LCD Layout Panel?

Unfortunately, only if you get it cleared through the Apple Store. :tb-mad:

It will run WiThrottle, though. :tb-cool:

Which makes me wonder if anyone has (or could) hack a Wii-mote to control trains...

 

I've been using a monitor on the wall for about a month. I have laptop computer with a 24" monitor with 1080p resolution that I use to control the turnouts and show the layout status. The monitor is 8' away, which is about the limit of my eyeball vision.

Overall, I am very happy with the arrangement. JMRI does a great job of displaying and controlling the layout. I bought a longer VGA cable to stretch from the laptop to the monitor but that did not work out so well. The monitor display showed ghosting. Then I bought a USB monitor extender that solved the problem.

My biggest complaint is that the cursor can get lost in all that display.

 

Thanks for sharing Hoyden. Nice set up!:thumbs_up: I have found 720p resolution provides a larger image to work with. The ability to see the images on the screen is of prime importance to making this a viable tool. If you cannot get everything on one layout panel then I see no problem with dividing the layout into more than one layout panel and switching between them since JMRI permits multiple panels to be open at the same time.

For anyone without wireless cab capability the WiThrottle offers a similar operating experience. I won’t be surprised to see the iPad being used in much the same way as soon as the apps become available.:tb-cool:

Jerry

 

Hi Jerry,

You are right, that seeing the screen has primary importance. At 1080P the screen has a lot of information and it's easy to miss something. I might try your suggestion to drop back to 720P if I can split the panel into two sections. The bigger icons would be easier to navigate. I would like to keep everything on one screen if possible. I'm currently using about half the screen area so it should be possible to rearrage things to use the entire screen.

 

Now this would be real cool... from the JMRI website itself:

JMRI: Maple Systems
http://www.maplesystems.com/products/silverseries/silverseries_ezw.htm

Scott

 

Update #2

Using JMRI software and Digitrax Super Chief system with PR3 computer interface, DS64’s for turnout control and BDL168’s for block occupancy detection I have successfully tested the PanelPro layout of my track plan for block occupancy detection and turnout control. The visuals are fantastic and easy to recognize. The operations are flawless. Everything on screen was designed using JMRI PanelPro software.:tb-biggrin:

As you can see by the photos, the train on the inner most staging lane shows up as a red section of highlighted track on the monitor display of the layout. As the train travels around the layout, block colors change to indicate the position of the train. This is going to be an outstanding solution for my hidden staging lanes and will also provide the foundation for signaling on the layout and on screen. In fact I could already set up signaling on screen using existing JMRI software logic.

Yes, you can do this on your layout. I am documenting a list of steps to obtain this result and will post it here in the near future. I will be glad to answer detailed questions on setting up hardware and software.

Jerry

 

Very nicely done Jerry.:thumbs_up::thumbs_up:

 

JMRI is cool, no? I know you can't wait to put signals on that screen.

I'm looking forward to having this on our entire club layout. Right now we only have detection in about half a dozen mainline blocks, and a staging yard. But, we are doing the signals as we go, and right now we have about half a dozen of those too! You will really like it when you get to that point.

 

Yes, way too cool! As I said this was just a test. Playing with the signaling is definitely next on the list of things to do. I also need to set up and test using a Digitrax PM42 board.

Jerry

 

Nice panel Jerry.

 

Jerry, That's a nice track schematic. The layout editor allows a more natural track depiction. I like the way the track segment changes color to indicate occupied status.

I built my panel using the panel editor. The panel editor uses symbols that more closely resemble the CTC panels. However, the panel editor track symbols cannot change color to show occupancy, and I've added sensor lights to do that. I don't think the sensors have the same visual impact as the color changing track segments.

My panel layout shows a linear mainline but my layout is a twice around. I have to mentally swap the direction I see on the layout to match what I see on the panel.

I may have to redo the panel using the layout editor so that I can compare the two side by side.

Nancy Jean

 

Nancy, using the Layout Editor may seem tedious at first. Knowing that you can achieve a desirable result is encouraging. By changing “straight lines” to “circles” and then editing the segment arc angle degrees, you will be able to create a very smooth look to your layout panel.

What I like most about the Layout Editor panel visuals is how they cascade as the train moves through the layout. This provides a visual direction of travel as one highlighted block becomes two highlighted blocks and eventually the first highlighted block drops off and leaves the current occupied block highlighted. This was the key to managing my hidden staging tracks and it came with a fringe benefit when operating the remainder of the layout. This is a nice feature on my double ended yard tracks.

Good luck using the Layout Editor.

Jerry

 

Update #3

More details have been added to the LCD layout screen. Switch numbers are now located next to each turnout. Block color coding is being used to aid in identifying mainline, sidings and yard leads.

When track power is off all blocks show occupied. When track power is on unoccupied blocks (mainline / sidings / yard leads) are represented in black and power districts that are not handled by the block occupancy detectors are also represented in black.

At this point in time only locos or lighted passenger cars will trigger an occupied block. Resistors will need to be added to all other rolling stock in order to achieve the desired effects for future layout signals. For now this solves the hidden staging issues of which lanes are occupied and in what direction the train is headed.

I have included actual layout pictures showing the position of the trains that match the occupied blocks on the LCD layout screen. I enjoy watching the blocks light up and drop off as a train moves around the mainline of the layout. It is also very helpful to see the position of any given switch without having to call it up on the throttle.

JMRI provides for easy set up and modification of routes. This is quite useful for initializing all switches on power up and for aligning switches during operations.

Jerry

 

Nice work Jerry.