What signal can be programmed in JMRI to be sent to an accessory decoder (for example to command a turnout)? I.e. what signal is sent by JMRI in case of a turnout to be set, either straight or thrown? Is it a pulse, whereby each pulse activates the turnout. Or is it a HIGH for example for "straight" and LOW for thrown? Or is this to be configured in the decoder? Or can either be programmed? And the pulse duration in case of a pulse signal? And what if it concerns C/MRI: is there a standard signal setting for straight and thrown?
Check out the CMRInet monitor from the JMRI menu https://www.jmri.org/help/en/html/hardware/cmri/CMRI.shtml#L580
JMRI sends a command to the command station (via serial cable or USB, etc.), and it's the command station that sends the DCC command over the DCC bus to all decoders. NMRA defines the protocol for DCC messages. The DCC wave form uses pulses of different widths to represent logical '1' bits from logical '0' bits, but the polarity of the pulses does not matter, only their widths. Within the DCC command is the address of the intended recipient, and the direction, and other details. It's not as simple as sending a pulse or a logic level....
Right BigJake, indeed. Anyway I found out yesterday thanks to an experiment from Utrainia (Michael Adams), who wrote a very nice library for RS485, that JMRI allows about just any possibility for C/MRI connected hardware. Any command to an address (node and actuator/lamp/..) can be pulsed (programmable duration), flipflop (ie on on one pulse, off on the next pulse), double coil switch machine activation, debounce, etc..
Erik, So what is it you want to know? The signal to the switch machine? That depends on the switch machine. Solenoid switch machines are either 3 wire (2 coils, as for Atlas) or 2 wire (one coil, as for Unitrack). 3 wire interfaces use only two wires at a time (the common, and one or the other coil's end for closed/thrown). 2-wire interfaces pulse both wires with opposite polarities, either + & -, or - & +, to close/throw the switch. Hope this helps, or give us more information about what you are looking for...
