I am replying to this post only because Mark asked me to take a look at his video.
I think he will confirm that I predicted all the responses he has received so far pretty much duplicating the responses I received 3 years ago when I tried to share my project.
Mark has done incredible work and has taken a different approach to the same end i.e. controlling the MTH engine with a PC in lieu of a remote. There is no question that this is not for everybody and it is not Mark's nor was it my desire to make it for every one. Me personally I run up to 8 trains simultaneously on a complex layout and I am much quicker getting timely commands out on a properly designed touch screen then the MTH remote but more importantly to me and many of the folks out there who are using my system, is to control train operations with software and sensors with no remote, when I want to but not necessarily always.
I have continued to give people my solution for free on the internet outside of this forum and have several around the country using it happily. The system has much improved and I have simplified the hardware as I learned more about computers ,data protocols etc. We have accumulated command data files for nearly every function on the remote and are controlling multiple TIU's and AIU's. My new friend Tom Niemi who has been using my method for over 3 years, controls both DCS and Conventional engines simultaneously through the TIU connected to a PC with my application.
I HAVE NOT RECIEVED ANY THREATING CORRESPONDENCE EVER FROM MTH. As I believe as Professor Chaos that there are no license or copyright violations.
I am interested in Mark's approach to see if there is any improvement in command response time or lost commands when multiple commands are sent close together. So far this has not been a problem with my method. Mark is a lot sharper than I am on this stuff.
Mark's method requires a good working knowledge of C++/compiler and binary data communications management and other Display screen software.
Because I am limited in my knowledge of C++ I chose a user friendly Train Brain software, that is C+ based, to execute my engine commands but also control all the other hardware in my layout which includes multiple Train Brain CTI modules, 2 TIU's and an AIU. The Train Brain software contains all the tools to build descent Screen displays and software subroutines that respond either to a time clock/elapse time or various types of sensors.
I hope you all will treat Mark with the respect he deserves for sharing his project with the forum while having no commercial expectations. Even if computers are not your thing it may be for someone else.
Professor Chaos I would like to thank you for turning me toward the Arduino ! I have become addicted to programming them and using them all over my layout. I buy the Arduino Nano's and combine them with stepper motors, LED's and all kinds of gadgets that I can construct for my layout combined with my 3D printer. Its been a lot of fun !
My latest completed project is a coal car with a RFID reader, Arduino Nano and a XBEE transmitter contained inside the car that reads RFID credit card type tags under the road beds of the track and transmits its ID and its position to my PC as it moves around the layout. With one of these cars/Dummy Engines behind the lead engine on each of my trains should bring me a step closer to autonomous operations.
Mike Hewett
