Page 9 - NMRA Roundhouse May-June 2019

sive models but have crippled firmware. Dd-wrt can unlock a lot of the hidden functionality of your router. Not for the faint of heart though.
• Good: if your router supports it use the 5ghz node or both if you can.All iPhone, iPad, and Android devices made since 2013 support 5ghz wifi.The chanc- es of channel contention are greatly reduced in the 5ghz band.
• Bad: using wifi to connect your JMRI computer to your closed network
• Good: use a good quality Cat5 or Cat6 cable to connect the computer to the router.The throughput between the router and computer is far better when physically connected. Remember, your computer is going to be acting as a serv- er. It needs all the network bandwidth it can get.
• Bad: hiding the router under the modules
• Good: try to find a high spot to place the router.Always use the manufac- turer’s recommendations for antenna placement. (normally vertical and not at an angle) This will increase the range of your wifi network.
• Bad: bridging your network with the internet
• Good: keep it a closed network. No additional traffic other than throttles. No risk of unwanted guests.
Freemo South Hardware
All of my DCC equipment is housed in portable “Digiboxes”.These are simple plastic tool boxes with power supplies, fans, and a multitude of connectors.The original idea came from Chris Shinn
of the Digitrax mailing list some 15-20 years ago.
Box 1
• Digitrax DB100a booster
• Digitrax DSC200 booster / command station running in booster mode
• 2 5a laptop power supplies and a 12v cooling fan
• Digitrax PR3 as a second computer interface and decoder program track output
• UP5 panel for Loconet and throttles
• Storage for cables, throttles, connec- tors, and RJ crimping tools.
This gives me 2 power districts of 5 amps each. One gotcha to beware of is early Digitrax boosters have a reversed rail A and B output. If you are using Digitrax in a setup make sure all the out- puts are the same or make sure any old boosters have their rail A & B reversed to match newer equipment. I opened the case of the DB100a and re-soldered the wires to match current equipment.
Box 2
• Digikeijs DR5000 command station/ interface/wifi/Z21 server
• 2 Digikeijs DR5033 3amp boosters • 3 4amp laptop power supplies
• Digikeijs DR5097 Loconet Hub
The DR5000 is acting as the command station for the whole setup.This gets
around the slot max issues with Dig- itrax and also allows the connection of Xpressnet throttles as well as Loconet. Theoretically the box allows for 3 3amp power districts, but in reality the output from the command station is never used.
Computer and Wifi
• Ancient HP laptop running JMRI con- nected directly to the DR5000 via usb • TP Link router with upgraded DD- WRT firmware.
• The wifi setup allowed for 3 nodes and up to 60 concurrent connections.
• 5ghz for iPhone, iPad running WiThrottle
• 2.4ghz for other devices running Engine Driver
• 2.4ghz through the DR5000 for devices running the Roco Z21 app.
Digibox 1 showing power and Loconet connections
Millarville
In addition to the Digiboxes, Millarville has a self contained Loconet and PR3 to run the switches.This in turn connects to a second JMRI laptop and router to allow the switches to be controlled by
a tablet and kept completely separate from the rest of the set up.
Andrew Cocker
June 2019 - ROUNDHOUSE 9