Serge NOEL
101 lines
4.6 KiB
Plaintext
101 lines
4.6 KiB
Plaintext
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
|
<html lang="en">
|
|
<head>
|
|
<title>JMRI Hardware Support - LocoBuffer to LocoNet®</title>
|
|
<meta name="Author" content="Bob Jacobsen">
|
|
<meta name="keywords" content=
|
|
"Digitrax LocoNet LocoBuffer java model railroad JMRI install windows">
|
|
<!--#include virtual="/help/en/parts/Style.shtml" -->
|
|
</head>
|
|
<body>
|
|
<!--#include virtual="/help/en/parts/Header.shtml" -->
|
|
|
|
<div id="mBody">
|
|
<!--#include virtual="Sidebar.shtml" -->
|
|
|
|
<div id="mainContent">
|
|
<h1>Hardware Support: Connecting a LocoBuffer to LocoNet®</h1>
|
|
|
|
<p>John Jabour designed the LocoBuffer as a reliable way of connecting a computer to a
|
|
LocoNet®. He's no longer making them, but <a href=
|
|
"https://locohdl.synology.me/">Hans DeLoof</a> took over and sells LocoBuffer kits (Windows
|
|
only).</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>A reliable successor was the <a href="LocoBufferII.shtml">LocoBuffer II</a>, based in part on the
|
|
original LocoBuffer design. As it required a USB-to-serial adapter with dedicated drivers on computers without a
|
|
serial port, the <a href="LocoBufferUSB.shtml">LocoBuffer-USB</a> was developed (both are no longer
|
|
in production).</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Currently, the most reliable commercially-available way to connect a computer to a LocoNet is the
|
|
<a href="LocoBufferUSB.shtml">LocoBuffer-NG</a>, also produced by Dick Bronson's <a
|
|
href="http://www.rr-cirkits.com">RR-CirKits</a> company.</p>
|
|
|
|
<h2>Recommended setup</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>The recommended setup for the LocoBuffer is:</p>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>The LocoBuffer should be configured with J1, J4 and J5 set on pins 1 and 2, J2 and J3
|
|
set to pins 2 and 3. This configures it for a 19,200 baud connection, with echo on.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>Start DecoderPro or other program and configure it for:
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>LocoNet LocoBuffer</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>Select your port</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>19,200 baud</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>Hardware flow control</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h2>Usage suggestions</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>For the most reliable operation, turn on your layout and computer before you turn on the
|
|
LocoBuffer.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Some computers can successfully communicate at 57,600bps with a LocoBuffer. To do this,
|
|
select "57,600 baud" when configuring and configure your LocoBuffer with J4 and J5 set on
|
|
pins 1 and 2, J1, J2 and J3 set to pins 2 and 3 (J1 is the one that determines the baud
|
|
rate). But we strongly recommend that you try 19,200 and make sure that works first.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>The LocoBuffer controller chip should contain version 1.4.6 or later of the LocoBuffer
|
|
program. Note that LocoBuffer version 1.4.5 has a bug that prevents it from working with this
|
|
program. If you got your LocoBuffer chip after February 2002, this should not be a problem
|
|
for you.</p>
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="flow">LocoBuffer flow control</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>Some Windows versions, in particular Win2000, cannot handle the LocoBuffer's control leads
|
|
properly. You'll see this as DecoderPro or PanelPro being unable to communicate with the
|
|
command station, even though you can see LocoNet traffic with the LocoNet monitor. To fix
|
|
this, try opening the preferences and select "no flow control" option, click save, then quit
|
|
and restart the program. Note that this problem is specific to certain Windows versions, and
|
|
you generally should have "hardware flow control" selected.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>If the problem persists, please try jumpering-together the pins 5, 6 and 8 on the
|
|
LocoBuffer's 25-pin connector. These are the CTS, DSR, and DCD leads in the LocoBuffers RS232
|
|
interface, and connecting them will (perhaps) fool your computer into accepting the
|
|
LocoBuffers flow control signals.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>That connector has a row of 12 pins and a row of 13. Looking at the solder-side of the
|
|
board, pin 1 is at the end of the row of 13 (toward the center of the board), at the end
|
|
nearest the RJ12 LocoNet jack. Next to that are pins 2, 3, 4 and 5 with traces on them. Pin 6
|
|
is next to that, with nothing connected. Pin 7 (ground) has a trace, then pin 8 does not.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>So the suggestion is to connect pin 5 (with a trace) to pin 6 and 8 (without traces). Be
|
|
careful not to short to pin 7, which is already connected.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>LocoNet® is a registered trademark of <a href="https://www.digitrax.com">Digitrax,
|
|
Inc.</a></p>
|
|
<!--#include virtual="/help/en/parts/Footer.shtml" -->
|
|
</div>
|
|
<!-- closes #mainContent-->
|
|
</div>
|
|
<!-- closes #mBody-->
|
|
<script src="/js/help.js"></script>
|
|
</body>
|
|
</html>
|