Does anybody here control their entire Layout & Locomotive's by Computer? I plan to use CTI's (www.cti-electronics.com) equipment to control my Layout right from my PC.
Yes, I use Digitrax with a computer tied in through a LocoBuffer (replaces the MS-100) and Railroad & Co software. I use CTI to control my signals with Railroad & Co software driving them. Are you using DCC? If so, you may want to look at using the Digitrax BDL-16 for detection. Each board provides detection for 16 blocks at a cost of about $6.25 per block ($100/16). If you look at CTI's cost you will see that not only do you need a detector but you also have to have a interface board to connect to the computer. The total cost per block, depending on the type of detection you use, can be up to $16.45 ($8.95 current detector + Interface ($59.95/8)). To me that is rather expensive. DB
I don't use DCC on my Layout, I was thinking about purchasing the Starter Kit from CTI, I already downloaded the software off the CTI website. What is the website for the software you have? And How does the Trains get power? Does it get it from the computer, or the hardware that comes with the package you order? [ 12 July 2002, 23:36: Message edited by: AcelaExpress2036 ]
You really might want to consider going DCC. Especially if you want to go with computer control. Depending on how large your layout is and how many locomotives you have, it could be a lot cheaper. HO decoders are down to about $12 now for a basic decoder. The Railroad & Co TrainController software is available for download from http://www.freiwald.com/. If you decide to buy it I would recommend buying it from Tony's Train Exchange http://www.ttx-dcc.com. They have the best price that I found. No, the computer does not provide power for the track, it only sends control signals to the boards that are around the layout. You have to provide a separate power supply for the boards. I also believe that you will need an additional power supply if you plan to run trains not just operate detection, signals, turnout, and other devices. Have you also downloaded the User's Guide? Again, let me suggest you go with DCC. I think you will find it more enjoyable and less expensive in the long run. DB
I'm sure they're on the web somewhere, but look for the club layout at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma WA. Their layout is in the old union station and is fully automated with Digitrax so it can run without operators being present. This is a great example of what you can do with a $10,000 federal grant!
You can also run a Layout without operators with the Computer, You can set the Computer to run the Layout Automatcially, the Computer Controls also senses trains on the Layout so that they won't run into each other, and will automatically slow down.
I always thought the whole idea of modeling trains was so "YOU" could be the "engineer" and run the engine yourself! If all I wanted to do was sit and watch trains run while twiddling my thumbs, I would save all the money and tedium of modeling, and just go watch the real thing run, or just watch a movie. Computers are certainly ruining the horse shoe and harness trade! Pretty soon the computers will capture the world, and may even eliminate us humans as unsalvageable scrap! Sheesh!
Actually, I wouldn't have my Railroad be runned automatically by Trains because it sucks the fun out of it, like you said, but it could be fun, because, it's dispatching all the trains, like in the real world, I would use this feature, if I had to step away from the Layout, so nothing goes wrong, like if a train crashes into the back of another train on the mainline. I'm gonna use the computer, because you can control everything from right at your seat, turnouts, signals, you can see your entire Layout right there on the screen, I perfer to use a Laptop to run a Model Railroad.
Does the famous Bruce Chubb have a Website? I would love to see his Layout and E-mailing him sometime, If I understand correctly, Bruce Chubb is one of the greatest model railroader in the world, correct?
