Serge NOEL
165 lines
8.2 KiB
Plaintext
165 lines
8.2 KiB
Plaintext
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<title>JMRI Hardware Support - LocoBuffer-NG and LocoBuffer-USB to LocoNet®</title>
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<meta name="author" content="Bob Jacobsen">
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<meta name="keywords" content=
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"Digitrax LocoBuffer-NG LocoBuffer-USB java model railroad JMRI hardware">
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<h1>Hardware Support: Connecting a LocoBuffer-NG or LocoBuffer-USB to LocoNet®</h1>
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<img src="https://www.rr-cirkits.com/description/LB-NG-t.png" height="83" width="140"
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alt="LocoBuffer-USB image">
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<img src="http://www.rr-cirkits.com/description/LocoBuffer-USB-t.gif" height="83" width="140"
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alt="LocoBuffer-USB image">
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<p>The LocoBuffer-NG or LocoBuffer-USB provide a very reliable way to connect a computer to a LocoNet®.
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They are produced by Dick Bronson's <a href="http://www.rr-cirkits.com">RR-CirKits</a> company, based
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in part on the original LocoBuffer design.</p>
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<h2>Recommended setup</h2>
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<p>Install the RR-CirKits "drivers", if needed.
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<ul>
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<li>Windows:
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<ul>
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<li>Users of LocoBuffer-NG devices will "automatically" get Windows
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driver software installed if using Windows 11 (and perhaps
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earlier Windows releases, too).</li>
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<li>Users of LocoBuffer-USB devices will need to download drivers
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from the RR-CirKits web page. Note that the LocoBuffer-USB
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generally does not operate under Windows 11 due to
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"security" features implemented in Windows 11. Windows 11
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users are encouraged to upgrade to the RR-CirKits
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LocoBuffer-NG device.</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>Linux and OS-X users generally do not need to install drivers for either
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LocoBuffer-NG or LocoBuffer-USB devices.
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</li>
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</ul>
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<p>The recommended JMRI setup for the LocoBuffer-NG or LocoBuffer-USB:
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<p>Connect the LocoBuffer-NG or LocoBuffer-USB to the computer. If a
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LocoBuffer-USB, make sure that you have installed the appropriate
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drivers.
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<p>Start DecoderPro, PanelPro, or one other JMRI other program to configure
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that program's hardware interface. If you will be using other JMRI
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programs, each program must be separately configured.
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<p> If necessary, open Edit⇒Preferences→Connection"
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to get a window for the "connection" configuration. If the program has
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not been configured before, or if a new "configuration profile" is being
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used, the JMRI program may automatically open this window.
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<p>Select "Digitrax" as the system manufacturer.
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<p>Select the correct interface device - LocoBuffer-NG or LocoBuffer-USB,
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as appropriate - from the list of "System connections", as shown below:
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<p><img src="images/Configure_LB-NG_LB-USB.png" alt="Selecting the
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"System connection" type">
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<p>Select the port which the LocoBuffer-NG or LocoBuffer is using. With
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Windows machines, this is a "COM" port as shown below.
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<p><img src="images/Configure_LB-NG_LB-USB_port.png" alt="Selecting the
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"Serial port" (on a Windows machine)">
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<p>Select the appropriate "Command station type" from the types shown in the
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list.
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<p>If necessary, configure the "Additional Configuration Settings.
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<p>Activate the "Save" button in the lower left corner of the window, as
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shown below. This will save the settings and causes the JMRI program
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to "restart", using the settings you have chosen.
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<p><img src="images/Configure_LB-NG_LB-USB_save.png" alt="The "Save"
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button at the lower left corner of the "Preferences"
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window.">
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<h2>"Powering" the LocoBuffer-NG/LocoBuffer-USB</h2>
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<p>The LocoBuffer-NG and LocoBuffer-USB devices do not require a separate
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power supply under normal cases. They receive power from the attached
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computer, for powering their "USB" functionality and much of the LocoNet
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functionality. They also require a small amount of power from the
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LocoNet's "RailSync" wires, to power the mechanisms which actually
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transmit message data to the LocoNet data lines and to receive data
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from the LocoNet data lines. When a command station is being used on
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LocoNet, the command station typically provides "RailSync" power.
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<p>There are some cases where the LocoBuffer-NG or LocoBuffer-USB is used
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with a LocoNet which does not include a command station. In those cases,
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it may be necessary to provide some other mechanism to provide the power
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needed by the LocoBuffer-NG or LocoBuffer-USB. The "<a
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JMRI href="StandaloneLocoNet.shtml">Standalone LocoNet</a> help
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page provides some suggestions.
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<p>Note that the LocoBuffer-NG and LocoBuffer-USB devices provide electrical
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"isolation" between your computer and LocoNet. This pretty much
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eliminates the likelihood of ground currents flowing through the
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LocoNet cable, through the computer, to some other common connection.
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<h2>Using a LocoBuffer-USB under Windows 11</h2>
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<p>According to the RR-Circuits web page, Windows 11 does not support the LocoBuffer-USB.
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This relates to some security "features" implemented by Microsoft, but which are not
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supported by the LocoBuffer-USB hardware and/or driver software. RR-CirKits recommends
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use of their LocoBuffer-NG under Windows 11, because the LocoBuffer-NG and its
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software drivers are compatible with that particular Windows 11 security feature.
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<p>Several users have reported that their LocoBuffer-USB has worked under Windows 11,
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but <u>only</u> after "disabling" that Windows 11 security feature.
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<p><b>NOTE: Disabling
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of any Windows "security" feature may place you and users of your computer at elevated
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risk of malware, viruses, etc. You assume all risk when disabling security features!</b>
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<p>Several of those successful users of LocoBuffer-USB devices under Windows 11 have
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found that their LocoBuffer-USB has mysteriously stopped working under Windows 11.
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It may be that some Windows 11 "update" can re-enable that security feature,
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without notifying the user, causing the LocoBuffer-USB to become unusable.
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<p>Users of Windows 11 with no longer functioning LocoBuffer-USB devices can <em>try</em>
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to re-disable that security feature, subject to the security note above. Hopefully,
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one can find more information about this kind of problem by searching the web for
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information about the specific Windows security problem.
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<H2>Links</H2>
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<ul>
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<li>The <a href="http://www.rr-cirkits.com/">RR-CirKits</a> web page.
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LocoBuffer-NG and LocoBuffer-USB device users may find support for
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their RR-CirKits devices via their web page.</li>
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<li>The RR-CirKits <a href="https://www.rr-cirkits.com/firmware/">Updates</a>
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web page, where LocoBuffer-USB drivers may be found.</li>
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<li>A large number of LocoBuffer-NG and LocoBuffer-USB device owners
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are members of the "JMRIusers" and "Digitrax-users" lists at
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<a href="groups.io">groups.io</a>.</li>
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</ul>
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<hr>
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<p>LocoNet® is a registered trademark of <a href="https://www.digitrax.com">Digitrax,
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Inc.</a></p>
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