Im currently using my PC, with a Digitrax PR3 to a DCS100 command station. Im finding that becasue the PC take too long to boot and is very slow im not using my setup much.

Eventually I will buy a hand held controller, but still prefer a PC operated system.

Im looking at teh Raspberry PI's because they are cheap, smaller and quicker than my PC, I know the JMRI system had a software update for the PI's but wondered if anyone is using a PI for a interface.

Also if i can transfer all teh files from my PC to the PI or will I have to recreate all the files on a PI.

Quote from: GWR-Kris on February 19, 2013, 11:23:19 AM
Im currently using my PC, with a Digitrax PR3 to a DCS100 command station. Im finding that becasue the PC take too long to boot and is very slow im not using my setup much.

Windows ? - if so throwing away Windows may help a lot.

Quote
Eventually I will buy a hand held controller, but still prefer a PC operated system.

Im looking at teh Raspberry PI's because they are cheap, smaller and quicker than my PC, I know the JMRI system had a software update for the PI's but wondered if anyone is using a PI for a interface.

JMRI was updated from 3.0 onwards to add ARMv5 support for the native chunks.

Quote
Also if i can transfer all teh files from my PC to the PI or will I have to recreate all the files on a PI.

All the JMRI files should transfer. Whether you can get JMRI running usably on the PI is another question - its a pretty slow device except at video and quite memory limited. On the plus side it doesn't have to run anything *but* JMRI.

http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=12452&p=133552

may be useful

Alan

Getting JMRI running on the RPi is pretty simple. Assuming you are using the "stock" Raspbian image then:

Install java
Download and install JMRI from here: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/jmri/production%20files/JMRI.3.2-r21862.tgz
Run JMRI.

It takes a few minutes to start JMRI the first time, but after that it runs OK.

You still need a device to interface between the RPi + JMRI and the track - a Sprog II v3 or Sprog 3 would do the trick very nicely.

You can export all the JMRI roster files etc onto the RPi as they are just XML files IIRC.

If you can run the RPi +JMRI in headless mode (and use Wiithrottle or Engine Driver on a smartphone or tablet as the controller) then it will run more smoothly as there is less overhead on the RPi.

Cheers, Mike

Bummer - beaten by another Mike 

cheers guys think i might invest in one. will get more room for my soldering station too.

PI tends to take up more space than you expect because you've still got keyboard/display/wireless/powersupply/etc to plug into it all. Some carefully planned boxing might be in order.

My own preference is to use an old Netbook. Defenestrated(*) they will boot start JMRI pretty fast with a minimal Ubuntu or Debian setup. Takes less space, and even has battery backup like proper signal control systems (not that the trains are going anywhere in a power cut)

Alan
(*) ie Windows removed

Quote from: EtchedPixels on February 19, 2013, 02:07:39 PM
PI tends to take up more space than you expect because you've still got keyboard/display/wireless/powersupply/etc to plug into it all. Some carefully planned boxing might be in order.

Errrr ... running headless means you just have the RasPi, the USB power lead, the Sprogg connection ... and that's it.

Even running it as an interactive system, all you have is a flat screen (who uses CRTs these days  ) which  takes up very little room, as does a mouse; and keyboards can be either stacked upright when not used, or rolled up (if you have a flexi one); if you're wanting to be really flash, get one of those tiny keyboards the size of a game controller - or can laser keyboards be used with the RasPi yet    Now that's a space-saver 

Much smaller than a NetBook   

Quote from: MikeDunn on February 19, 2013, 03:34:46 PM
Errrr ... running headless means you just have the RasPi, the USB power lead, the Sprogg connection ... and that's it.

And the 2Amp power supply brick for the USB power supply.

It's not much difference even before you add a screen - add a screen and my netbook wins - uses less power too and is cheaper to run  than a pi.

It's a pity Sprog III doesn't support USB OTG or you'd be able to use one of the USB stick sized Android dongles like the MK808. Maybe the Sprog IV should just have a Rockchip A9 or similar built in and just run JMRI itself

Certainly in O Gauge we are the point you could just install a full wireless internet capable mini Unix box in each loco and stuff DCC entirely

Alan

Quote from: EtchedPixels on February 19, 2013, 03:56:43 PM
Certainly in O Gauge we are the point you could just install a full wireless internet capable mini Unix box in each loco and stuff DCC entirely

I like this idea a lot!

Quote from: EtchedPixels on February 19, 2013, 03:56:43 PM

Quote from: MikeDunn on February 19, 2013, 03:34:46 PM
Errrr ... running headless means you just have the RasPi, the USB power lead, the Sprogg connection ... and that's it.

And the 2Amp power supply brick for the USB power supply.


Alan

Hi

I disagree there, my Pi has been running quite happily on a 700ma Blackberry charger.

Cheers

Paul

Quote from: PaulCheffus on February 19, 2013, 06:46:16 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on February 19, 2013, 03:56:43 PM

Quote from: MikeDunn on February 19, 2013, 03:34:46 PM
Errrr ... running headless means you just have the RasPi, the USB power lead, the Sprogg connection ... and that's it.

And the 2Amp power supply brick for the USB power supply.

I disagree there, my Pi has been running quite happily on a 700ma Blackberry charger.

Exactly ...

Got all the bits now a 512mb Pi, 16GB SD Card etc. Will give this a try tonight and see what its like,

Not getting far with this, had to use my PC to download the JMRI but it wont extract the files and install. anyone got any how tos as im scratching my head now.

What format is the archive, and what are you using to extract it ?

You need to set up your Pi first and get that working. There are plenty of guides via the R Pi site/forum.

Then have a look in the JMRIusers Yahoo group.

Basically install Java via apt-get.
In command line do Startx and open up the Pi's browser (midori?).
Download and extract JMRI on the Pi. Run PanelPro or DecoderPro

You will need some basic knowledge of Linux to get started, but all the info is out there on the web.

PS you shouldn't be downloading JMRI on your PC.

Cheers, Mike