What we have here is a failure to comunicate.....

While all is well and good with the physical refit of the man cave, then one thing came along and bit me on the arse. The magic that consists of a whole heap of ones and zeros failed to come to the party.

As someone who spent most of his working life beating machinery into submission, the dark arts of data transmission along a couple of pairs of wires has me stumped.

For one reason or another, I could not for the life of me get the engine driver on the smartphone to communicate with JMRI on the computer via Wi throttle on wifi. Which in theory proved that my initial set up for smartphone control of Victoria Street was pure luck, of the lottery kind.

The original setup using the antique laptop that still runs windows XP, that now requires plugging in an external monitor as so to actually see information on a screen, While I could call up a throttle on the screen and use it, therefore the JMRI was working, but the wi throttle sent out server and port information the smartphone could not pick up, even when the numbers were punched into the smartphone (REPEATIVLY!!!!). This also applied to the bride's I phone and I pad.(ARGH!!!)

The smartphone was connected to the wifi, yet neither were playing the game. I phaffed about with firewalls, tried to use set port numbers, googled inane requests for help, and nothing worked. What really sent me spare was that I could use the internet on the ancient laptop via the wifi router!

The original set up.

 

 

What went haywire

 

 

So in a moment of genius, I thought, what if I loaded up JMRI on the 'good' laptop, brilliant! The program was loaded, a few tweaks, here and there, and bingo, under a trial operation before plugging in the DCC-USB interface, the wi throttle was transmitting server/port details to all available wifi devices.  However, some clown who will remain nameless managed to stuff up the loading of the driver for the DCC/USB interface, so therefore communication between the good laptop and DCC/USB interface no did not work.

 

 

From the frying pan and into the fire

 

This is where a normally very patient man, who can drive in peak hour without an even raising an eyebrow, and follows a football team that has not won a flag since 1954, is about to lose his mind.

 

Enter the IT guru, (the Bride) with questions like, "Did you read the instructions?" and  "Have you ticked the compliance boxes?"

 

Within two minutes, the bride has done something that certain clown did not do, and as I witnessed a wry smile on her face, she pulled out her smartphone, connected to wi throttle, ask me what tram number to enter. (812) then proceeded to 'cut a notch' and 812 trundled off along Victoria Street. 

 

Yes, she is a keeper.

 

 

The improved set up

 

So now I use the ancient laptop for programming DCC, and the good laptop for the occasional  multiple running with wifi.

 

From one very happy household under the wifi,

 

Regards Glenn

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



Service Changes

"Due to operational requirements during this week's extreme weather, trams on Victoria Street will be replaced by buses from first service Thursday 16 to last service Friday 17 January.

Trams replacement buses will operate to the normal service frequency. However, they may not arrive at the scheduled time. The tramways suggests you allow extra time for your journey."

Yes, it is a shade warm in town today (44.C), so the cross suburban services have been sacrificed for the city services.

Keep cool, keep safe from under the AC and the wires.

Regards Glenn

A place for everything, and everything in its place.

Finally, I am happy with the study, I am sure that the bride is happy with the study. For two and half days, there was the tear out, the clean up, the obtaining of the shelves, the building and then the fit out.

Here is the overall look.

Clean white lines.

Let's have a look at some of the features.

Glass fronted cabinet, with LED lighting for larger models,

bits and pieces, periodicals and reference books and photos.

 

The tool cupboard, for modelling materials, long forgotten kits,

basically the old desk clutter, plus the spare computer monitor.

 

The integrated workbench, with computer/internet,

printers, more storage and flexible LED task lighting.

 

An under the counter holster for the powercab.

 

Box framed display cases for short bodied

models,(most are still waiting for DCC!).

 

The flexible task lights come into their own during

the evening, (the take away boxes on the right

 contain all the cars/trucks that need to be installed).

 

The trams are obviously providing transport during

a crippling fuel crisis resulting in the lack of cars.

 

Sitting back and marvelling at his handy work,

 

Regards Glenn

 

 



 

 

 



 



A change is as good as a holiday.(Housekeeping)

There are some times, where you look at your current situation and say this isn't good enough, then there are some times when one needs a gentle shove in the right direction. The man cave/study is a prime example, two kids, five and under, together with a 'study' that has the OH&S of a Dickensian factory, that will put the domestic authorities offside, so far that in the fact that it may offend inlaws and other visitors, now requires attention.

Victoria Street, started off as a test track built on one of those wall suspended Ikea shelves. It evolved, then extended, plus adapted, and slowly converted to DCC. The biggest issue was the storage of reference/modelling material, especially for 'works in progress'.

 

The 'study' on a good day, (yeah right!)

 

 

So when an article appeared in, Australian Model Railway Magazine/ blogspot Dec 13 about utilising flat pack self assemble storage.  A eureka moment! Therefore, after a little of bit of show and tell later with the bride, the seed had been planted for a study refit.

 

 

  A work in progress.
(note the hi vis and the beer, it's all safety first!)

The blank canvas.........
more to come.

Stay tuned, from under some wires?

 

Regards Glenn.

  

 



Time flies by.....

Well, it seems that Christmas is now upon us, so I decided to get in early, and as per usual I have wasted a bit of time, resources and cash on creating this years Christmas card. so enjoy.

 

The Christmas tree is created from one Noch 20 odd foot conifer, some 'hundred and thousands' for baubles, a little frayed golden/silver gift ribbon for tinsel applied with PVA glue, then plonked behind the signal box at Victoria Street.

 

So, all the best for the season, stay safe, avoid family dramas, and remember it is all about the kids.

 

From under the wires and the plastic pine needles,

 

Regards Glenn

 

 

In the Pink (Now for something different) and a visitor.

As I wade through my fleet of trams and attempt to retrofit DCC and lights, I am also a Dad to a pair of girls, one pushing five and the other nudging three. Needless to say my life is surrounded by most things pink*.

The oldest has been haggling me about a 'tram' for her for a while, and it should be pink! This got me thinking...

• one slightly ordinary Mehano trolley.
• one of those plastic static German trams that seem to come attached to a card.
• one NCE D13SRJ decoder.
• one pantograph (found in the bits box)
• a couple of LEDs and resistors.
• and some phaffing around.

This loose collection of missed matched items are in the process of being cobbled together to create this, a cheap, durable tram that works and meets the design brief as stipulated (demanded!).

2312 (the pink tram) a work in progress
at the corner of Victoria St and Epsom Rd

 

Now for the cunning part, this tram has been tinkered with as so to allow trials in the operation of live overhead on DCC (pretty clever eh?)  The other thing is, with the plug in decoder, I can 'borrow' it if the need arises.

 

Also the oldest is in the process of birthday season, so a new member was added to the family, Sparky. A rather cheeky hand friendly budgie (parakeet).

 

 



Sparky poses on the Victoria St crossing square.

(so far he has not manage to 'deposit' any traffic hazards)

 

On the computer front, my brother in law, Mick ( a hoarder of technology) had in his collection of 'assets' had a spare computer monitor gathering dust, better in my study than eventually on the hard rubbish. Thanks Mick.

 

From under the wires and a couple of little thumbs and a few feathers.

 

Glenn

 

*Disney Princesses, the house of mouse has lot to answer for.







 



More lights and a moment of darkness.

Yes, I do know it has been a while, and I do believe that I am now settling in with the new gig so therefore I may have developed some sort of routine that allows some more modelling.

Back to Victoria Street, the fleet is now in the process of undergoing an update, I have purchased some 3mm warm white LEDs for directional headlights, and now I am in the business of retro fitting them, also, while individual trams are on the workbench, interior lights and fibre optic marker lights are being installed where required.

So far X1 460 is now running the new LEDs and now has interior lighting, all controlled by the NCE Z14SR DCC decoder.

X1 460 at twilight.

  

SW6 870 has also recently undergone a refit, with headlights, saloon lights and the original (1970's) layout of marker lights (white, red, white) either side of the headlight. With the left over function of the decoder, one cab end can be lit up as if the desto box lid has been left open. This open desto lid provides better illumination for the trailing cab at night time, as the red marker lights don't seem bright enough for half cut drivers to realise that there maybe a tram ahead! As per prototype, the drivers cab bulkheads are painted white. This tram still runs the 'trusty and rusty' Bachmann 'pancake' mechanism.

 

The magic (madness) inside

SW6 870 now in service with lights and the correct doors.

The trailing cabs at night, (870) with and (812) without the rear desto box lit.

 

Now for the dark side, the vintage laptop that I use for the JMRI decoder pro has decided to extinguish its backlight for the screen, thus throwing a decent sized spanner into the works, until I can get a second hand monitor, I will have to struggle along by attempting to shine a desk lamp off the screen and try to decipher the text like some demented Egyptologist reading hieroglyphs in a tomb. (there will be no chance of using the 'good' laptop in the study after sharing a 'fatal' beer with the last one, by order the minister of war and finance!)

 

So from under the wires and squinting at the screen,

 

Glenn