CTC and JMRI

The Mesquite Belt utilizes almost every aspect of the technology of Digitrax with computer-controlled signal logic through JMRI. Lots of the things configured on the layout were figured out by trial and error, endless googling, or trial and error. In this section, we will go over the different parts of the Mesquite Belt that make it run the way it does, including installing and configuring Digitrax boards, interfacing them with Loconet, using JMRI to see what the layout is doing and thinking, designing a virtual CTC panel via PanelPro, and eventually interfacing the computer with a physical CTC Panel via Arduino. Feel free to join us on Facebook if you have questions or comments.

The Layout is powered and controlled by 2 DB150's (one acting as a command station and the other as a power booster), 2 PM42's to manage power distribution, 3 BDL168's to manage block detection, and 6 SE8c's to manage turnout control, fascia-mounted pushbuttons, and signal heads. All signals on the Mesquite Belt are high-quality BLMA signals, including target-style, dwarf, and cantilever that are connected to the SE8c board through TSMK's.