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  1. AlienKing

    Which dcc system to use?

    You can have computer control with all digitrax systems including the zephyr, you just need to buy a PR3 or a locobuffer usb. The zephyr can handle transponding, it just won't display any info regarding it. If you got a dt400 or used PR3/locobuffer & JMRI (or any other computer software...
  2. AlienKing

    Which dcc system to use?

    I think you'd be fine with a Zephyr, maybe an extra 5 or 8 amp booster, and a PR3/Locobuffer USB. The Zephyr can control up to 10 trains/consists at a time, the super empire builder can do 22, and the super cheif can do 120. With the Zephyr, you can use 2 cheap DC powersupplies hooked up...
  3. AlienKing

    Linux

    I play a fair share of video games, as well as do some .net devolopement, so my main system will always be a windows machine. My home theater PC runs Mythbuntu, which is just a special build of Ubuntu that comes with MythTV and and a few other useful media programs already installed. I use...
  4. AlienKing

    Reverse loop length

    A single wheel could bridge the gap for a very short time if you have small enough gaps. You may want to cut the gaps a bit larger, and use either the plastic insulating railjoiners or a non-coductive material to fill it in. You could also try painting the track around the gaps (1 or 2 mm) with...
  5. AlienKing

    How The Heck Do I Start A Blog?

    You can get to the create blog page by going to manage.php?do=setup Hope that helps.
  6. AlienKing

    NS F9 HO style

    Are you planning on doing the other A-Unit (NS 4271) in the future?
  7. AlienKing

    Name that Layout

    You only have one small section that will create a reverse loop. Its the pink colored section. You layout's looking great! You may want to cut a popup under the helix incase you have a derailment inside. It would be pretty hard trying to fix that going through the tunnel portals.
  8. AlienKing

    Name that Layout

    Here's a couple of real short lines in Oregon, if you are looking to go that way. Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad (http://www.potb.org/railroad.htm) Portland and Western (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_and_Western_Railroad) I found these buy following the coast of Oregon in google...
  9. AlienKing

    Intro and input request

    Actually, PNG is the replacement for GIF and was not devoloped by Adobe. "PNG was created to both improve upon and replace the GIF format with an image file format that does not require a patent license to use." (wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Png) It's lossless and supports...
  10. AlienKing

    Third attempt HO layout

    A lead (or drill) is a track whose sole purpose is for breaking down or building trains on the A/D (arrival/departure) tracks without fouling the main line. On your design, you couldn't work the yard without being on the main. I made a few changes to the yard. First, I added a lead track...
  11. AlienKing

    Third attempt HO layout

    I was trying to figure out the height of the track relative to each other so I added some numbers. You may want to consider adding them to your diagrams before you start contructing the actual roadbed. They can be useful for figuring out grades quickly, too. My biggest concern is the use of...
  12. AlienKing

    Third attempt HO layout

    That grade would be waaaay to much if you wanted them at the same height over the bridge. If you moved where the tracks cross further up, you would have a more manageable grade. Better yet, you could have a slight rise before the bridge to about an inch or so over normal height for the bridge...
  13. AlienKing

    Third attempt HO layout

    I think he meant move the tracks below mainstreet, instead of above. I also changed the right side so the two tracks cross each other. This will let you have a bit larger radius. I removed a couple of the switches so you could put a nice retaining wall or natural elevation change between...
  14. AlienKing

    Double crossover mechanism

    Err, looking back at my diagram, the cam on the left is hooked up backwards. The stiff wires should be swapped, so they are the same as the one on the right.
  15. AlienKing

    Double crossover mechanism

    You can simplify the situation by assuming that there are only 2 possibly states for the swtich, crossing and strait through. Any other combination will cause at least one train to hit an opposing switch if coming from any of the 4 possible directions. In this situation, all the switches are...
  16. AlienKing

    Freight Car Scale?

    I found an interesting pictures of a scale here: http://www.railroadmichigan.com/greenbaywestern04.html The engines were apparently too heavy, so they used this switch to only let cars go over the scale.
  17. AlienKing

    Help untangle my prototype's mess

    I'm going to be programming it myself, unless I come across a good framework or set of libraries to use. If I find anything, I'll update the thread with more info.
  18. AlienKing

    Has anyone tried using Cat5 cable to connect to digitrax componets?

    The physical connector is different (6 pins vs 8), and the electrical signals are different (2/3 vs 4/8). The software protocols are very different and would not work together. To get something like this to work, you would need to convert loconet to TCP or UDP, and then back to loconet...
  19. AlienKing

    location of lcomtive on track

    Zimo and Digitrax are the only 2 DCC systems that I know of that support what you want to do. With the digitrax, you'd need to use their transponding features. You set up your BLD168s like normal for block detection, then add RX4's for transponding. I'm not familiar with how you'd do it...
  20. AlienKing

    Help untangle my prototype's mess

    The layout is based on the Green Bay & Western in the mid 60's. It interchanges with CNW, Milwaukee Road, and SOO Line on the party I want to model. The GB&W was primarily a fast freight road. It ran 2-4 fast freights a day between Kewaunee (boat slips on Lake Michigan connecting with AA...
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