Dispatching Software

[Bruce Bird]

After a recent op session at a friend's HO layout we were discussing the potential availability of dispatching software for model railroads.  Using the tools that draw dispatchers profiles for ATCSMon you can draw a model layout very easily.  Then you would need to devise a way to assign blocks on screen, just like track warrants on the real thing.  And finally- and this is what I would think would really make the product- use voice-over-internet to allow virtually anyone to be the dispatcher.  I could have Lee sit down at the computer at home in Maryland and be the guest DS and run the whole WM on a Saturday afternoon in Illinois.

My friend's HO layout has a computer-based DS program that throws all of the control points on his layout.  One of the tech guys behind the ATCSMon set up his layout and now has the screen shot showing the traditional US&S toggle switches to throw the turnouts.  It's pretty slick.

[John]

I am using JMRI and CATS ..

[Zox]

I am using JMRI and CATS ..

CATS? 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I would love to see some hard core dispatching software in model railroading. I haven't seen much out there, or really played with it. I'm affraid i'd be spoiled by the dispatching software we use at work.

[asciibaron]

C/MRI is still around.  JMRI has Panel Pro.  you can make a US&S model board and control a layout with either C/MRI or JMRI.  or are you talking about something else?

http://www.pamodelrailroads.com/jwarner/CTC.htm


all your form d's are belong to us

[Ian MacMillan]

I'm using JMRI Operations module and TrainController 7

[eric220]

I'm using JMRI, and it's pretty powerful.  More relevant to your question, JMRI has a server mode that allows it to transmit data to a remote terminal.  I use Digitrax, and it actually retransmits the LocoNet packets over IP.  I'm not sure how it does with other DCC systems.

[wm3798]

I turn on my system and I run trains...

But I like the idea of getting to play along at home!  What's a guy got to do to qualify?

Lee

[asciibaron]

But I like the idea of getting to play along at home!  What's a guy got to do to qualify?

you are already on the WM wavelength, i think you are a shoe-in Lee.

[Rossford Yard]

I like the realism of having a UP layout dispatched by a guy sitting in Omaha, a CSX layout dispatched from Jacksonville, or a BNSF layout dispatched from Ft Worth. In fact, I think I will buy an airline ticket to send my dispatcher out of town for my next session! ;D

[SirTainly]

I've always thought this was a cool idea and started writing software to do it a while back, now there are some really good alternatives though.

[Bruce Bird]

Thanks for the ideas, guys!  I'll pass them along to the techy and we'll see what transpires.

[Ian MacMillan]

Ed and I were talking about this in October for his layout when it gets up and running on having a remote dispatcher where I could dispatch the layout from NH while they were having an ops session in MD.

[learmoia]

Comment Removed.

[John]

..... I've looked into this too... It should be a relatively simple addition to the JMRI Panel Pro software.  For those who are more tech savy than I.  The JMRI software already allows creation of a diagram of your layout.  And instead of having occupancy of the diagram tracks driven by block occupancy and switch indication, it would be driven by Track Warrants issued...

~Ian

JMRI has everything you need.

You build the panel with the turnout / signal functuality ..

You start the lbserver, make sure you have a routable IP address asssigned to it .. appropriate ports open on the firewall,

Your remote dispatcher, running the jmri software starts and loads the same pannel .. connects to your lbserver .. and you can dispatch and control the layout from remote ..

what you would also need is a skype connection .. or some other VOIP solution that would allow your DS to talk to the remote layout .. if you have a VOX connection to an FRS radio, you could then add voice also ..