Will Jmri Slot Monitor Free A Locomotive At Speed

Posted By admin  On 11.05.21

JMRI Logix to control a back & forth shuttle #scripting

This issue is related to #4541, and PR #4269 and #4293. It's just another example of how urgently slot acquisition on loconet systems needs to be fixed The following was is the log of a session showing the consisting tool trying to setup. Link (consist) two slots: BC: Request current position of Switch: BD: Control switch position: E7: Slot data report - locomotive control, programming track, fast clock, etc. ED: Mobile decoder function control (F9-F28), control of some stationary decoders, etc. EF: Write slot - locomotive control, programming track, fast clock, etc.

#168914

Group:
Before I try to reinvent the wheel, has someone already created a JMRI Logix to control a back & forth train movement, similar to a trolley shuttle? The layout is Digitrax-controlled, if that is important. I imagine that I will need two optical detectors, one at each end of the track area, to generate the control signals.
I wish to use a small DCC decoder equipped switcher to move 3 grain cars VERY slowly back & forth at an unloading spot. I want the movement to be essentially unnoticeable if one watches it, but apparent if one looks away for a few minutes.
L.A. (Larry) Sebelley
Convention Chair, Pacific Northwest Region
Assistant Treasurer, Pacific Northwest Region
Treasurer, PNR 7th Division
Treasurer, Coldslap Free-mo
(604) 858-5717
http://www.coldslapfreemo.org/welcome.htm
#168916

There is a script to do this included with every release. For some
funny reason it is called 'backandforth.py'. It is in the jython
folder of the resources folder.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On Sat, 1 Feb 2020 at 18:41, :Larry Sebelley <@Sebelley> wrote:

Group:
Before I try to reinvent the wheel, has someone already created a JMRI Logix to control a back & forth train movement, similar to a trolley shuttle? The layout is Digitrax-controlled, if that is important. I imagine that I will need two optical detectors, one at each end of the track area, to generate the control signals.
I wish to use a small DCC decoder equipped switcher to move 3 grain cars VERY slowly back & forth at an unloading spot. I want the movement to be essentially unnoticeable if one watches it, but apparent if one looks away for a few minutes.
L.A. (Larry) Sebelley
Convention Chair, Pacific Northwest Region
Assistant Treasurer, Pacific Northwest Region
Treasurer, PNR 7th Division
Treasurer, Coldslap Free-mo
(604) 858-5717
http://www.coldslapfreemo.org/welcome.htm
#168926

Even more simple is BackAndForthTimed.py.
No need to sensors at each end.
These are run within PanelPro > Panels > Run Script after you have started PanelPro > Thread Monitor and Script Output to see what goes on.
You can also stat up Monitor Loconet and Slot Monitor to see what is going on without being connected to the layout, just a command Station.
Engine is on address 14.. and top speed is 90.
Marc
#168928

Larry,
For the timed script you can run it from DP or PP. Using the timed script, you will find the loco drifts one way or the other over time.
Using optical sensors, you need the additional hardware to connect to LocoNet.
--
Peter Ulvestad
JMRI Users Group Moderator - https://www.jmri.org ( http://www.jmri.org )
Tam Valley Group Moderator - https://tamvalleydepot.com/ ( http://tamvalleydepot.com/ )
Sprog-DCC Group Moderator - http://www.sprog-dcc.co.uk/ ( http://www.sprog-dcc.co.uk/ )
Edmonton Model Railroad Association - http://www.emra.club/
#168955

Thank you for the guidance. I will give it a go.
L.A. (Larry) Sebelley
Convention Chair, Pacific Northwest Region
Assistant Treasurer, Pacific Northwest Region
Treasurer, PNR 7th Division
Treasurer, Coldslap Free-mo
(604) 858-5717
http://www.coldslapfreemo.org/welcome.htm
#168956

Peter:
Could you please advise how to connect the optical sensors to LocoNet.
Feel free to communicate with me directly, if you prefer.
--
L.A. (Larry) Sebelley
Convention Chair, Pacific Northwest Region
Assistant Treasurer, Pacific Northwest Region
Treasurer, PNR 7th Division
Treasurer, Coldslap Free-mo
(604) 858-5717
http://www.coldslapfreemo.org/welcome.htm
#168962

You could use the Digitrax BDL168 and two of it's 16 detection zones. The detection is via current draw on the track section. Detection generates a Loconet message.
Or use the Digitrax BD4. But this requires more hardware to get the Loconet Message back to the Command Station or computer. Or the BD4 is wired into some
I/O device to see the voltage state change.
Marc
#168963

On Sat, Feb 1, 2020 at 05:59 PM, Peter Ulvestad wrote:
For the timed script you can run it from DP or PP.
The advantage of using PP is the Thread Monitor and Script output to view until you understand what is going on and confirm all is well.
Plus the added capability to KILL the script without having to reboot, turn off the computer, quit JMRI
Marc
#168965

On Sun, Feb 2, 2020 at 12:22 PM, <forfoum@...> wrote:

On Sat, Feb 1, 2020 at 05:59 PM, Peter Ulvestad wrote:

For the timed script you can run it from DP or PP.
The advantage of using PP is the Thread Monitor and Script output to view
until you understand what is going on and confirm all is well.
Plus the added capability to KILL the script without having to reboot, turn
off the computer, quit JMRI
Marc
True, I forgot about the thread monitor.
--
Peter Ulvestad
JMRI Users Group Moderator - https://www.jmri.org ( http://www.jmri.org )
Tam Valley Group Moderator - https://tamvalleydepot.com/ ( http://tamvalleydepot.com/ )
Sprog-DCC Group Moderator - http://www.sprog-dcc.co.uk/ ( http://www.sprog-dcc.co.uk/ )
Edmonton Model Railroad Association - http://www.emra.club/
#168969

Larry,
You are not limited to LocoNet, I just assumed because of you using Digitrax. Marc has suggested some LocoNet options.
At my club, we are using RR-Circuits Tower Controllers for LocoNet. I have IR detector sets wired directly into the TC. But this is an expensive option just for what you are looking to do.
--
Peter Ulvestad
JMRI Users Group Moderator - https://www.jmri.org ( http://www.jmri.org )
Tam Valley Group Moderator - https://tamvalleydepot.com/ ( http://tamvalleydepot.com/ )
Sprog-DCC Group Moderator - http://www.sprog-dcc.co.uk/ ( http://www.sprog-dcc.co.uk/ )
Edmonton Model Railroad Association - http://www.emra.club/

Summary:The Java Model Railroad Interface is a suite of programs and is a single download. Don't worry about about trying to get each part separately - they're all bundled together. Also, you do not need to use each part of the suite to get a specific task done - that is you don't need to setup the automation part if all you want is to quickly program your decoders.

As the name says, it is built upon Java technology, giving it a degree of platform independence. Your computer must be capable of running Java. The version of Java that will work with your computer also determines the features JMRI offers you.

  • 1The Java Model Railroad Interface
    • 1.5Operating Systems
    • 1.7The JMRI Components

The Java Model Railroad Interface

As the name says, it is built upon Java technology, giving it a degree of platform independance. Your computer must be capable of running Java. The version of Java that will work with your computer also determines the features JMRI offers you.

Version Numbering Scheme

JMRI uses a simple version number system.The most current version of JMRI is on their webpage, and is currently Version 4.X.Y.

  • Production releases are identified by an even number for the X value. This is the version you want to download for normal use.
  • For a Development release, the value of X is odd. These are available for testing and development purposes only, which you can install if you wish, although most users will not benefit from a development release. After testing and fixing issues, the final development version is released to the community as a production version.
    • The value of Y indicates an incremental update.

There is much more information available on the JMRI web site.

How can I Help with JMRI?

If you find JMRI to be useful, donations are appreciated to help cover the costs of providing JMRI to the community, and help pay the legal costs of defending JMRI during the Jacobsen v. Katzer lawsuit. The result was an important decision regarding Open Source Software. Even the NMRA became involved to protect their DCC Standards from questionable patents. In the end the decision benefited the Model Railroading community immensely.

Contribributing Software to JMRI

You can get more info on working on improving JMRI.

Supported Hardware

JMRI supports a number of DCC systems and hardware:

  1. Atlas Commander
  2. Lionel TMCC
  3. Uhlenbrock Intellibox
  4. Viessmann Commander
  5. Zimo MX-1

For a complete list of supported hardware see the JMRI Website.

Operating Systems

JMRI will run on:

  • Mac OS X / MacOS
  • Linux
  • MS Windows
Free

A version of JAVA which is compatible with the JMRI version being installed is required. The current 4.x versions require Java 1.8 (AKA Java 8).

JMRI 4.X will run on Windows XP or Windows Vista SP1, provided Java 1.8 is installed. Installation is a little difficult as Oracle's Java website will warn you that XP is obsolete, but an install package is still available.
Locomotive
To install Java on Windows XP, download an Offline version for installation. Oracle does not support Java on XP, and it may break at any time. See JMRI Install Guide Windows for more information.

The JMRI site also mentions that computer hardware running current versions of MS Windows is available on the used market cheaply. It may be easier to buy a used computer which is compatible with recent versions of Java for a reasonable price than trying to upgrade an old one. See the install page for recommended hardware specs.

MacOS Big Sur

The fall 2020 release of MacOS Big Sur presents some challenges to running JMRI.

For safety, the OS will not accept many older device drivers, requiring them to updated. Unfortunately many vendors haven't bothered to do that. Therefore you may have to purchase new hardware to connect your Mac to your layout. It is advisable to wait before updating to the newest OS versions due to these reasons.

FTDI is working on new drivers, which are not available yet.

Apple has included the drivers for FTDI's chipsets with their OS over the past several updates. Unfortunately they only support certain FTDI devices. The LocoBufferUSB and ESU's USB to Serial devices still require installing an updated driver. Otherwise, most FTDI based devices should still work.

User Support

Will Jmri Slot Monitor Free A Locomotive At Speed Track

JMRI Users can find technical support on via a very active JMRI users group available on GroupsIO. The mailing list is populated by users and developers, so a solution to your issue can be found.

The JMRI Components

What can you do with JMRI?

  1. Use DecoderPro to configure your locomotive decoders and keep a roster of your DCC equipped locomotive fleet.
  2. PanelPro can run locomotives, throw turnouts, control signals, and even create control panels. But you shouldn't expect it to be as powerful as a commercial layout management program; JMRI isn't meant to compete directly with them.
  3. Use the LocoTools application with your Digitraxcommand station to control your layout, monitor communications, configure add-on devices, etc.
  4. The JRMI interfaces allow you to write programs for your own layouts. Making this easy is an important goal. This can be done via the scripting language, or by adding new Java code to the program.
  5. Write new general-purpose tools. Although this is a little harder than writing automation for your own layout, writing tools that other people use can be very satisfying.
  6. Implement the JMRI interfaces for a new system. Having JMRI work with other systems is an important goal. Once an implementation for another system works, the general tools (e.g. symbolic programmer, automations tools, signalling, etc) can be immediately used.

JMRI - DecoderPro

If you need a quick, simple to use, cross-platform software for programmingdecoders (mobile and stationary), then this is the choice for you.

Many people that have expensive track control software still use this software for its ability to quickly program a wide range of decoders. The JMRI suite of programs runs on Mac Classic and OS X, Linux, and Windows machines, all under Java. All major manufacturers of DCC equipment, systems and decoders, are supported.

Will Jmri Slot Monitor Free A Locomotive At Speed Track

JMRI - Layout Automation

Layout Automation applications provide a large number of ways of automating your layout, ranging from simple fill-in forms to full-fledged scripting and programming capabilities. These include:

  • Routes
    • A simple form of automation is to define Routes, which allow you to simplify the control of your turnouts.
  • Signal logic
    • JMRI provides built-in signalling logic which can be used to drive your signal heads in many applications.
  • Scripting
    • JMRI provides a very powerful scripting tool. Based on a real programming language, it gives you access to all the JMRI capabilities.
  • Writing your own code in Java
    • The JMRI libraries greatly simplify writing a program to make your layout do exactly what you want.

JMRI - PanelPro

PanelPro is an application for operating CRT based CTC control panels that reflects the real-time state of your railroad and let you control it - almost like a Prototype dispatcher.

JMRI - LocoNet™ Tools

LocoNet Tools contain a number of LocoNet tools. Please see link for further details.

Summary:

  • LocoNet monitor
    • Display and log the traffic on the LocoNet, in either hex or human readable form.
  • Slot monitor
    • Watch the contents of the command station's slots as they're changed.
  • Packet source
    • A tool to let you type and send packets to the LocoNet
  • BDL16, BDL162 and PM4 programmers
    • A tool to let help you configure BDL16, BDL162 and PM4 boards.
  • LocoIO programmer
    • A tool to let help you configure a LocoIO board.

Hardware Issues

There is a known bug in JMRI 4.16 that can disable operation of a LocoBuffer-USB.

If you have a LocoBuffer-USB and this issue appears, the solution is to upgrade to version 4.17 or higher of the JMRI software.

See Also

  • DCC Software - Other DCC software
  • JMRI has it's own Wiki
  • JMRI Decoder Definition website
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