socket the device is connected to can change the port number. I get this if I change my connection between a hub (when connected to the layout) or direct to a PC usb port (when at the work bench).

    Easiest way to determine the port, open device manager ports (com & lpt)

    Watch the list then plug in the interface, the device should appear in the list, then unplug and it should disapear.

    With all this done JMRI should be a breeze :avatar:

    For those using anyrail or xTrackCad, you can export your track plan into JMRI PanelPro to create a mimic panel.

    Relax, enjoy the show, take a couple of vallium and dive right in :avatar:

    Paul
     
  13. Tezza007

    Tezza007 Full Member

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    Hi Paul, I downloaded JMRI Decoder Pro onto a laptop, thinking I only needed to get the right cable and plug my laptop into my PowerCab. But no, you have to have an NCE USB Interface. No problem. I bought one. Then I went to NCE's zendesk, looked up articles on the Interface board and discovered the Interface board needed a driver from a third party, and you shouldn't install JMRI Decoder Pro until you have installed the driver. So, I uninstalled Decoder Pro, downloaded and installed the driver from the third party, and now I have to reinstall Decoder Pro. Not so hard you might say, but not so with an ageing laptop that hates anything tricky.

    I'm posting this as a warning to others. I have written to NCE suggesting they put a reference to this high up in their PowerCab articles, etc.

    Has anyone else run across this problem?

    Tezza007
    :confused:
    N.B. I'll be off to buy one of the new cheap laptops that are around.
     
  14. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Hi Tezza

    How complicated are you wanting to go ?

    And what are your computer skills ?

    You can install JMRI on to a Paspberry Pi (approx £30) - get the Pi3 model B + plus a micro SD card 8GB min, 16GB will have plenty of room. Downside is you need to download and install the operating system. The latest version of Rasbian (the operating system) supports the NCE USB interface out of the box.

    Add a case to hold it and I have a dedicated PC for operating my layout for under £50, quad core processor, 1GB ram, wifi built in so I can use tablets as additional handsets.

    Pre windows 10, the biggest issues were working out if you had a version 6 or 7 usb device, and NCE offered a free upgrade from 6 to 7.

    Windows 10 out of the box device driver for the usb chipset didn't work properly (not an NCE issue), however to give NCE credit, they rushed out an updated driver very quickly.

    One thing to watch out for, if you change usb ports, the com port can change, for me if I connect direct to the usb interface - when I use my program track on my workbench, then the com port is 3, when I connect to the layout - same usb interface, but different usb port on the PC then its com port 9, and if I connect through a usb hub its com port 8.

    Easiest way to work out which port is in use, is to go to the device manager, plug in the usb interface and see which port is used, unplug the device and the port will disappear.

    You can set up profiles for each scenario, and pick the appropriate profile you wish to use, e.g. Workbench, Layout etc. etc.

    Hope that helps

    Paul
     
  15. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Ehhhhhhh .........nope :avatar:
     
  16. Graeme

    Graeme Full Member

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    I tested it 2 days ago and Java8 would not load to an XP machine, it just did not get to the installer after clicking on the .exe download.

    I resorted to downloading Java 6 and JMRI 3.10.1 which worked as advertised.

    I am creating a project so prepare for some questions in a new thread.
     
  17. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Hi Graeme

    A quick check on google suggested using the .msi rather than the .exe file installer for Java 8 on XP

    "jre-version-x86.msi (for Windows XP 32-bit systems)"

    Not tried it as I haven't got an XP machine to test on.

    Paul
     
  18. Paul-H

    Paul-H Full Member

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    Will be following along with interest

    I can manage with Decoder Pro and Sprog3 but the rest I find as confusing as hell, so nice to see something I can follow.

    Paul
     
  19. Graeme

    Graeme Full Member

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    I have only loaded it to the XP machine for test and evaluation purposes if it works out for me I'll be running it on a Raspberry Pi.
    I can draw a layout diagram so the next thing is to set the segments as blocks and place occupancy detectors on them.
    My biggest issue is that I am not running any form of track power so I have to figure out a way for jmri to see the GPIO pins of the Pi and react to their state.
    As the detectors will be in a garden and jmri in a shed this could be quite interesting. I may use 2 Pi zeros connected via wifi, if I can master it, or just good old fashioned hard wiring.
    The detectors I am looking at have digital outputs from PICAXE microcontrollers like these examples.
    http://www.trainelectronics.com/Laser_Train_Detection/index.htm.
    http://www.trainelectronics.com/artcles/sensor_article/PulsedIR/index.htm
     
  20. Rob_B2805

    Rob_B2805 Intermittent mad modeller! [M4705] Full Member

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    Just a heads up MERG have a pulsed laser TOTi (Train On Track Indicator) kit available, active high or active low outputs. Cost £1.85 per kit plus P&P [Kitlocker PMP Kit 22]. But you have to be a member to purchase, if you like this sort of stuff it may be wort the membership.

    Rob
     

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