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Model train locomotives are built today with a computer chip to control the
lights, sound and motor functions. These new model trains are controlled by
computers using model railroad software and a model railroad interface.
Computer controlled model trains are now the standard to be found in model
train locomotives on a model railroad layout. Computers are used for model
railroad operation and control all the functions of the locomotive. The
Computer is attached to a model train hardware interface, called a command
station. The hardware interface is either USB cable, RS232 serial cable or a
network interface. The next movement is to integrated model train
control using
VoIP and Video Conferencing for less than $5 per month!.
The Model Railroad Industry is going through a change which we
projected back in 1997 when we introduce model railroad software products that
were client server based (first time in the world this happen). 2007 started
the community change. By this I mean the way users interact with personal
computers is more of a community now, were users are sharing information on how
to run their railroads. Computer Dispatcher Web, is a hosted product that is
uses Microsoft Live meeting to allow desktop applications sharing in a
conference setting
Computer model train software programs are designed to use a
standard software interface. The most popular model train software interface is
designed from Microsoft .NET tools and is compatible with the XNS interface
specification for gaming. The model railroad software interface is a standard
software programming interface that allows the computer to control different
type of model train layouts using different command stations hardware
interfaces. The model train computer chips use a standard protocol called
Digital Command control or DCC. Computers can program DCC model trains using a
standard software programming interfaces that are scale independent and
supports all types of model railroad equipment – N scale, G Scale, HO Scale, O
Scale, S Scale, TT Scale and Z scale
There are many different products to control model railroad
operation. KAM supplies train layout software programs that are written to
KAM's model train software using Microsoft .NET interface for model railroad
operation and control. This interface is called Train Tools interface
using an open interface called Train XML.
The Train Tools interface allows users to have a greater level of model
railroad operational control in running toy trains. The model train
software layout programs provide visual feedback of the model train
layout. The visual level of control increases when sound decoders
are added. The visual and sound feedback enables users to interact
with their model railroad layout for better operational
running. Model trains with sound chips and speed control are more
fun to operate with a computer controlling the operation task of a model train
layout.
There are different ways to integrate computers with a
model trains. There are three computer standards have emerged that
easily allow computer model railroad layout control. These standards are
Lionel's Train Master Control Computer (TMCC), M.T. H. (Mikes Train House)
Electric Train’s Digital Control System (DCS) and National Model Railroad
Association’s (NMRA) Digital Command and Control systems (DCC). The
popular Standard is DCC for HO and N scale
Digitrax,
Easy DCC(CVP
systems),
Lenz,
and
North Coast Engineering,
Lionel/MTH
(DCS/TMCC) for O27 and
Massoth/MTS
for LGB.
Today, with wireless networks in the homes
(KAM announced Wireless PDA in Oct 2001), Windows XP and Vista
computers users are connecting their model railroad layout to computer networks
always available online access to home model railroads from the internet has
become very popular. At KAM, our software has supported this model
and other client server network configurations and multiple
PC/multiple users since the late 90's. The popular approach is to control
your trains using Train Server to control the model railroad train layout using
a command station hardware interface. The Train Tools software products, has
grown to include different technologies to provide a vendor neutral approach to
new solutions such as the Expressnet server, loconet server, and the loconet
over TCP. Loconet protocols and others are supported using KAM's .NET Managed
interface. The Train Server client interface specifications are available on
our web site for KAM’s XML protocol and .NET Train Server remote client
software interface.
The computer chip DCC/TMCC/DCS standards allow Lionel, M.T. H.
Electric Trains, Bachman Trains, MRC and QSI (QS Industries) to add
interactive functionality to the model trains. The best marketing tool for
model trains is to make the trains more interactive using sound and cab
consoles such as RailDriver from PI Engineering (www.raildriver.com).
Computer control is a pull marketing technique design to attract new
users. Model railroads can run multiple trains at the same time
and use computers to control turn outs (switches). Users can run
wireless Windows Mobile devices to control a model train while the computer
has full layout automation using location sensors track and locomotive
decoders.
Model trains with
computer control enabled the placement of train sets in Wal-Mart with
advance sound capabilities and simple switch turnout control. Model trains with
advance capabilities can successfully compete with the video games for mind
share. Model trains are a very interactive hobby, where users can create
elaborate model railroad layouts. Users develop numerous skills associated with
modeling Trains. These skills include electrical, computer programming,
mechanical, as well as artistic.
Software for the Digital Railroad ®
means simply expanding the capabilities of the these
computerized model trains with a hardware computer interface (usually serial or
USB), where the computer controls the model train directly using a command
station, and computer software programs control the model train layout. This
capability allows users to use virtual signals on model railroads to simulate
real signal and switch hardware. These virtual signals and other technologies
were pioneered by KAM in the late 90’s for model railroads. Engine
Commander and Classic Panel are examples of implementation of these
virtual signal/accessory concepts in model railroad software.
KAM’s Train Tools software is simply Software for the
Digital Railroad - a collection of software programs to control, operate and
dispatch your model railroad train layout. KAM's Train Tools
software programs work on a wireless (wifi, wiMax) network with Windows
Mobile or on the users stand alone computer system. Train Tools software has
user friendly graphic user Interface (GUI) designed for advance or novice
users. User simply have more fun operating model rail road layouts and running
model trains.
KAM's software is the industries most innovative software products for model
railroads and continues to lead the industry in new features and capabilities.
KAM software is scale independent and supports the popular command
stations (
Digitrax:LocoNet, LGB:MTS, Lenz:XpressNet, Lionel:TMCC, Massoth:Dimax, NCE:PowerPro, ZTC:ZTC511 and
others) and does not require DCC to operate. KAM's Software
products execute on Microsoft's current operating systems
Win CE (PC2002-03, Mobile 5.x), Win 200x, Windows XP, Vista 32/64 and .NET servers
. In 2007, web conferencing has become the perfect way to
handle dispatcher operations. Again, where KAM leads, others follow.
Overview of QSI locomotive sound functions
Train Tools programming tutorials
Looking to write programs using .NET, Visual
Studio Express (C#, vb) and SQL Express? Try Train Server
.NET managed SDK. Free web download source samples and shipped
on every CDROM.
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