Yall tell me what you think of this site.
Have I found something we can use, or is it a bunch of hoorah? It sounds to me like this software will literally allow you to sit back and watch trains run. Since I’m so lazy, that would be perfect for me. I know it’s a lot of reading, but it sounds quite interesting. Let me know what you think.
Looks interesting to me. I once looked at DecoderPro ( http://jmri.sourceforge.net/apps/DecoderPro/Tour.html ) as an easier way to program decoders. I never tried it. This looks just as easy.
I think if your other hobby is electronics, this is a good way to merge it with Model Railroading. Every once in a while a model railroad magazine will cover someone’s fully automatic layout. It’s fun for them getting it all set up and working properly.
But it’s not really my cup of tea. A power pack (or two) with throttle works for me and I may even go dcc one day. But setting up all the detection circuitry, hooking it to a computer, getting it all programmed correctly, then debugging it all when it doesn’t work right the first time (and it never does) just isn’t how I want to spend my hobby time.
If you just want to watch them run sometimes you can include a loop or two in your layout.
Enjoy
Paul
I’ve looked at the Freiwald stuff on their web site, and may go that way down the road. I wound up using DecoderPro for decoder programming largely because the price is right ($0) and everyone seems happy with it.
Freiwald seems to have an established user base, which helps. It’s been around for about 10 years, and Tony’s sells it, which I suspect says they are happy with it. I think they have a user’s forum on the Freiwald web site, so I’d probaby “listen in” out there.
When I get to that point, I’ll be looking for something to run a few trains of varying type (passenger, high-speed freight and drag units) while I run a one or two others that could get in their way.
I didn’t download it, I simply don’t have a system to test it on. Howver, from the description, it lloks like i could handle everything.
If you wanted to fire up five trains and run them around your layout in opposite directions, kcik back with a six-pack or two and watch trains until it took effort to point and burp, this would be your program.
Looks like it could do anything but set out cars. Unless you had a decoupling decoder…
Uh-oh. There you go Chip, starting trouble again[;)]