Together since 1980 Married since 1984 Kids ???...2 hers...2 mine...1 ours. = 5 ours !! Saved the best part for last ! She Loves Model Trains !! .
My hobbies did not separated (divorce) my wife and daughter. '70-'73. My second mate didn't like the trains in the house but we never married and we each owned our own house. 16 years. Her daughter loved them and the motorcycles. She went on to Allah in '03 and her daughter went to college and her father. Have yet to find another that likes the trains so I just do it mostly alone. This is my biggest group that enjoys them. But still not old enough to stop looking for the other.
Reminds me of the joke: "I got a new [bass boat | deer rifle | model railroad layout] for my wife; I thought it was a good trade." My wife may not share my enthusiasm for model trains, but she doesn't interfere either. After 30 years of marriage, with both our kids graduated from college and doing well on their own, now I'm retired. She left her teaching career when our first child was born, and stayed home with the MUCH tougher job of raising the kids and me! I'll keep her, if she'll keep me...
I finally got my permanent programming track set up. Its on a piece of plywood that fits under the layout under the turntable and slides in and out...out of the way when not in use. I fastened the PR3 to the side of the cabinet. I upgraded my JMRI and made sure the PR3 disk was installed on my laptop. I plug the PR3 into my laptop....fire up JMRI. The lights flash on the PR3 but JMRI...when loading...says it cant find 'Comm 3' and stops loading the program. It's been so long since I used JMRI or programmed a locomotive I'm not sure whats going on... It may not be working...but it sure looks pretty... .
It's an issue with the port - try another USB slot, because only one of them can be Com 3 - or you can rename it in JMRI to Com 1 or Com 2 or Com 4, whatever will let it work. I used to have the problem until I made sure I kept it plugged into the same slot on the puter. But I use a dedicated machine, not a laptop...if I was there I'd have it up in five minutes. Sigh.
Thanks Jim....I appreciate the assist... When JMRI starts to load it gets to the screen with the com port connection. Its says it cant find "Com Port 3". I have tried all 3 usb ports on the laptop...even rebooting each time I changed it. Same notice. . JMRI dropdown menu only lists the "Can't find Com Port 3". The only other option is "No Com Port". I dont find anywhere or way to change the port number. JMRI wont let me go to the next screen without getting a com port connection...it tells me to go back to the previous screen. I am getting old(er) and dont remember how I fixed it the first time...oh so many years ago. .
There IS a way to reassign the port - but I don't remember what it is. IIRC it needs to be done and then restarted. Google is your friend... Make sure your software is updated (If not, you'll probably give up the hobby thanks to the changes...) because I think there were changes in that area some time back. Even though I'm a techie, the changes can just be too damn much sometimes. I'm also 80, and that ain't helpin' one little bit along with the involuntary quarantine....
Well here is a little help, use Windows Device Manager and it will show you what COM ports are available And once you see the Com Port Match the Port numbers and you are on your way! Then press Save and restart JRMI
Hi George, What version of Windows are you running? I'm running Windows 7. If you're also running Windows 7 this may help. Click on the Windows start button then select "Device and Printers" Right click on the PR3 / PR4 icon and select Properties Save everything and exit. When you JMRI you'll get this dialog box Select the Edit Connection button and choose the new com port number you assigned to your Digitrax PR3 / PR4. Save and Restart JMRI and see if that does the trick?
David and Rich.... I will go out in a bit and fire up the laptop and take some screen caps of what I have. I'll test both theories and see how they work...
OK guys.... The PR3 is NOT showing up in devices... The yellow PR3 ERR light is on solid... Pressing the USB button on the PR3 makes that green light flash fast...and then it goes out I tried all 3 usb ports on the laptop...no joy... My mouse WILL work in any of those 3 usb ports on the laptop. Which leads me to beiieve that the ports ARE there. I suppose the PR3 could be toast !
Aren't there two different kinds of USB ports? Mine are labeled USB1.0 and USB2.0. And my wireless key board and mouse say to use USB1.0 ports. The USB2.0 port is labeled and on the front.
This is an older HP. 2 usb ports on one side...one on the other. The mouse works in all 3 usb ports. I tried the PR3 in all 3 usb ports....and nothing.
David was going in the right direction - use Device Manager to find the port assigned to Com 3 - this should work in almost any Windows...then follow Rich's advice to change the port in JMRI to one you can use...Why do they make it so damn hard?