Train ID recognition is not required with a computer-controlled layout: with simple ON/OFF detectors, the PC follows the trains as it controls them, and always knows where they are. But there is one case where I find Train ID (and the new Railcom technology) useful: if you put a new locomotive on the tracks, you need to tell TC which locomotive it is.
Thanks to Railcom, the locomotive can be automatically recognized by TC.
For people with a ย Loconet bus, the Uhlenbrock MARCo module offers a cheap – even if unperfect – solution.ย Here is a guick guide with Train Controller (Gold, V8).
What this will do
This will allow you to deposit a new locomotive on one track section, ย and have TC automatically know which new locomotive is on the layout. You won’t need to tell TC which train it is.
This is a “gadget functionality”, but the Uhlenbrock MARCo only costs about โฌ35 if you already have TC and Loconet.
For this price, it can’t be perfect: this solution has 2 caveats:
- The direction of the engine won’t be recognized. Once the right locomotive pops up in your block on TC, you still have a directionย check to make.
- Because the MARCo from Uhlenbrock unfortunately refuses to detect anything but Railcom equipped decoders, you can’t use it as a regular detection module on a normal track block. There are two solutions to that:
- Either you use an isolated block of your layout, that will not support regular traffic and just serve the purpose of adding locomotives manually (say a “launch block”)
- Or you equip a single block with regular detectors (on/off) and put a marco detection area in the middle. In that case, the block will still be usable with regular traffic.
This is the solution I went for:
Prerequisites
What you need:
- Train Controller ย (fromย Railroad & Co/Freiwald software) – hereafter “TC”: a popular and advanced PC train control software.
This guide is only for this specific software, but theoretically, any software fully compatible with the Loconet protocol from Digitrax should work in a similar fashion. - A loconet bus (of course)
I use a Loconet with a Locobuffer USB, without a command station (seeย here). This should however work with any Loconet connected to your TC
- Railcom and a Uhlenbrock MARCo module
I strongly advise reading my full overview of the MARCo module. In a nutshell: it detects train IDs using the Railcom technology on the tracks, and it can push the information using standard Digitrax transponding messages over the Loconet.
That’s a good news, because Train Controller knows how to interpret train ID messages in the Loconet language.
Programming the MARCo
We don’t want the MARCo to act as a fancy automation brain, we just want it to send the train IDs over Loconet for our PC to read them.ย Again, refer to my initial MARCo post to understand its configuration. For the purpose of this guide,ย here is a summary of my LNCVs (Loconet-CVs):
LNCV #00 ย ย (Address of your choice for section 1, in my case: 125)
LNCV #02 ย ย =1
LNCV #15 ย ย =99
Activating Train Identification
Important: TrainController V8 considers train detectionย and trainย identificationย as two separate things.
Train DETECTION is your regular ON/OFF detector.
Train IDENTIFICATION is the ability for a module to send the train number to TC.
Train Identification needs to be activated in Train Controller, and so as 2 levels:
- At the interface level
In the options of your DCC system, make sure the Train Identification option is checked. In my case, this is a Locobuffer USB:
- For each locomotive or car
There are many Train ID technologies, so Train Controller needs a bit more information. You need to activate train identification for each single locomotive you have:
-
- First, indicate the Digital System used (Loconet in our case).
- Then, indicate the train ID. As we are using Railcom, the Train ID will always be similar to the Address of the locomotive.
Configuring the track section
As per the limitations of the MARCo quoted earlier, I will need to split my block in 2 sections: one watched by the MARCo – where I will put my trains – and another watched by a standard ON/OFF Loconet detector – for the block to still be usable as a stop track in normal traffic.
Now:
- Set up your block the usual way. Add 2 sections, and setup train detectionย in your non-marco section of the block
- Configure the MARCo track section for (on/off) train detection
Again, MARCo won’t detect non Railcom trains, but it will at least send an on/off message to TC when occupied by a Railcom locomotive. My MARCo section is number 125 ( 8*16-3):
- Configuration train identification for the block
Train identification works for an entire block (not a single detection section), so it doesn’t matter if your section contains several detectors. So go back to the block options, andย go to theย Train Identification menu. As you now, the MARCo is simulating a transponder from Digitrax (it sends train numbers over the Loconet via the Digitrax protocol). So obviously MARCo is not available in the list, you can select “RX8 transponder zone”. You will need to compute which address your Uhlenbrock MARCo corresponds to in “Digitrax module” numbering. In my case, this is address 8 with input 7.
Testing & troubleshooting
If all goes well, Train Controller will automatically detect which locomotive it is, sparing you the task of selecting the locomotive manually.
If the train isn’t detected, double check your calculation of the reporting address. It is easy to make mistakes. Also, check the blue LEDs of the MARCo when your train goes over the track section: if the train is Railcom compatible, and Railcom is activated, they should blink.
If you are having further trouble, shut down Train Controller and use the excellent Loconet-Checker software. If you don’t see the MARCo talking to the Loconet at all, then you have a problem with the module configuration, not Train Controller.
Also note the MARCo has 2 track sections, you can use the second section for a similar purpose somewhere else on your layout.
Last word
Yes: Train Identification is mostly superfluous with a good PC software such as Train Controller. But still, I like the added functionality of not having to declare new locomotives on the tracks myself.
Let’s be clear: the Uhlenbrock MARCo is not a perfect solution but a cheap one if you already have TC and a Loconet.
If you want to spend more money (about 100โฌ instead of 35โฌ), you may want to look at the Tams Elektronik RCD-2 detector, along with their RC-Link PC interface. Not only is it supported by TC, but you won’t be facing the 2 limitations of the MARCo: the direction of the locomotive AND non Railcom vehicles should be detected (if you connect the RCD-2 to an external on/off detector). Thanks Jean on the French forum Tout sur TrainController for the precious info !
Copyright notice: screenshots in this post are from Train Controller Gold V8 from Freiwald Software, which you can try in demo mode. No copyright infringement is intended.ย
External links
- The Uhlenbrock website (mostly in German):ย https://www.uhlenbrock.de
- The TrainController website (in English and German, like the software):ย http://www.freiwald.com
- Tams RCD-2 detector page (in German):ย http://www.tams-online.de/htmls/produkte/RCD-2/produkte_RCD-2.html
- Tams RC-Link (PC interface for the RCD-2, in German):ย http://www.tams-online.de/htmls/produkte/RC-Link/produkte_RC-Link.html
Hi
I found this article extremely interesting. I have ESU decoders on a Digitrax layout controlled by Traincontroller Gold. I would like to try using Railcom with the Marco unit connected to loconet.
However will it work? Do I need an additional booster connected that will see the Railcom? and if so what will I need.
Any guidance would be very helpful.
Thanks
Richard
Hi Richard!
For Railcom to work you need compatible decoders and compatible signal on the track. So yes, you probably would need a new Railcom compatible booster (at least for the relevant layout sections).
Did you have a look at http://www.locgeek.com/2012/10/railcom-railcom-plus-what-are-these/ ? It might help you further.
Pierre
Hi,
How differently would this work if I have the ECoS and ECoSdetector with the 4 Railcom aware blocks ?
Hi John, I am not aware of the level of support for the ecos and train ids in traincontroller, best place to look at are the TC forums or FAQs I think!
Pierre
Could you please be so kind to advise, does ECoS itself support Railcom over its standard LAN connection? Also, I would like to have your comments regarding the some connection.. I already have DR5088RC and waiting for Ecoslink/LocoNet converter, with hoping that ECoS will support this combination.
I will appreciate any reply!
Thank you!
Hi!
Well the Ecoes does support Railcom indirectly through its lan: it does send information in the egos protocol to the pc software of your choosing, of course this software must be compatible with ecos fully, by supporting train ID information from the ecos.
There were some limitations on the ecoslink, I suggest you check the ecoslink documentation as I am not up to date on the latest updates Iโm sorry!
Pierre
Thank you!
I have checked the information regarding the converter – nothing. By the way, I ordered of Piko, it is cheaper and has 4 Loconet ports. Seems, I have to wait to test it. There is no any information about this combination. I certainly will let you know when will be tested…
Thank you!
I (want to) have another application of train detection in computer control.
If one connects several blocks together electrically and attaches to them a single detector then the computer only knows that each train reported by the detector is in o n e of the connected blocks. If, however, the computer program makes it clear which of the blocks it can be then we have saved a lot of sensors.
Here is a simple theoretical example: We have two disjoint circular tracks Track1 and Track2, say and two locos Loco1 and Loco2, respectively, going round and round on them, except that they stop at the blocks (stations) Block1 and Block2, respectively. The two blocks are connected electrically and there is a single detector capable of RailCom watching them. Suppose it observes that Loco1 has arrived at the blocks. The computer knows that it can only be Block1 for Block2 is on Track2 not touched by Loco1 and proceeds accordingly.
Do you know of a software that can handle this situation? I am told that TrainController cannot do that. I am also told that RocRail might do that by simulated sensors if I can write xml scripts for it, but this time it is me who cannot do that.