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Reply to "TMCC Control With Arduino"

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

YES Don, that may indeed be its origin, but all the TMCC codes are built in. It was very nice of the guys who have been working on JMRI for years, to include Lionel TMCC as one of the many code sets. And it is for that reason I have chosen to use JMRI on my massive layout. I'm running 100% TMCC, as DCS codes are not published. If for some reason, I need to buy an MTH locomotive, I first convert it to TMCC. I do this because I eventually want to the computer to be able to run trains, stop, start and speed control.

I used all GarGraves flex track, and only use one outside rail for the ground on the mainline. The other outside rail is divided into segments. I had the advantage of having all the hardware I needed, and planned it this way since the beginning.

I'll admit that my way isn't for everyone, for a whole host of reasons. If your way works for you, that's all that really matters.

 

I went to the JMRI website and see no high-level tutorial.  And the control module is called "Decoder-Pro" and talks extensively about DCC, which I know nothing about and have no desire to learn.  Where is the documentation showing how TMCC trains are controlled using JMRI.  It seems like it would take me longer to get spun up on JMRI than to just open the Arduino IDE and start writing C code.  I've already written the Arduino function to talk to TMCC and I have what I consider a neat low-loss way to detect center-rail train occupancy so I'm pretty happy with the approach that I have taken.  Maybe even go public with my Arduino approach as DFRI!  Not sure if an Arduino Mega is capable of hosting the JMRI software or if that's even possible without a JMRI rewrite. Isn't it written in Java?

We use Atlas 21st Century track exclusively, which has insulated outer rails, but using outer-rail isolated sections for occupancy detection, which I have done on many previous layouts, requires long runs of control wires, interrupts the continuity of the TMCC outer-rail signal,  and the Hall-effect current detectors can all be put in one place which appealed to me.  Different folks, different strokes, I guess.

Sounds like you have a very impressive layout.  Where are you located?  Do you have a website?

Don

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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