JMRI for idiots....

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A

AllenB

Member
I know very little about JMRI other than what I've read on their website. http://jmri.sourceforge.net/ My intent in getting my feet wet was to use it to program decoders. My Zephyr is kind of a pain I've found. I'm more of a visual learner and if it's on the screen...that'd be VERY cool. So I downloaded JMRI on my Macbook. When i click on the DecoderPro icon, it acts like it's opening and nothing happens. It seems I have all of the requirements (java etc. ) to run it so I'm not sure what's going on (I'll look into it).

It all seems SO complicated that I need an idiots guide. Seems like it would be simple....download program on computer, connect Zephyr to computer, connect loco to Zephyr and program! :D Ah...if life could be as simple. Is there a good source for beginners?
 
Have you searched the forum here for "JMRI"? There have been more than a few discussions and links posted. You may just find what you're looking for.
 
Once you see the actual program sheet for all the cv's, you will be like, man this is easy!

I have no idea really, how anyone can program cv's without JMRI.

As to your issue, did you configure the serial port connection? You need to select the serial port number before you can launch Decoder Pro.

If you are using a USB to serial cable? If so, you need to find out what COM port its using. Go to device manager. Lets say for instance you see your USB cable under COM4. Then you have to select COM4 as your connection in Decoder Pro. By default its set on Demo mode. You need to change that to COM4.
 


I want to make my own cable to connect my mrc prodigy express main board to a USB port on my laptop. The mrc factory cord costs $42. But I read somewhere on the jmri page.....that mrc has not yet given up the product info requested by the jmri people.....so that software can be fully tested and tweaked for the prodigy DCC systems.



Mike
 
AllenB said:
It all seems SO complicated that I need an idiots guide. Seems like it would be simple....download program on computer, connect Zephyr to computer, connect loco to Zephyr and program! :D Ah...if life could be as simple. Is there a good source for beginners?
Click to expand...

You could, but what I use JMRI for is for programming decoders only, on a programming track. (a piece of flex track in font of my monitor.) I decided to go with Sprog II version 3 to interface between the USB on my computer and two wires solder to my flex track.

http://www.traintekllc.com/searchprods.asp
 
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Railfan, you have just discovered one of the knocks against MRC, DCC. It doesn't play nice with all conventional systems like Digitrax or NCE does. Earlier versions of their decoders would not allow you to read back cv's when programming. I don't know if this is still true on later versions, but my experience with their decoders has not been good. Tsunami is now my decoder of choice.

Also there is a Yahoo group for JMRI. Check it out. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people there. Google it.
 
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I have JMRI and without would be lost changing things like, horns, volumes for the different sounds, bell rate,etc. Its beyond easy once you have a loco programmed. ONly thing i have not figured out yet is consisting. Thats my only downfall right now.
 


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