JMRI: DecoderPro 4.8.0 - Program model railroad DCC decoders. Download the latest versions of the best Mac apps at safe and trusted MacUpdate. Free Download Advanced Bible Decoder Pro 3.1.3 - Decipher hidden codes embedded in. •Values range from 0 – 255 (1 byte, 8 bits) –e.g. CV 1 is the primary (short) address ( 1 – 127). JMRI Download DecoderPro, JMRI, and Java Java Operating System JMRI. JMRI DecoderPro Computer Hardware Mac OS X, Linux, Windows WiFi Router. It’s Just a Throttle. Requirements: Computer with USB or serial port, JMRI (Decoder Pro) and a command station compatible with JMRI. Programming wih JMRI. Click on it, the turnout on the layout would be commanded to change,.
I am just discovering JMRI (Java Model Railroad Interface). It sounds interesting. What is JMRI? The JMRI project is building tools for model railroad computer control.
We want it to be usable to as many people as possible, so we're building it in Java to run anywhere, and we're trying to make it independent of specific hardware systems. JMRI is intended as a jumping-off point for hobbyists who want to control their layouts with a computer without having to create an entire system from scratch. You can manage your locomotive rosters and easily program your decoders using DecoderPro®.
You can build control panels, set up signaling, configure operations and control your layout using PanelPro. Going beyond the basics, you can use Logix to automate your layout's behavior, interface with X10 and Insteon systems to control your layout room's lights and write scripts to extend the capabilities of the system. OperationsPro™ lets you create manifests that route cars across your railroad from shipper to receiver, and provide train crews with operating instructions.
It is free and apparently works with some DigiTrax stuff I just ordered so I am going to try it. Is anyone using JMRI? If so, what do you like about it? If you have used it and did not like it, what did you not like about it? For that matter what the heck is Java? I know my computers have it but I don't know why. I don't think my iPads have it but I don't know why not?
Thanks, Jerry. I have used it for years. It works with a number of systems, I would use the NCE rather than Digitrax, NCE support is better. It has many different facets. I use the database part to help archive setups for various locos. I use the CV setting part if I need to set a bunch of CV's I use the remote throttles on a PC if I am doing customized speed tables. I use the wireless server setup to run trains from iPhones and Android phones.
(Java is a programming language, and you don't need it to do remote control, the apps take care of this. If you want to run JMRI, using Windows will be a lot better than the Mac, if you look at the forums and see the problems reported) JMRI has a lot of capability, but just like DCC, you can use just part of the functionality without having to learn everything. I use JMRI as well, with my MERG DCC system. I don't have a physical throttle, so I use the JMRI compatible apps: Engine Driver for Android and WiThrottle for iPhone/iPad. I prefer Engine Driver on Android, but I switched to iPhone last year and I'm getting used to it.
I primarily use it with Windows, but occasionally use it from my Mac as well. I keep my roster files synced between computers using Dropbox, so I can update my roster on the go, and it will show on my desktop at home. Do you have any specific questions, or something you're particularly interested in using it for?
I use JMRI as well, with my MERG DCC system. I don't have a physical throttle, so I use the JMRI compatible apps: Engine Driver for Android and WiThrottle for iPhone/iPad. I prefer Engine Driver on Android, but I switched to iPhone last year and I'm getting used to it. I primarily use it with Windows, but occasionally use it from my Mac as well.
I keep my roster files synced between computers using Dropbox, so I can update my roster on the go, and it will show on my desktop at home. Do you have any specific questions, or something you're particularly interested in using it for? Hi Ben, I have just started moving from track power to MTS/DCC mainly with LGB locos with factory decoders. A year ago I picked up a DigiTrax DCS 200 but didn't know what I would do with it. After watching the DigiTrax DCC layout yesterday I found that the owner was a good friend of a former DigiTrax dealer I was friends with but lost touch with 17 years ago when he went to work for the FAA. The guy has since retired from the FAA and is once again a DigiTrax dealer. I called him today and ended up ordering a DT402D, UR92 and LocoBuffer-USB from him.
I just bought/am downloading WiThrottle but have not looked at it yet. I know nothing about DigiTrax but with a DigiTrax Dealer Trainer friend I should be able to sort it out. He told me about JMRI and where to download it and is going to show me how to use it with an iPad or iPhone (WiThrottle). My main interest at this point is discovering what if any compatibility there is between my current LGB and Massoth decoders, remotes and central stations (I don't know what I don't know or need to know yet).
At some point I would like to have some sort of railroad operations with my layout. Perhaps the best specific question would be what is the difference between using JMRI with a Windows 8.1 laptop, a Windows XP laptop or a Mac book Pro 10.10.3?
I've heard the guys behind JMRI are super sharp and the support forum is very responsive. Also, can an iPad be used for more than just a remote control? Thanks, Jerry.
Yes, I've also used JMRI DecoderPro for several years as a decoder programmer using a SPROG programmer as the hardware, to program many brands of decoder including MTS & Massoth. Definitely my 'go to' tool for programming, much easier than button pushing on a throttle. Being able to store entire CV configurations for each loco is really useful. On occasion I've used PanelPro with a wifi netbook and a terminal server to interface with my NCE system, controlling turnouts and driving the trains on my simple garden line. Although JMRI can interface with several brands of DCC system command station, LGB MTS and Massoth are notably absent from the list.
I'm told Massoth are reluctant to disclose the protocols for their systems to open-source projects such as JMRI. Although JMRI can interface with several brands of DCC system command station, LGB MTS and Massoth are notably absent from the list. I'm told Massoth are reluctant to disclose the protocols for their systems to open-source projects such as JMRI. Apparently there was a lawsuit (not involving LGB or Massoth). The Jacobsen case is noteworthy in United States copyright law because Courts clarified the enforceability of licensing agreements on both open-source software and proprietary software. The case established the rule of law that terms and conditions of an Artistic License are 'enforceable copyright conditions'.2. At some point I would like to have some sort of railroad operations with my layout.
Perhaps the best specific question would be what is the difference between using JMRI with a Windows 8.1 laptop, a Windows XP laptop or a Mac book Pro 10.10.3? Also, can an iPad be used for more than just a remote control?
Hi Jerry, JMRI is very powerful and can control turnouts and automation, but I haven't done this yet, and the WiThrottle app appears to be much more limited. The Android 'Engine Driver' app does support turnouts and routes. I don't think you'll have any problem with running JMRI on any of those computers.
It's the same Java application no matter where you run it. That's not to say there might not be driver incompatibilities or platform-specific bugs, but I haven't had any trouble with a Macbook Pro or Windows 7 PC.
Install JMRI on a Linux Mac - Model Railroad - Puckdropper's Place DCC: JMRI on PowerPC Construction: Introduction This guide will guide the reader through the process of configuring an iBook to run JMRI via Linux for Power PC. This guide covers several steps, including installing Java for Power PC on Debian Linux, acquiring and installing the libraries JMRI requires to run properly, and finally installing JMRI itself. Detailed Introduction JMRI is software that controls several different interfaces between model railroad Digital Command Control (DCC) systems and a computer. Many interfaces utilize a 9 or 25 pin serial port, a hardware feature that is quickly disappearing in favor of USB ports.
As a result, the interface devices are being updated to support USB. An example of this is the Digitrax MS100. The MS100 uses a 25 pin serial port to connect to a computer and a Digitrax Loconet interface to connect to the DCC system. Updated models such as the Digitrax PR3 utilize USB to connect to the computer and include a MS100 emulation mode.
The interface device is a Digitrax PR3 programmer, connected to an Apple iBook. The iBook is an older Macintosh laptop with a G3 PowerPC processor. The operating system installed on the iBook was Mac OS X 10.2, which has been unsupported by Apple for some time. JMRI requires a more recent version of Java than what is available for OS 10.2, so an operating system upgrade is required. Due to its free and supported nature, Linux was chosen over OS X 10.3 or OS X 10.4.
The distribution of Linux was chosen, as it was available for PowerPC and could be installed on the machine. Java was then installed, along with the JavaComm library.
Once these software installations were complete, JMRI was installed. Technical Requirements and Cautions This document assumes the user is familiar with Linux commands, and specific operations including: 1) Moving and copying files 2) Setting file permissions 3) Extracting files from archives 4) Editing text files Parts of this document may require root access. The process itself may not require root access for installation in other locations. This document is intended as a supplement to the installation instructions for the various components, and is not a replacement for them.
Upgrading to Linux There are several distributions of Linux that support the PowerPC processor. The two most notable distributions are YellowDog Linux and Debian. YellowDog Linux would hang upon loading the installation program, so Debian was installed. An unfortunate effect of installing Linux on a Macintosh is there are not yet free software to resize the partition Mac OS is installed on. This means the only way to install Linux is to delete the Mac OS partitions (and with it the OS X installation) and begin again. This process is covered in the clear and well written Debian installation instructions. When the system is ready for the Debian install, the installation CD (or DVD) is placed in the cup holder-uh-CD ROM drive and the system booted.
As soon as the chime is heard, the C key on the keyboard is held down until the system boots off the CD. The installation process guided the user through the installation with relative ease and efficiency. Installing Java and JavaComm This is where the installation process got difficult. The problem comes from the PowerPC processor the Mac uses. Sun Microsystems, the company that produces Java, provides a limited selection of versions of its Java Runtime Environment, and the PowerPC on Linux is not one of them. Fortunately, IBM (one of the producers of the PowerPC chip) provides a version of both Java and the JavaComm library for Power PC machines running Linux. The version of Java is the user's choice, but the JavaComm library cannot be later than 2.0.
Hint: Registration is required, and IBM asks for more information as you download parts of other versions of the Java run time. Try J2SE 5.0 first, and see if you can get both the required JavaComm library and the version of Java you need. Java Java from IBM can be acquired from: (registration required) This installation used Java 6 and the JavaComm from J2SE 1.4.2. Installation of Java proceeds thusly: The downloaded files are extracted and then moved to their permanent location.
The instructions use /opt/ibm/ibm-java-ppc-60/ for Java 6, so this document will too. Java is used from a terminal window, so the bin and jre/bin directories are added to the PATH. For my convenience, the following line was added to my.bashrc file: export PATH=/opt/ibm/ibm-java-ppc-60/bin:/opt/ibm/ibm-java-ppc-60/sdk/bin:$PATH The terminal window was closed and reopened to read the new path information.
Java requires libstdc5 to run, so it was installed using the Synaptic Package Manager. Testing the Java installation was done by issuing the command /java -version/ and observing the results. If the results were a version number, Java was installed properly. If an error message occurred, the error had to be corrected first. JavaComm JavaComm can be downloaded from the same site as Java: (registration required) JavaComm is installed by extracting the archive and copying the files to DIFFERENT locations than specified in the archive. Archive - Destination jre/bin/libibmcomm.so - /opt/ibm/ibm-java-ppc-60/jre/lib/ppc/ jre/lib/javax.comm.properties - /opt/ibm/ibm-java-ppc-60/jre/lib/ jre/lib/ext/comm.jar - /opt/ibm/ibm-java-ppc-60/jre/lib/ext/ The execute bit must be set on libibmcomm.so.
If it is not set, it must be set: chmod +x libibmcomm.so Installation of Java and JavaComm is almost complete. To use USB with JavaComm, the javax.comm.properties file must be edited. At the end of the file, there is a line that states '# Uncomment the following line to enable USB-serial devices'. The line is uncommented (pound sign deleted) and the ttyUSB= is changed to ttyACM=. More on USB (optional) The computer interface device used is a USB serial device. Not every Linux distribution refers to them the same way, so you may see devices such as ttyUSB or ttyACM. To find the way Debian referred to the USB serial device, the device was plugged in and the dmesg command was issued.
At the end of the output, there was a message referring to a USB device that wasn't a modem on ttyACM0. That's why the line in the javax.comm.properties file is changed. Installing JMRI JMRI can be downloaded from: To install JMRI: 1. Download the Linux version 2. Extract the files to where you want them 3. If desired, set the execute permission on DecoderPro, InstallTest, JmriDemo, LocoTools, and PanelPro scripts. ( chmod +x DecoderPro) Running JMRI: 1.
Plug the interface device (Digitrax PR3) in before running JMRI. Start the program by executing the DecoderPro script. ( sh./DecoderPro) 3.
To configure JMRI, select the interface device and the COM port that connects to it. If you don't know which COM port to use, try the last one first. Conclusion The installation of JMRI was a fairly simple process once Java and JavaComm were installed.
The installation took about a day and a quarter, as the resources had to be located. With a working Linux system, installation will probably take an hour or two. Links Model Railroad.