I am looking for any DCC software for macintosh, I really would like to be able to run and program my trains from my laptop. There is a freeware system called PROGRAMMER that I can't find, If anybody can tell me where it is available, I would LOVE to know!!!

-Brian (N scale N.P.

-- Brian Hunter (N.P.scaleN@area51west.com), August 28, 1999

Answers

Brian,

MAC can be a problem with DCC. There's several sources that might help.

FastClock + DCC Tom Bunce 335 Village Creek Dr. Webster, TX 77598-2626 e-mail: tbunce@blkbox.com

I use the FastClock + DCC tohandle all my locmotive programming and custom speed curves. You cna do some control as well, but certainly not like the slick oeprations oriented PC stuff.

You can also check outthe DCC-SIG archives for a lot of code examples and some hardware connection stuff for MACs. Some of that is a bit old now - but it will still work.

With a MAC you 'llhave to do a lot of actual programming or just patch with some programs for specific operations issues.

-- Ed McCamey (emccamey@cheerful.com), September 04, 1999.

I found it a few days ago, and it will work for the simple operations I need it for. I have no idea, though, how to hook it up (to the booster, what booster should I use?). For now the cmd2000 will have to keep my freighters going...

-- Brian (N.P.scaleN@area51west.com), September 04, 1999.

Brian: if you are trying to hook the computer to the command 2000, as far as I know, you can not do this. If you are trying to hook a booster to the command 2000, then I would use the booster put out by MRC. There may be a way to hack the command unit but I don't know for sure. I haven't open mine up yet to see what is inside. Gordon

-- gordon p hulford (ghulford@nanaimo.ark.com), September 05, 1999.

Brian, The booster hook up from the MAC serial port to the track is a cobbled together booster from parts. I used the H Bridge design from Frieburgs (sp?) books. There's some diagrams and parts for simple boosters in the DCC-SIG archives as well. Since I only use this for the programing track, mine was a low current job. I've studied the program booster section schematic from Keith's CVP EasyDCC command station and the parts will work well there also. You will need to build up a booster to hook to the FastClock + DCC running on the MAC. There's just not enough MAC folks about for the DCC wave to support good slick commercial packages.

-- Ed McCamey (emccamey@cheerful.com), September 06, 1999.

There are newer developments that will allow you to use a Macintosh with DCC. Check out the Java Model Railroad Interface at http:// jmri.sourceforge.net/ . Minimum requirements are Mac OS 8, 24MB of memory and a PowerPC. You will also need a computer interface - I highly recommend Digitrax Loconet and a Locobuffer. Schematics are available for the Locobuffer at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loconet_hackers/files/ LocoBuffer/ . The Locobuffer uses a standard Mini-DIN to RS-232 cable to connect to the Mac, and has also been tested using the Keyspan USB to Serial adapter. It works for MacOS 8 through MacOS 10.2 Jaguar. For the record, I program my locomotives using a PowerPC upgraded PowerBook 540C at 100mHz, with 40MB RAM, running 8.1.

-- John Thompson (jwthomp@attbi.com), March 15, 2003.