Raspberry Pi 3 in the House... and Running JMRI!

[jdcolombo]

Very nice thread!.

Question: if I want to develop panel files on my laptop, can I sync the files to the Pi across my home WiFi network?

Yes.  I kept a backup of my JMRI roster file on an NAS (Network Attached Storage) hooked to our local network.  If you open the file manager in Raspbian (the file cabinet icon on the desktop), and then on "Go" in the menu bar and then on "Network" in the pop-up box, it will show you all the network-connected resources.  As long as you've set your main computer up to share files across your network, you can get to those files from the Pi.  In my case, I clicked on the name of the NAS; it asked for my login credentials (since I have the NAS password protected with different user accounts set up on it), I typed in the login credentials, and then all the files on the NAS showed up.  After that, it was simply a matter of copying the roster backup file to the Pi desktop, and then using the "import roster" function in JMRI to import the roster info.

John C.

[John]

My Pi came today .. next step is to install JMRI and see if I can get it working with the layout .. I got mine from Allied Electronics .. it didn't come with a heat sink .. so will build my own .

[mighalpern]

John
I got my Pi from Allied as well, please post pix and how you got JMRI to it.
 I got stuck working the night shift this weekend and so have not loaded or even started playing with the Pi

[jdcolombo]

John
I got my Pi from Allied as well, please post pix and how you got JMRI to it.
 I got stuck working the night shift this weekend and so have not loaded or even started playing with the Pi

Take a look at the posts on page 3 of this thread.  I have a list of steps and there are some screen shots from Mike.

John C.

[John]

Take a look at the posts on page 3 of this thread.  I have a list of steps and there are some screen shots from Mike.

John C.

I'm planning on following those steps as well .. I just need to get an HDMI to DVI cable first

[John]

I set my system up today .. got it running with JMRI fairly quickly .. the directions in this thread are good .. just follow them .. I also set up putty and xming to allow me to use my desktop as a display ..   now I need to figure out what to do with it .. I'm thinking networked JMRI applications

[mighalpern]

Same here
Got it running and updated as per directions and got JMRI running.  I didn't have time to hook it up to the railroad, but that's next.  Everything went ubber smooth and quite fast.  I was afraid I would have to type out command lines to get the Pi running, but it all work so cool.  truly amazing
thanks to all for supplying the step by step directions.  might have to get another one just so I can play with it and learn some programing

[eric220]

I've been following this thread and getting more and more interested in giving it a try. I do have a question. If I want to run a Pi headless, can I remote into it using the Mac screen sharing function?

[railnerd]

I've been following this thread and getting more and more interested in giving it a try. I do have a question. If I want to run a Pi headless, can I remote into it using the Mac screen sharing function?

First you need to setup and enable the VNC software on the Pi:

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/remote-access/vnc/


According to https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/remote-access/vnc/mac.md

"For Mac OS you will not need any extra software. Just select Go -> Connect to server ... (⌘ K) from the Finder menu, enter vnc://raspberrypi.local:1 as the Server Address and click Connect. Here :1 must correspond to the display on which you started the VNC server on your Pi. If there is a problem, try replacing raspberrypi.local with the IP address of your Pi."

-Dave

[eric220]

Cool, thanks!

[eric220]

First you need to setup and enable the VNC software on the Pi:

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/remote-access/vnc/


According to https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/remote-access/vnc/mac.md

"For Mac OS you will not need any extra software. Just select Go -> Connect to server ... (⌘ K) from the Finder menu, enter vnc://raspberrypi.local:1 as the Server Address and click Connect. Here :1 must correspond to the display on which you started the VNC server on your Pi. If there is a problem, try replacing raspberrypi.local with the IP address of your Pi."

After looking that over, looks like it means learning command line. Not what I was hoping for, but time spent in setup to save time in usage is worth it.

[John]

you could bypass all of that, and just get a monitor with HDMI ...  you can also set JMRI up to start automatically on boot up ..

[mighalpern]

Ok I'm stuck.
The pi booted up just fine and the updates went  quick.  I downloaded JMRI and it comes up just fine, but It is not talking with the PR3.  It see's the router and SSID that is on it.  I have a strange serial port choice.  " /dev/ttyACMO"  is one of them The other is pretty close to the first with a single letter different.  i have tried both.So what do I do???
there isn't a linux PR3 driver ( as far as I can see ).  I unplugged the USB connection and tried it on my laptop, and that worked good.  i was able to connect and use my phone..  I followed the instructions but obviously there is something missing.
any ideas. ???  its so close

[C855B]

You select one of the two USB ports. One will be your keyboard, the other will be the PR3. So you have a 50:50 chance of hitting it on the first try.

Once selected and it sees you have a Digitrax LocoNet, if you select just "PR3" from the list, all that will do for you is allow you to program decoders. You need to select the type of controller (Zephyr/DCS50, DCS100, etc.). You're talking to the controller via the PR3.

[jdcolombo]

Ok I'm stuck.
The pi booted up just fine and the updates went  quick.  I downloaded JMRI and it comes up just fine, but It is not talking with the PR3.  It see's the router and SSID that is on it.  I have a strange serial port choice.  " /dev/ttyACMO"  is one of them The other is pretty close to the first with a single letter different.  i have tried both.So what do I do???
there isn't a linux PR3 driver ( as far as I can see ).  I unplugged the USB connection and tried it on my laptop, and that worked good.  i was able to connect and use my phone..  I followed the instructions but obviously there is something missing.
any ideas. ???  its so close

Select ACMO.  Then when JMRI tells you it isn't communicating, close it, reboot the Pi (click on MENU at the top of the desktop), and then reopen JMRI.  I had to do this before JMRI recognized the PR3 on the port.  If you get the same message after rebooting, close JMRI, don't reboot, then reopen JMRI.  Same message?  THen go to JMRI preferences and select the ACM1 port and try it all again.

John C.