Staging & tchnology

Amazing Jas. The amount of progress you make, while including quite a bit of complexity, is simply amazing. And humbling. 

What type detectors did you use and how were they integrated into JMRI?

I have been waiting on some components to build a couple of Bruce Chubbs DCCOD’s. Funny how I only wanted a couple but parts don’t come in packages of one or two! I also made some mistakes while placing the order online so have a bunch of resisters that may come in useful for something else but won’t work for this circuit. One ohm, 10 ohm, etc. instead of 1M ohm, 10K ohm .... oh well.  

Congratulations!

Your layout has turned out really nicely.  When can we expect a cab ride tour?

Nice...

Looking good. 

I'd like to hear more about that monitor system. I need to do something similar. Are you using the DVR as a switcher?  

Randy

That must feel good! Major

That must feel good! Major milestone are always something to celebrate.

Thanks Neil...

All of my detectors are Digitrax BDL168’s, they are all fed into JMRI via a Stand-alone LocoNet into my laptop and into JMRI.

I looked at Bruce’s stuff but wasn’t confident enough to build my own gear, plus the group of guys that operate on the layout have a lot of experience with Digitrax, and also integrating it with an NCE system too.

Hi Randy...

I’ve been planning the camera system for a little while now, I wanted something that could monitor the staging yard ladders and reverse loops, as well as major junctions on the layout.   I’ve been searching for suitable systems and methods too.  I’d looked at everything from internet cameras to vehicle reversing cameras and everything in between.

I kept coming back to the security systems though, they are setup exactly for what we want them for in model railroading, and everything usually comes in the one box.  Just had to find the right system, I’ve had two Swann systems on the house for a few years now, the first one which is a 4 channel - HD 1080P system is now on the layout shed (internal & external) and I have a newer 8 channel - S_HD 5MP (2560 x 1920) on the house.

I finally found a reconditioned 8 channel - 1080P system for $440 AUD ($305 USD) so I’ve purchased that and already installed two of the cameras on the Staging Yard ladders and have them up and running too.

This is the link to the system here in Australia that I have purchased:

https://www.swann.com/au/r-swdvk-845808v

The install is literally plug & play, you can even stream the cameras to your smart phones & PC for live viewing.  The cameras feature infra-red so the Staging Deck doesn’t even need to be lit to see the trains.

Here a few screen crabs from my smart phone of the system.

I’ll have all eight cameras feeding through a seperate monitor at the dispatchers deck, being security camera software I can have many variables of viewing patterns, zooming and recording too.

Well worth the investment, and very happy with the results so far.

Jas...

Swann cameras

I have no direct experience with Swann systems, so I’m making some assumptions here.

If you were so inclined, and depending on the camera placement, you could download the video and edit it together to create YouTube videos of your operating sessions, or just to show off your excellent work.

Hi Ron...

I think there is the ability to actually stream the cameras “live” through YouTube.  And I’ve read that you can also stream them through a web browser, all ideas I’ll look at once we are up and running.

Jas...

Cameras...

Thanks for the info, that system looks nice. I've been looking too, and, like you, keep coming back to security cameras. The problem I haven't yet figured out is how to have one or two cameras on one monitor at several different locations. For example if a layout has two helices, and you want cameras on each, do you need two separate systems, or is there a way to send one camera to one monitor, and another camera or two to another monitor?  It's gonna get pricey real quick to have a separate system for each location. 

Randy

Randy you can do...

Multi cameras on one screen with the security camera software.  And if you wanted to extend the image to another position in the layout room you can always use a HDMI/VGA splitter.

The above screen shot is from the four camera display, but you can different configurations.

Jas...

Cameras

One of my plans is to use an 8 channel system to view the layout and give the dispatcher a screen with tiled camera images.  The dispatcher can use that to get OS's rather than have the crews call them in.

I am thinking of something

I am thinking of something similar and using it to represent towers along the line and the views that would be seen from there. On the line I am working on the "dispatcher/tower operator" will use that to handle the main and passing sidings. That will be the only detection on the layout, so he better stay awake. I like the idea of multiple views on a screen, that looks real good.

I saw a layout in a magazine that actually installed cameras in the towers to have as "realistic" a view as possible, I am thinking an overall view in two directions in some cases might be better.

@Rob

I think that might have been Doug Tagsold's Toledo Terminal RR layout in Blissfield MI.  I visited it, and it was VERY cool.  He had small monitors installed for the tower operators, with cameras in the actual towers.  I thought it was very realistic and looked fun to operate.  I thought about doing the same on my N&AC but decided the layout just isn't big enough.  I'm not operating with a dispatcher and tower operators, but I might do it anyway someday just for the coolness factor.

That sounds like what I was

That sounds like what I was thinking of Michael. I also believe that Arthur Houston installed a system on his layout to watch different areas. I think the tower operator views from either in the towers or just from their perspective would be great to add to a spot to represent the tower operators, even if there was only one!