A-Track - Support for NCE DCC Systems - Updated
This announcement about A-Track, a FREE easy-to-use software application for NCE DCC systems, is posted with the generous permission of Joe Fugate, in the hope that some of the MRH community may find it useful. Any comments or queries are very welcome.
A-TRACK Version 4.4.206 has now been released
This is a minor update to the 4.4.196 version of A-Track, released in March, and corrects a number of bugs found with the very useful assistance of several users. The updated version also incorporates a better-structured Tutorial which lets you digest details of A-Track a bit at a time.
Features
A-Track runs on any Windows desktop or notebook to complement and expand the capabilities of your NCE Power Cab, Smart Booster, DCC Twin, or Power Pro DCC system, and to assist you in running your roster of locomotives on your model railroad.
A-Track allows you to store full details of all of your locomotives and of any stationary (turnout) decoders, with all of their DCC configuration parameters, in a readily-accessible format on a personal computer – but without requiring you to be any kind of computer expert.
Backup of all Command Station settings for all types of NCE system.
Continuous monitoring of locomotive allocation, speed, direction and main functions, and of turnout positions on the layout using NCE Auxiliary Input Units (AIUs) is available on-screen.
While turnouts and other accessories can be operated via Mimic diagrams which represent your layout on the screen, showing all open and closed routes, and reacting dynamically to any turnout monitoring through connected AIUs.
Use Mimics to specify a route across your layout by selecting start and end points. A-Track will then find the best route (if available) and let you set that route with a single mouse-click.
Please Note : To forestall the inevitable comments . . . A-Track is not trying to compete with JMRI Decoder Pro or Panel Pro software – it is simply available as an alternative for owners of NCE DCC systems with a Windows computer. As in all aspects of model railroading, there are lots of different ways of achieving the same results, using similar products from a range of sources.
It only costs you a little time to try A-Track – and you might even like it! But, at the end of the day, like all other tools or techniques, your choice of computer software to assist in your model railroading activities is down to your own personal preferences.
Further details from http://www.a-train-systems.co.uk/atrack, with download options described at http://www.a-train-systems.co.uk/getatrack
Download your copy and give it a try !
Terry Chamberlain
A Free Windows application for NCE Systems
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Decoder Pro vs A-Track
I'm just now jumping into a little work with my NCE system, and of course MANY people mention JMRI decoder pro for programing locos.
Is this new A-track suppose to be a better alternative, or easier to learn, or what??
Brian
1) First Ideas: Help Designing Dbl-Deck Plan in Dedicated Shed
2) Next Idea: Another Interesting Trackplan to Consider
3) Final Plan: may have to create this after final design
. . .
" Is this new A-Track suppose to be better alternative "
Better alternative, debatable. An alternative for sure.
" Easier to learn "
Any piece of software has a learning curve to it and this is no different. Easy to learn can only be judged by the user and his patience or lack of.
I am pretty fluent with JMRI and loaded A-Track just to see. It is totally different GUI (Graphic User Interface) and has it's own learning curve, helped along via an included Tutorial. I do not find it to be intuitive but did manage to "add to list" a few items.
As with any piece of software, working with it is required to learn the ins and outs.
There is no User Support forum for A-Track that I could find so questions are for Terry Chamberlain. You can tell this was written by an EE type, he includes bit level, HEX and DEC notations in each CV listing.
Marc