A. Wells:
I agree regarding WiFi and Bluetooth for interconnections. You have to use wires to get power to controllers and wires from controllers to signals, turnouts, and track circuits anyway. However, a wireless link to the locomotives can be done with WiFi, Bluetooth, or XBEE/Zigbee.
I think CANBUS is a good system for model railroads since it has acceptable speed, distance, and noise immunity. LCC uses CANBUS probably for these reasons. However, I find LCC to be poorly defined regarding how to use it from a developer's point of view. It does seem to allow easy interconnections but I cannot tell if it would meet my design goals. I have LCC planned as an option for the future depending on if I can ever figure out how to use it in my design. (Yes I have all the NMRA information and have watched all the videos). My system uses my own data formats that are small and fast.
I am working on the last couple of features (Time Locking and automatic ALL STOP after a train goes through a Control Point) before I make the product announcement for the stand-alone system. The development will continue into the second phase where the Layout Controllers and the locomotives will communicate. This will enable features like In-Cab Signaling on the Cab Controller and Positive Train Control.
