I'm considering making a programming track for my N scale locos. I have an Apple Mac 2012 running OSX Mojave which I have for everyday use. I have downloaded JMRI Decoder Pro, it's not set up fully yet as I don't have anything to connect to the track. So far the Digitrax PR4 looks great and as best I understand it the PR4 package has everything in it so I can complete simple decoder set-ups and programming. Am I going the right way or have I missed something ?
Good news ! ... I have DecoderPro installed with no emulator. . It's the adding hardware bit I'm unsure of.
My mistake then. Must be waaay back when and looks like things have improved. Since your system is 2012, it actually might be better for hooking up the hardware. It's the newer stuff that might be challenging. From https://dccwiki.com/JMRI MacOS Big Sur The fall 2020 release of MacOS Big Sur presents some challenges to running JMRI. For safety, the OS will not accept many older device drivers, requiring them to updated. Unfortunately many vendors haven't bothered to do that. Therefore you may have to purchase new hardware to connect your Mac to your layout. It is advisable to wait before updating to the newest OS versions due to these reasons. FTDI is working on new drivers, which are not available yet. Apple has included the drivers for FTDI's chipsets with their OS over the past several updates. Unfortunately they only support certain FTDI devices. The LocoBufferUSB and ESU's USB to Serial devices still require installing an updated driver. Otherwise, most FTDI based devices should still work.
Another option might be to consider using a $35-$50 Raspberry Pi computer as a dedicated train room computer running JMRI. You need the Pi and a $9.00 supply plus I use a $35 keyboard/mouse combo and a used monitor I had. You don't need to know anything basically about the Pi computer. Download Steve Todd's image file .... https://mstevetodd.com/jmri-raspberrypi-access-point ... onto a micro SD card and insert the card into a card slot on the Pi and turn it on. The computer will start and JMRI will come up on the screen thanks to Steve's work. Can't get any simpler than that. It is easier than setting up JMRI on a computer since Steve has done all the JMRI downloading and the other confusing parts for you. The Pi has a number of USB ports that are available to connect to your DCC system. Also the Pi has a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot so you can use a wireless phone throttle using JMRI's WebThrottle that will also be on your screen. Also coming up on your screen will be DecoderPro so you will be programming decoders and building a roster right away. Again Steve has the 'Hot Spot' coming up automatically for you so you don't have to try using your homes Wi-Fi network. I go through most of that also here... http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/DCC/page-2.html Steve's SD card image file has taken most of the work out of getting JMRI up and running saving you a lot of time and the cheap Pi computer gives you a dedicated computer running your DCC system. In my case, running DCC++EX on an Arduino connected to the Pi I have DCC, a computer running JMRI and I turn on a power strip and a minute or two latter I'm running a train using a ... .... handheld wireless throttle with a 'physical' speed/direction knob. All of that for not much more than $100 total. Sumner
My Mac got to Mojave and further updates look to have many changes including Microsoft Office for Mac requiring a totally new version being purchased or paid monthly. Some of the Mac programs such as Final Cut Pro can't process all the features added in through updates but the actual computer seems to want to keeeeeeeeeeeeep on going. I plan to get a new Mac around April 2022 so the 2012 can run a programming track. Besides, any operating system called Mojave should be train friendly
WOW , you put a lot of work into that , thank you ! I struggle with electronics though, what seems obvious to many people is way beyond me. I think many times the obvious bits are left out. I spent 2 years changing the ignition system on my motorcycle from electronic advance to mechanical advance ....... it took 2 years to finally get someone to say "the blue wire is positive" ... LOL !
In lieu of monitor, mouse and keyboard for the R-Pi, you can just VNC into the raspberry Pi from a laptop or desktop computer (mac, win or linux). VNC shows the Raspberry Pi's display on your computer, and connects your mouse and keyboard to the Pi. This is how I use JMRI Decoder Pro with my Pi SPROG 3 system. For just running trains, etc. I use my phone with Engine Driver free app for a throttle, and the R-Pi boots up into JMRI Panel Pro to run trains without any user interaction except the throttle app on my phone. In fact, unlike most other WiFi enabled DCC systems, the R-Pi can connect to my house-hold WiFi so I don't have to change WiFi connections on my phone or laptop to run VNC.
I’m back. Two days before Christmas my Digitrax PR4 arrived. It works !!!!! I’ll get into more detail soon but it really is easy to set up and so far I have brought 2 quite messed up decoders back to life. That is a very satisfying result for me considering I am not great with electronics.
Cool I have a Sprog 3 connected to my iMac with JMRI and a program and test track. Similar setup. Works well. I like it a lot. I’m glad yours works well for you.
Update: I am having a problem with the throttle function now and again. I can identify locos, program them etc ...... but some locos are not responding to the throttle function. I got an additional clue tonight. I put a new Digitrax card in a new Kato SD45. The loco was added to the roster and functioned (responded to the throttle) for loco address 3. I saved everything and then changed the loco to 8613. From this point I could not get the loco to respond to the throttle. The light would switch from front to rear when changing loco direction. I don't have a running track , only PR4 for programming. I want to use the PR4 for programming and wheel cleaning only. Does anyone have any ideas why sometimes locos won't respond to the throttle ?
