At that time, the only way to construct layout control in jmri was via what evolved to panel editor. Lights were created to provide easy control for fascia panel lights and scenery lighting. This passed month i got my jmri ctc panel working on my layout. In the summer of 2006, i attended the nmra philadelphia convention and. Jim thompson is using panelpro to make a dispatchers panel for his cashaway valley railroad. The hub division of the ner is located in massachusetts and our modular railroad is heavily invested in jmri, the cmri and the cats extension to jmri. Jmri panel pro tutorial by robert bucklew welcome to the. The clinic will open with creating a ctc panel for john armstrongs minimumsize looptoloop layout, and operated as a magnet board. For the ctc logic, i use jmri and run a physical ctc panel, though you could just go with a screen based panel. Because it is built on top of the jmri model railroad interface, it can be used with different computer, dcc, and serial control systems. For example, instead of using trackschematic icons for turnouts, you could use small images of the levers and plates on ctc machine. Panelpro, an application for making control panels jmri. Bob bucklews quaker valley bob bucklew built a realistic ctc panel for his quaker valley railroad. Originally dccspecific, it has since been extended to support other types of control environments.
Colorado front range ho scale jmri how to build a panel. You might start with software signals on a panel only, gradually adding signal. Turnout control from a throttle, ctc panel and fascia panel. The jmri operations program allows you to create computer generated train manifests for your railroad. The series is working toward the next jmri production release, probably in early summer 2020.
Cats computer automated traffic system is an integrated suite of open source programs that provide signal logic and operations support on a model railroad. This is because ctc signals default to stop and require a human dispatcher to clear them. Remove this presentation flag as inappropriate i dont like this i like this remember as a favorite. Cats uses jmri for accessing the layout hardware and provides the logic for tying the hardware pieces together. Using jmri, you have a couple of options, framework wise, on how to control your layout. This clinic is an introduction to the computer automated traffic system cats.
I tore down the old railroad may 30, 2014 and started. Both jmri and cmri will do ctc quite well, its more about your comfort level with building, programming and maintaining the individual systems. Ppt jmri panelpro clinic powerpoint presentation free. If you need a quick, simple to use, crossplatform software for programming decoders 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. Hes created a very nice series of web pages on how its done. Project management content management system cms task management project portfolio management time tracking pdf. The icon can be taught to move in the panel along with the train from location to location. Jmri has the other features as well that make it a popular choice for decoder programming and car movement with the operations feature. Jmri control panel editor for modern style dispatching panels.
From the outset, we decided to use jmri freeware for monitoring and controlling signal and turnout hardware through a computer and, ultimately, to design our dispatcher panel and control system. With a little work, seen here, you can install both jmri. The best part this software suite is free to download and use from the following. Xtrackcad is a great, free tool for designing your layout, developed by a group of model railroaders. Ctc systems are considered sufficient authority to run trains based strictly on signal indications. Uses all the debugging tools in jmri great benefits even without signals signaling based on 4 track speed 2 or 3 block rules preprogrammed signal logic ctc signals are visible whereas intermediate signals can be invisible on the dispatcher panel can grant track authority can take track out of service. Ctc machine control panel looks uses icons and images for either either a classic or modern look images do not connect you need to define the connections between images and what they control does not force you into a way of doing things panel editor was the original jmri panel editor and has been superseded. Implemented software light flashing reworked decoder lists so that all outputs can. Thanks to the encouragement and assistance of friend mark ziebell, tim decided to take advantage of jmri panelpro software and had mark design a virtual ctc panel for the layouts mainline. Without jmri and the volunteers who have worked on it, this program would exist only. You can use the same file later and add a panel that looks more like the typical ctc panel using panel editor.
Many people that have expensive track control software, still use this software for its ability to. More information about these is available on the panel editor. The computer is connected to the accessory bus via. This page introduces the application, and how to use it. The following is a picture of bobs control panel showing, from left to right the digitrax dcs100, db150, 2 yardmaster modules side by side, the train brain and the computer interface panel. Jmri, the java model railroad interface is a collaborative, opensource effort to develop a javabased suite of tools for model railroad computer control.
Bob bucklew quaker valley software bob quakervalley. Fyi when usb interface is used with a sb3, sb3a or sb5. Panel pro is used to create ctc panels and control trains automatically with the use of scripting in the jython language. Launch panelpro and from the tools tables turnouts menu add the turnouts. If you need a quick, simple to use, crossplatform software for programming decoders mobile and stationary, then this is the choice for you. You can manage your locomotive rosters and easily program your decoders using decoderpro. In this case the computer is shown connected to the nce. It supports ctc, dtc, abs, or apb disciplines over blocks of railroad. The ctc panel is depicted on a computer screen using software like jmri. Support for real instead of jmri displayed ctc machines. Using phones and pads for throttles and panels jmri.
Mar 24, 2015 model railroad signaling a how to video part 5. This is found under help dropdown on the ctc panel window as can be seen in figure 4 below. The second version of the panel strips out all the extra information and presents the panel more like an operator half a century ago would see it. Using a usb interface with different types of nce products. It allows the dispatcher to control turnouts and signals. Panelpro provides four separate ways to create panels. Bob bucklew built a realistic ctc panel for his quaker valley railroad. You should completely design the ctc panel using this program before. Robins elevator control panel on enginedriver web screen engineer view. In the summer of 2006, i attended the nmra philadelphia convention and sat in on all of the jmri clinics. Through the operations menu you will be able to build trains from all your rolling stock, follow them on your jmri panels, print the paperwork to hand out to your crew and much more. Jmri operationspro is contained within the decoderpro, panelpro and soundpro modules and accessible from their main menu bar.
In october 2014, i finally figured out how to have the quaker valley remotely dispatched. A free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. A set of tools to help in the automation of ctc panels. Transits and sections build on jmri s blocks and paths structure. Jmri is a software program suite consisting of two major programs called decoder pro and panel pro. It started with the premise that if someone can draw a track plan tracks, points, signals, etc. You can use the jmri toolset as the starting point for developing your open model railroad control applications, or use their higher level applications suite idrectly. It contains modular applications manuual the ctc panel and the layout panel share the same internal sensors and turnouts and the logix establishes the signals. Jmri is intended as a jumpingoff point for hobbyists who want to control their layouts with a computer without having to create an entire system from scratch. Quaker valley railroad remote dispatching using jmri and the internet updated in february 2015. Within the decoder pro and panel pro software packages their resides some gems like withrottle, operations and many others. When you first open jmri it asks you to set your preferences.
I will prepare an article on the panel pro software and scripting in the future. It allows the dispatcher to control turnouts and the display of layout status via the accessory bus. The jmri libraries greatly simplify writing a program to make your layout do exactly. Well over a decade ago, nick kulp already created a program to drive his cornwall rr. The first panel shows all the underlying controls used for the signals and interlocking. Create a detailed ctc machine model with jmri panelpro dick bronson rrcirkits, inc. Ppt jmri panelpro clinic powerpoint presentation free to view id. A fantastic series of articles on using panel pro in jmri. Mar 15, 2018 java interfaces and sample implementations for controlling a model railroad layout from a personal computer.
Layout editor has expanded bobs original block software. For a great tutorial on how to build ctc style panels, check out dick bronsons clinics at his site here. The quaker valley railroad has been developing a ctc panel using the panel feature in decoder pro since 2003. So before attempting to create any transits, you should have blocks, paths and sections fully initialized for your layout. The adobe flash plugin is needed to view this content. He has a series of pages that describe how he operates his layout with jmri. I have about 150 signal heads, and the hardware software combination has been more than enough. Bucklew 040212 getting started to begin, down load and install jmri software version 2. The clinic will open with creating a ctc panel for.
You can have multiple layout panels, but you have to tell the software how to. Using panel editor i have spaced out the track images and lever spacing to allow the fitting of the signal masts onto this demo panel. A train manifest details the work that a crew will perform during an operations session. Jan 27, 2015 a brief look at the software you will need to make a realistic modern ctc disputer panel. It provides a gui editor to configure the ctc rules and a runtime to implement ctc logic. Panel operation clicking on a turnout symbol flips it from closed to thrown and viceversa. Java model railroad interface did i mention its free. Usb interface and jmri welcome to the nce information.
Java interfaces and sample implementations for controlling a model railroad layout from a personal computer. Jmriops is a popular choice here for switch list based car movement. Jmri is intended as a jumpingoff point for hobbyists to build their own layout controls. This web site shares information about our use of nce and rrcirkits dcc hardware and the jmri software to make the ho scale quaker valley railroad come to life in periodic operating sessions.
The computer automated traffic system cats is a versatile program for controlling a model railroad. It also builds a skeleton panel editor ctc panel with the turnout. Cats user guide computer automated traffic system cats. Jmri is a free software suite for programming decoders, creating panels, and other operations. The program can also place icons representing trains on a jmri panel. It should have come to me sooner as i use team viewer to support our maintenance software users at work every day. Ppt create a detailed ctc machine model with jmripanelpro. Normally a ctc panel does not include any actual signal information, but for our purposes it makes things easier to understand. The crandic automated traffic system cats is a jmribased application by rodney black for controlling and operating a model railroad. Modify the panel background for use with a ctc panel. May 04, 2019 welcome to the quaker valley railroad web site. Question about jmri panel pro model railroad hobbyist. Covers the basics of how to build a simple classic ctc panel image and use it to control. Many people that have expensive track control software, still use this software for its ability to quickly, and simply program a wide range of decoders.
Id love to build a physical ctc panel and just have the computer handle the logic, but an onscreen one would be much more affordable, even if i had to buy a pair of widescreen monitors to get the display space needed. Put the desired text in the field and click the button. While this tool will describe various ctc features, it is not a ctc course. Support for interfaces to other simultaneous ctc machines, on my layout there is a minneapolis terminal manager physical panel instead of a computer displayed one. Erp plm business process management ehs management supply chain management ecommerce quality management cmms. Speed, direction, and up to 29 dcc functions are supported for one to six locomotives or consists. I hope this has inspired you to try and jump into the deeper end of the jmri pool. A brief look at the software you will need to make a realistic modern. This free application can connect to a jmri withrottle server running on a computer, or to an mrc prodigy wifi, or to a digitrax lnwi, and in turn control your locomotives and your entire model railroad. The rpi image software that includes jmri is freely downloadable from steve todd the creator of engine driver app for android from his website. The jmri libraries contain the panelpro application for creating panels to control or follow your virtual model railroad. I have included the turnout and signal direction levers for two interlocking points.
You can manage your locomotive rosters and easily program your decoders. An understanding of the goals of ctc and how it functions is very helpful. It presents the layout as a computer screen panel inspired by digicon. To start the ctc editor, on the main panelpro screen select the tools ctc menu. Both multiple panels can be in the same file with only one needing to be. All my loconet protocol routines run in tnt and i have a nice ctc panel on two screens.
Cats is open source software built upon jmri for creating and operating a modern looking ctc panel. In addition, all mainline, central yard, tyson wye, and tunnel hill turnoutsswitches have been modified to operate under control of a new dispatchers ctc system which is part of jmris panel pro software, smart phones, andor hand held tablets, not to mention handheld throttles. Start with the 2007 to 2009 clinics to get a feel for. This is a ho scale railroad that i am building in a dedicated building that is 28 x 32. These can be used for either screenbased panels, or to drive a physical panel with real levers and lights. Jmri contains tools to help in the automation of uss ctc panels. This is a collection of software tools for controlling a model railroad. Java applications to control a model railroad layout. For more information, including the links to download a copy, please see the release note. Transits may be used with a panel editor panel, with a layout editor panel, with a ctc machine, or directly without any panel. Operating nearly three dozen trains over a single track mainline during an operating session requires some coordination and control.
Signal, block detection, turnout control, and dispatch. Cats came to layout construction from a different direction than panel editor. With the panel editor, you can make a control panel look and operate any way you want because they are iconbased. Installing the jmri decoder pro and panel pro software as well as the drivers for the locobuffer usb on a windows xp machine. Jul 17, 2016 a video blog of the colorado front range railroad. Robert bucklews quaker valley lines is also building a ctc panel using. Apr 07, 20 using the jmri panel pro software to facilitate the operation of trains on the eastern illinois santa fe railroad layout. The default icon is a small circle, with color used to represent the state of the sensor. Oct 26, 2011 my jmri ctc panel and signals in action on my ho scale clinchfield layout. To create ctc panels, complex track diagrams, etc, its easier to draw them in some other program and insert them as the background image for a jmri control panel. Create a detailed ctc machine model with jmripanelpro. Create a detailed ctc machine model with jmripanelpro 10.
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