I would like to program my decoders using DecoderPro software. I have a Digitrax Zephyr command unit which I will need to interface with using LocoBuffer hardware. I have an older IBM laptop running Win98 and serial ports (no USB). I need LocoBuffer II to interface with the serial port (a DB9, I believe) and unfortunately it is no longer manufactured. Could someone make a suggestion where I might find LocoBuffer II or am I barking up a tree?
First I try to find one on eBay.
If not, you could look for a USB to serial adapter and get what they make now.
gn goat,
I have a LocoBuffer-USB attached to my Zephyr. It was my Christmas present to me this year.
I purchased the LocoBuffer from Litchfield Station. I’m fairly certain that Bruce can provide you with the LocoBuffer and the adapters and cables that you need for your laptop. Check out their website and if you can’t find what you need, send them an e-mail. They usually answer within 24-hours.
A cravat on that statement is I believe they are in the process of moving the store and may be out of touch for a few days. They are certainly worth a try. I have always had excellent service from Bruce and shipping is free on orders of $50.00 or more.
The link: http://www.litchfieldstation.com
Good luck! I would be surprised if the people at Litchfield Station can’t help you.
Many an old laptop has found new life running Decoder Pro, my old Dell is performing sterling duty. I have a Locobuffer II and they work well, so good luck in your hunt.
You could build your own using the circuit board from Hans Deloof. http://users.pandora.be/deloof/
Fear not that he’s in Belgium, I built a Locobuffer and a LocoIO, plus a Locobuffer for Spacemouse.
–Randy
Another option you could do is install a USB Card in your PC. As the speed on the interface is not that fast, you can go with a USB version 1 or 1.1. Check the web you should be able to find one under $20. Good Luck.
caveat - it’s a laptop.
GN Goat - do you have a PCMCIA slot in the laptop? (Look on the side, its about as wide as a CC, and probably 1/8" tall, there might be 2 of them stacked on top of one another). If you have one of those AND Win98SE then you can install the USB card no problem. Newegg has this one for $19 incl. shipping.
While I agree that a LocoBuffer is the better option, don’t completely discount the MS100. Especially if all (or mostly all) you’re going to use it for is decoder programming.
I’ve used an MS100 with JMRI for a number of years on several different hardware/operating system combinations, including Linux, and never had a problem with it. With the exception of Linux, where setting up the right baud rate was a PIA, I’ve always just plugged it in and it works.
Although my MS100 use has mainly been for decoder programming, it’s also used on a regular basis for turnout control from a dispatcher’s panel and a small amount of layout automation (mostly layout-based sound in response to layout events).
Steve
Will it run on NT?
Mike in Tulsa
BNSF Cherokee Sub
NT 3.51 or NT4.0? Most definitely not. And if your machine is so old that that is the latest OS you have installed, the machine is probably not capable either.
–Randy
Are you sure? The JMRI Windows install page says W95 requires an earlier version of Java, and has a link to Java 1.3.1. But if you look at the install instructions for that version of Java, it also supports NT 4.0 with Service Pack 5.
I’d also think that any machine running NT 4.0 may well have a Pentium-class processor of at least 100 Mhz, which the forementioned JMRI page suggests is about the minimum. And a box of that vintage is likely to have a serial port as well.
So it might just work with an MS100 or a serial version of the LocoBuffer. It would be an interesting experiment, anyway.
(As an aside, I’ve installed Java 1.4.2 on W95, and used it to run JMRI. The Java installer complained that the OS was not supported, but I told it to continue and it did. Never had a problem with it. Remember, “not supported” isn’t the same as “won’t work”. It simply means that if it doesn’t work, they won’t help you fix it.)
Steve
I was under the impression that there are now features in JMRI that require a slightly newer version of Java.
Anyway, the experience will probably not be satisfying. My old computer was a P3-500 with 384MB RAM, well within the requirements of JMRI and when I first tried it back on that machine it was HORRIBLY slow at loading anything. The P3-800 laptop, also with 384MB RAM, is also very slow, but usable. On my main machine with 1GB RAM, it loads very quickly. RAM is more important to Java than CPU, since Java is a huge memory hog.
–Randy