Recently, nce made a usb interface to connect to the cab bus. Then, if you agree its advanced, userfriendly and fun, purchase the interface hardware at your hobby dealer or direct from mrc and start enjoying the future of dcc. However the cab address becomes user definable via the pc interface. Connecting the phpro, power pro, or power house, to a pc. I purchased the interface to connect my model railroad to my computer for the purpose of using jmri software. Fyi when usb interface is used with a sb3, sb3a or sb5. However, jmri is only one of many pieces of software used with our usb interface. The nce usb is the only way to connect a power cab or sb35 to a computer. Using nce usb interface for the first time on my computer with jmri software package. Sprog 2 dcc decoders programming via computer locgeek.
Nce usb interface for nce cab bus nce223 features supports. If the jmri interface to nce was the nce cab bus rs485 at 9600 bits per second it would appear that the nce command unit serial port might not be necessary. Jmri hardware support nce java model railroad interface. Just to be clear this applies to the specific usb interface nce introduced as a way to connect a computer to the powercab. Use a usb to serial cable to connect your computer to the power pro learn more here nce usb interface.
For computer programming andor operation of power cab equipped layouts. This page gives some general suggestions for implementing a standalone loconet as well as suggestions for configuring jmri software to make use of the standalone loconet. Usb interface read me first welcome to the nce information. Note that this is not the same thing as the nce usb interface, which is mostly for use with the. Architecturally, panelpro would appear to nce as yet another nce throttle. I have jmri connected to my layout with an nce usb interface. Apr 27, 2016 when i was testing decoder interfaces the nce usb and powercab combinatin was, along with the sprog, one of the most reliable devices.
On one side is a usb type b connector, and on the other side is the rj12 which connects to an nce cab bus using rs485. Usb interface and jmri welcome to the nce information. The computer connects to the usb interface via a usb cable. The nce usb interface doesnt support all of the current jmri.
We provide a link to the drivers for the silicon labs chipset. The usb interface when configured for power cab ver 1. Problem as of 1142018 using the jmri nce consisting tool via nce usb interface. Some of the restrictions are based on the type of system the usb adapter is connected to. Nonwindows users may need to install additional drivers for their system to recognize the nce usb interface. It adds considerable flexibility to a beginner level system giving users the ability to program a wide variety of decoders using decoderpro and other jmri software. I set up the pr3 to act as the loconet terminating device. It did not work for me for the interface would not establish a connection.
Using a usb interface with different types of nce products. Jmri is free software in the public domain and not related to nce in any way, shape, or form. I am probably the only human to have a problem with this nce interface. Jmri software, including decoderpro and panelpro, works with your digitrax command station to program decoders. Took items out of package and plugged in per instructions. Create a project open source software business software top downloaded projects. Jmri model railroad interface jmrireports nce error. I also go through the steps to setup jmri to run withrottle lite. Nce usb interface for the first time with jmri software youtube. Since originally installing jmri, i updated my computer to windows 10. One of the usb jumper setting purposes is to limit the type of commands that the usb adapter will pass on to the command station. Nce dcc power cab with usb computer interface jmri server ipad mini motorola smartphone. The usb allows connection to jmri and other computer control software it gets connected to the powercab by a 6wire rj12 cable. Then go to the preferences panel of a jmribased program.
Sometimes i also want to go beyond what jmri or rocrail offer and have direct control on my layout with my own software, either running on linux or arduino. The usb interface then connects to the layout through the cab bus with a normal cabthrottle cable. Pr3 for loconet to computer interface, and jmri software. In other words unlike the v6 usb software, you no longer have to give up a throttlecab address to use the v7 nce usb adapter. Jmri does not allow speeds greater than 9600 for this reason. This mostly impacts the power house pro and the wangrow system one command station. Nce powercab and usb interface with jmri posted by mrh044 on wednesday, february 5, 2014 8. The next thing i wanted to try, in preparation for computer and signal control, was block detection. Also allows me to use my laptop as a wireless base station and use my phone as the controller. Using a usb interface with different types of nce products windows screenshots jmri drivers usb interface sign in go to full.
The nce power pro command station uses an eprom to contain its software. Usb driver download and installation instructions welcome. A number of commands present when using a serial cable are not available when using the nce usb interface. Ive added two new binary commands on the power cab. The valid range of cab id values for the usb interface vary depending the command station, software version in the command station, and version of the firmware in the usb interface. I too initially thought i needed an nce usb user interface when i recently switched and purchased a new nce procab wireless system replacing another dcc brand.
Usb driver download and installation instructions the nce. Nce power cab usb computer interface posted by thomas niebauer on dec 19th 2019 this communication works very well with the jmri software to download and load cvs etc. Jmri model railroad interface jmrireports service mode. Board versions and jumper settings welcome to the nce. Use a usb to serial cable to connect your computer to the power pro learn more here. Installing the nce usb interface and making a new cab bus cable for the connection to the power panel and usb interface, using nce powercab.
Currently this only sets the cab id of the usb interface. Aug 19, 2015 jmri works very well with nce power cab, sb35 and power pro. For jmri specific questions, including questions about how jmri and digitrax hardware interact, the jmri users groups. Forgive me if this has been answered before but a search did not give me what i was looking for.
However the capability varies with the version of the nce usb board you are using relative to the version of software used by the dcc system. Connect the usb interface to the right side of the power cab panel pcp or the. Some interfaces may be usb only and if the computer lacks a usb port, a serial to usb adapter may be the answer, or if possible, installing a usb interface card. Nce connected via nce usb on com3 disabled false available communication ports. The example talked about in this thread deals with nce, specifically the nce powercab and the nce usb interface. Uwt100 guide connecting to dcc systems tcs train control. We provide a link to the drivers for the silicon labs chipset used on board. Using digitrax devices on a non digitrax dcc controlled layout. The nce usb interface provides a connection to a computer from your nce dcc system.
Com3 port is confirmed at 9600 baud in device manager windows 10. We also support nondcc layout if there is a way to make a computer communicate with a given piece of model railroad equipment, it is possible to connect it to jmri. When i dont have the test track connected to the computer, the powercab works fine and i could program the cvs that way, but i would rather use the jmri interface. Mar 25, 2012 yes, the jmri software talks to your dcc system. Note that this is not the same thing as the nce usb interface, which is mostly for use. Nce dcc power cab with usb computer interface jmri server. See nce v6 usb adapter information about a software bug and what to do. This is the first place to go for jmri specific help.
Would it be possible to create something like a tablet that can run jmri, has a builtin dcc interface and then has two ports to connect wires to the track. This tool will change options in the nce usb interface. This allows users to program and operate from a computer using software. Finally over the past weekend i got a chance to set up my nce powercab for a test. Jmri supports a wide range of dcc command stationstyle products from various model railroad automation vendors.
Its available from the nce online store as well as many ebay or amazonbased stores. This nce usb adapter allows nce dcc systems command stations t o be connected to a computer to run pc software such as jmri decoder pro andor panel pro. Its not a rj11, but a rj12 connector, i was tired when i made this video. If you use a usb to serial adapter and connect to the serial port. The leds flash on the usb interface but there is absolutely no movement from the engine. Jmri is an american opensource project for dcc train control. The nce usb interface doesnt support all of the current jmri features and functions.
Im trying to set loco roster and some cv settings with jmri. This interface allows the jmri software to send commands, and apparently will also interface in some way to the powercab programming track, i. Nce power cab usb interface setup with jmri and witrottle. When i try to start decoderpro i get this message in a window.
The nce usb is the only way to connect a power cab or sb35 to a computer do not use an nce usb to connect to a power pro. Nce power cab system with single programming track that is known to be functional 4. Its also contains a programming interface decoderpro, which has a very good reputation. Installing the nce usb interface and making a new cab bus cable for the connection to the power panel and usb interface, using nce. Recently i received several emails asking for help with getting the nce usb interface to work with decoderpro. Most computers with a usb or serial port will be adequate.
Jul 22, 2019 i have jmri connected to my layout with an nce usb interface. In this video i show you how to setup a nce usb interface to be used with a power cab setup. Jmri infrastructure for nce powerpro, powercab, and misc. Usb interface and jmri welcome to the nce information station. We do what we can for our customers that own the usb board. Panelpro could assert inputs to the layout in terms of nce. Hi all, has anybody implemented jmri on an rpi and using an nce usb to interface to the cab bus of an nce powerpro system. The list of limitations for the nce usb is on the jmri web site. Have put together steve todds system but commands are not making it to locos on the track, but the nce usb works fine when driven by jmri on a win xp machine, so interested to know if anybody else has had success and if so, how they did it. When i was testing decoder interfaces the nce usb and powercab combinatin was, along with the sprog, one of the most reliable devices. Nce power cab usb computer interface traintek, llc. The usb side of the board will draw 50ma from the host computer.
I purchased a nce powercab starter set along with a nce usb interface. Using jmri with nce power cab, sb5 and phpower pro news. Nce computer interface for programming and operation of the nce power cab. I have an nce usb interface that i got as part of a bunch of stuff a while ago, and thought id try it out today. I plugged in my nce usb interface and a message appeared at the bottom of jmri decoder pro stating that service mode programmer is offline. In looking over the jmri site it says using the usb interface doesnt allow an awful lot of the features available, so am i to conclude that jmri and nce power cab dont work unless you have a booster. The usb interface connects a computer to an nce command station. Nce usb computer interface for powercab dcctrainautomation. The nce usb is the only way to connect a power cab or sb35 to a. Uwt100 guide connecting to dcc systems train control. I had to reread the nce references a couple times at the jmri website. Nce powercab and usb interface with jmri model railroader.
To do this, it communicates with the command station over the loconet using one of several types of adapter. Reading and writing page doesnt seem to do anything. Jmri model railroad interface jmrireports not seeing. If your model railroad hardware is supposed to connect to a computer via a traditional rs232 serial connection, but your computer doesnt have any rs232 ports, what do you do.
You can now install jmri or your other choice of software. For jmri to communicate with an independent loconet, the jmri computer requires one loconet adapter device per independent loconet. Hi all, i decided to go down the nce powercab route and purchased the usb interface to go along with it and downloaded jmri, all well so far. Jmri works very well with nce power cab, sb35 and power pro. We do what we can for our customers that own the power cab usb board. They are for ops programming of locomotives and ops programming of accessoriessignals the commands are 0xae and 0xaf. Jmri hardware setup support usb to serial adapters. Jmri model railroad interface java applications to control a model railroad layout.
We want it to be usable to as many people as possible, so were building it in java to run anywhere, and were trying to make it independent of specific hardware systems. Jmri model railroad interface jmrireports nce error nce usb. Jmri software is available for apples os xmacos, linux and microsofts windows operating systems. Nce manufacturer of dcc electronics for model railroading. Jmri is not an nce product, therefore we only provide limited jmri. Click here for the manual from nce information station. I installed jmri, connected the power cab, pcp and usb interface, then connected the usb to my laptop. Nce usb interface board, latest jmri version, java and usb drivers from nce website downloaded per the instructions 3. Followed by a message operations mode programmernce in offline. The jmri project is building tools for model railroad computer control. Jmri s rosterbased command station configuration does not have this limitation. Windows usb drivers welcome to the nce information station. Requires the nce power cab, a usb cable, and computer.