NEW JMRI <==> TNTDCC (DCC-MB) INTERFACE

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Click here for the latest complete TNTJMRI software.

These programs were the initial developmental phase for the more elaborate system, TNTJMRI.

Download TESTJMRI.TXT
Download TESTJMRI.EXE
Download JMRICLK.TXT
Download JMRICLK.EXE


JMRI offers a complete downloadable system, it has wonderful user support, and many highly knowledgable users and developers. JMRI offers it's users DECODER PRO, PANEL PRO, and SOUND PRO.

To learn more about JMRI visit the JMRI website.

TESTJMRI.TXT and JMRICLK.TXT offer DCC-MB users an interface to the JAVA Model Railroad Interface (JMRI) throttle and JMRI fast clock. TESTJMRI was the preliminary testing program used to demonstrate the feasability of the fuller implementation TNTJMRI. These test programs offer non-DCC-MB JMRI users the ability to monitor JMRI Loconet Locobuffer communications on a second DOS computer.

They are offered here as QBASIC .TXT source code to enable them to be examined with NotePad or Word. They can be loaded into QBASIC by specifying the .TXT extension. The .EXE versions can be run directly on a DOS computer.

TESTJMRI and JMRICLK serve to illustrate how the CALL INTERRUPT is used from QBASIC to control the TNTDCC.COM or DCC-MB parallel port driver. TESTJMRI will show how a DOS computer can be setup to receive, reply, and act upon JMRI generated LocoNet Locobuffer opcode statements.

All interrupt functions of the TNTDCC.COM driver are coded but not all are implemented in TESTJMRI and JMRICLK.

Go here to get the Digitrax LocoNet Personal Use Edition 1.0 Specification.

TESTJMRI.BAS is a preliminary program. TESTJMRI was written to allow JMRI, using the Loconet Personal Use Edition documentation, to access DOS based DCC-MB based systems. TESTJMRI.BAS operates one Loco, at address 3, using 28 speed steps, in Loconet slot number 11.

To use TESTJMRI or JMRICLK install them into the TNT directory (or other directory) of the DOS computer. Connect the DOS computer to a second computer that will be running JMRI, typically in WINDOWS, WINDOWS XP, or VISTA. Any application of JMRI should work, provided it is set up to communicate via RS-232 COM port at 19,200 Baud . The connection is made using a null modem cable. One such cable that has been shown to work is Cables Unlimited null modem cable.

Once the cable is installed on communications port number one (COM1:) of the DOS computer to whichever port you choose to use on the JMRI computer, open the JMRI DecoderPro or PanelPro application and pull down the EDIT menu and select PREFERENCES. On this screen select Loconet Locobuffer (plain), not USB. Set it to use 19,200 baud rate from whichever port you have cabled to (typically COM1:). Select SAVE to retain this setup. You will need to close, and reopen, the JMRI program for the changes to take effect.

Then, start JMRI running on WINDOWS computer, you should get a message on the opening screen that states Locobuffer on (your COM port). If not, go back to setup and adjust settings and save and restart JMRI.

If you wish to actually run a loco using your DCC-MB system, you will need to run TNTDCC.COM on the DOS computer before starting TESTJMRI.BAS. Now load and run TESTJMRI.BAS from QBASIC, or TESTJMRI.EXE from the command prompt. The program will present a menu screen with three options:

1.Test I/O
2. Loconet at 16,457 (not implemented)
3. Quit

Select 1.TEST I/O on the DOS computer. [1][ENTER]

If you get a Device Timeout on the DOS machine you may have to restart TESTJMRI.

Entering menu selection Test I/O will enter the active operational screen. Messages appear in Yellow (echo), Green (reply and Long Acknowledge), and Red (settings). Operational information is displayed at the bottom of the screen and reports if DCC-MB was installed before opening TESTJMRI, operational mode, and number of active locos (1).

You can toggle the line feed/backspace filter, and also the echo function, however, it is normally echo on, filter on. A notice of these states appears at the bottom left of the display screen.

Now, open a JMRI throttle under the TOOLS drop down menu. Select a loco at address 3, with 28 speed steps. The loco will be assigned to slot 11 in the Loconet. The locomotive will be controlled from the JMRI throttle. No control is offered by the TESTJMRI program itself. Quit the active screen by using [Alt][Q].

The program is useful for non DCC-MB users as it provides monitoring of JMRI Loconet output.
The program will operate (but not run a train) without the DCC-MB hardware being installed on the DOS computer.

Lastly, attempting to run DCC-MB.COM or TNTDCC.COM without associated hardware will cause the DOS computer to stop and wait for a hardware interrupt input on ACK pin of LPT1:. If you do not have the hardware, do not start DCC-MB.COM or TNTDCC.COM to run these programs.

TESTJMRI will operate without TNTDCC.COM or DCC-MB.COM and associated hardware being installed on DOS computer. In this configuration the programs are useful to monitor the JMRI Locobuffer output, but will not operate a loco.