If the digital station is switched on initializing processes take place. It depends on the digital station, if the last positions of points reported by the point decoder WDMiba to the SX bus will be considered within the initialization process. Our professional central unit ZS1 naturally includes the positions of the track points. WinTV v10 is the latest TV application from Hauppauge. For TV in a window or full screen on Windows 10, 8 and 7. It has a new look and new features, plus support for WinTV Extend.

Summary:While a computer is not necessary for implementing or using Digital Command Control, there are a number of software packages available which will increase your enjoyment by automating tasks or simplifying decoder programming. With the increasing complexity of multi-function decoders equipped with sound, a tool such as the computer enhances the process by taking the drudgery out of programming multiple CVs while reducing the possibility of mistakes. Other applications include automation, dispatching, control of turnouts, or enhancing operation sessions by planning and scheduling train movements

It should be noted that connecting a computer to a Digital Command Control layout is not required for setup or the running of your layout, but they can be helpful; for the same reasons they can be helpful in other areas of everyday life. Since DCC is digital by nature, it's easy to have computers control, or monitor, your layout.

If you are just getting started with DCC Software, we suggest that you read Connecting your computer to DCC article to give you some background on the use of computers with Digital Command Control.

• 1General Information
• 2Free Software
  • 2.1Java Model Railroad Interface (JMRI)
• 3Commercial Software
• 4DCC Manufacturer Specific Software
  • 4.1Digitrax
  • 4.2Lenz

General Information

There are freely available applications and tools as well as commercial applications. Regardless, you still need to connect your computer to your DCC layout before you can use any of these tools.

Generally, you connect your computer to the layout via a device called a computer interface using your throttle network that is a part of your DCC system. For example, if you were using a Digitrax system, you connect to the LocoNet through a PR3, PR4 or a Locobuffer. Some systems allow you to connect the computer directly via a serial port built into the command station (EasyDCC, NCE, Hornby Elite). Other systems dispense with the command station altogether and the computer connects directly to a special booster (SPROG, Hornby eLink).

Types of DCC Software

There are various types of DCC software available. Some software programs your decoders, which can be either mobile decoders or stationary decoders. Other software, allows for train control and acts like a cab (throttle).

Please see the Software page for other software relating to trains at a more general level.

Decoder Setup

Modern multi-function DCC decoders have many options. To get the most of them, you must put specific values into a large number of configuration variables (CVs). This is called programming, and most DCC systems provide a means to do it. Typically, this involves letting you put a number into a CV that is referenced by its location; hardly a user-friendly interface! A computer can simplify this by keeping track of values, while displaying options in human-readable terms instead of bits.

Operations

Through the use of a computer interface, you can control your layout using your smart phone, a desktop/laptop computer, or automate your layout so you can relax and entertain guests without trains crashing into each other.

Free Software

Java Model Railroad Interface (JMRI)

The JMRI software is a suite of programs and is a single download. Don't worry about about trying to get each part separately - they're all bundled together. Also, you do not need to use each part of the suite to get a specific task done - that is you don't need to setup the automation part if all you want is to quickly program your decoders.

JMRI - DecoderPro

If you need a quick, simple to use, cross-platform software for programmingdecoders (mobile and stationary), then this is the choice for you. Many people that have expensive track control software, still use this software for its ability to quickly, and simply program a wide range of decoders. The JMRI suite of programs runs on Mac Classic and OS X, Linux, and Windows machines, all under Java. All major manufacturers of DCC equipment (Supported Hardware webpage), systems and decoders, are supported. A very active JMRI users group is available for user support on Yahoo Groups.

1. Use DecoderPro to configure your locomotive decoders and keep a roster of your DCC equipped locomotive fleet. Makes programming sophisticated sound decoders quick and easy.
2. Use PanelPro to run locomotives, throw turnouts, control signals, and even create control panels. But you shouldn't expect it to be as powerful as a commercial layout management program; JMRI isn't meant to compete directly with them.
3. Use the LocoTools application with your Digitrax command station to control your layout, monitor communications, configure add-on devices, etc.
4. Employ the JMRI interfaces to write programs for your own layout. Making this easy is an important goal. This can be done via the scripting language, or by adding new Java code to the program.

1. Write new general-purpose tools. Although this is a little harder than writing automation for your own layout, writing tools that other people use can be very satisfying.
2. Implement the JMRI interfaces for a new system. Having JMRI work with other systems is an important goal. Once an implementation for another system works, the general tools (e.g. symbolic programmer, automations tools, signaling, etc) can be immediately used.

JMRI - Layout Automation

JMRI Layout Automation applications provide a large number of ways of automating your layout, ranging from simple fill-in forms to full-fledged scripting and programming capabilities. These include:

• Routes
  • A simple form of automation is to define Routes, which allow you to simplify the control of your turnouts.
• Signal logic
  • JMRI provides built-in signaling logic which can be used to drive your signal heads in many applications.
• Scripting
  • JMRI provides a very powerful scripting tool. Based on a real programming language, it gives you access to all the JMRI capabilities.
• Writing your own code in Java
  • The JMRI libraries greatly simplify writing a program to make your layout do exactly what you want.

JMRI - PanelPro

PanelPro is an application for operating screen-based CTC control panels that reflects the real-time state of your railroad and let you control it - almost like a Prototype dispatcher.

PanelPro contains a host of tools for managing and running your railroad. Fast clocks, throttles, Loconet managment, turnout control, consisting, and even the ability to control layout power is available.

You can create simple or complex panels that graphically illustrate your layout, which look just like a CTC system panel.

JMRI Operations

The JMRI suite now includes an Operations function. This requires the input of your motive power, rolling stock, and your 'locations'. Once all that is done, you can create trains starting and finishing at various locations on your layout, and JMRI will then create the manifest and switch lists. The software can also assign motive power, or the dispatcher can decide what power goes on what trains.

JMRI's operations software is not meant to replace commercial packages. But for simple operations, it can be useful.

The operations segment includes a tutorial to make it easier to learn how to implement operations on your layout. For more information see the JMRI Operations webpage

WiThrottle

WiThrottle is an application available for the Apple iPhone and iPod. It creates a simple touch screen based wireless throttle. JMRI supports the WiThrottle. You require a wireless network to use this app. There are also similar apps for other systems.

See WiThrottle Lite and Full version. For more information go to the WiThrottle website.

See also suggestions for Tsunami setup for WiThrottle

Railroad Automation

Railroad Automation is a Windows command and control application strictly for the Loconet network. It has many advanced features such as: slot inspector, packet traffic inspector, LocoIO programmer, DCC decoder programmer, multiple throttle control, editable vector based switchboard display, supports tracks, turnouts, blocks, routes, sensors, signals, accessories, event binding and scripting, sequence recording, speech recognition control, remote control over TCP, and more. The application is also compartmentalised into several API layers which makes it easy for third party developers to build derivate works on its foundation.

Rocrail

C/C++ Control Viewing Program for a Digital Model Railroad in Manual and Automatic Mode. Supported Multiple Controllers Marklin 6050 IntelliBox P50x SRCP DDL DDW erddcd HSI88 Dinamo OM32 Lenz Selectrix EDiTS Pro RCI Zimo LocoNet srcpd. Linux and Windows.

A-Track

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. A-Track provides full facilities for the programming of all types of locomotive and stationary (turnout) DCC decoders, to save all details on a personal computer, and to help you run your locomotives.

• Works with all types of NCE system – connects automatically to any interfaced system
• Runs under any version of Windows from Windows XP to Windows 10 on any PC
• No need to be a computer expert
• Fully documented with an interactive Tutorial and the relevant Help page available at any time at the press of a key

Main Features -

• Helps you organise your roster of DCC-equipped locomotives on your railroad
• Program and back-up all of your locomotive and accessory (turnout) decoders - safeguarding all the hours of effort put in by you (or your Club’s DCC expert) in programming and configuration
• Look at the decoder set-ups for several locomotives at the same time, see the differences between them, then tune their speed (and function) characteristics to run together in a consist
• Copy decoder parameters from one locomotive to another – very useful when you purchase a new locomotive similar to one already in your roster, saving a lot of programming time and effort – just make sure you use A-Track first to make a back-up copy of the original settings in the new locomotive (!), then give the new locomotive an appropriate description and its own DCC address, plus any minor enhancements that you might want to make
• Backup and restore all of the setup and operational parameters held in the command station

• Control all of your layout turnouts via a click on on-screen mimic diagrams
• Finds the best route (if available), involving fewest turnouts, between specified start, mid and end points, and lets you set that route with a single mouse-click
• Continuous real-time monitoring of locomotive allocation, speed, direction and main functions, and of turnout positions and block occupancy on the layout using NCE Auxiliary Input Units (AIUs) connected via the Cab Bus, with status shown live on mimic diagrams
• Lets you run and instantly switch between multiple NCE Command Stations connected at the same time to your PC (such as a Power Pro driving the mainline and a Power Cab controlling your program track) – concurrent connections to as many as four NCE systems are supported

A wide range of Decoder Manufacturers is supported, including Digitrax, NCE, Lenz, SoundTraxx, QSI (Quantum), ESU (LokSound), Train Control Systems (TCS), Broadway Limited (Paragon 2), MTH (Proto-Sound 3), Model Rectifier (MRC), Bachmann, Hornby, and ZTC.

A-Track incorporates a complete Macro facility with which you can create, edit, review, and run macros. With your Power Cab system, A-Track gives you the capability to expand the Power Cab's rather limited Macro facilities to equal those of Power Pro systems, allowing up to 256 macros.

PR1DOS

PR1DOS is a DOS-based program that will allow you to program a Digitrax® Decoder using a Digitrax® PR-1.

(This software seems to have disappeared. It seems to have reached version 2.2 back in 1999.)

PR1WIN

This software appears to be dead now.Digitrax PR1 Help Page

• PR-1 for Windows allows for the PC based configuration of DCC compatible mobile and stationary decoders. The PR-1 software is free of charge but requires the Digitrax PR-1 programmer.
• The PR-1 is no longer being manufactured by Digitrax and will be replaced by a new product. Until this product will be available, all development works for a 32bit version of PR-1 is suspended.

Commercial Software

Big Bear Rail Controller

The Big Bear Rail Controller is an easy to use PC based controller application aimed at the British modeller supporting multiple throttles and track diagram. Cost is based on the number of controlled locos or trains and prices start at £19.95 for a 7 loco system with incremental upgrade options for those that wish to start small and grow later. A free version is available for those that wish to use Big Bear with no more than two locomotives or wish only to use the track diagram.

Hornby RailMaster

RailMaster, from Hornby. It has a database of more 1,500 locos going back to the 1970s, allows full control of locos, signals, points, turntables and operating accessories from a computer.

Optimized for touch screen operation using MS Windows. There is a simple programming language built in that allows the building of automated layouts. Build programlets and merge them into large programs for more sophistication.

Read and write CVs in plain English. Plans include a loco detection system, with the ability to recognize which train has passed a point, direction, scale speed and even whether it was accelerating or decelerating. Other planned add-ons include hand-held controllers for more platforms, including Palm, CE, Windows Mobile, Android and Apple's iPod, iPhone and iPad.

CTI Electronics TBrain

CTI Electronics This software will control DCC trains and accessories such as turnouts, from a screen-based CTC panel and on-screen throttles. Although DCC trains can be controlled 'out of the box', most other functions require some programming via the bult-in TCL programming language (TCL = Train Control Language). TCL is similar to BASIC and easy to learn, aided by step-by-step lessons in the supplied manual and on-line 'help'. CTI does not currently support monitoring of DCC-based input devices such as occupancy detectors, but separate hardware modules are available for sensor inputs, and also for controlling turnouts or signals. Thus it is possible to create a hybrid system with DCC control of trains and CTI hardware for track occupancy and turnout position sensors, with either DCC or CTI hardware for turnout and signal controls. Here is an example of a layout with CTI-controlled signals and turnouts.

They refer to some of their products as Train Brains, used to create a Central Traffic Control system (CTC) similar to the prototype CTC, without the complexity seen of layouts implementing CTC in the past.

CTI also makes a device called ACELA, for those wishing to write their own model railroad control software. The Acela Network Bridge hardware module is about the size of a credit card. The Acela manages a real-time control and sensing network. You create things like control panel GUI's and signaling logic using software such as JMRI. The Acela module handles the rest.

They also offer RFID hardware that can be used to track trains or rolling stock as part of a detection system.

Railroad & Co

Drivers Rautenhaus Digital Cameras

Sometimes refered to as RR&Co. This is a very advanced system that can track positions of trains using virtual detection blocks. Of course, you'll need a few real detection blocks to make this work, but it's very effective.

Train Tools Software

Train Tools Software has been producing professional model railroad software since 1991. DCC software for the model railroad industry. All software is scale independent, internet enabled and supports all popular command stations.

WinLok

Digitoys Systems produced software called 'WinLok' for running and configuring DCC systems. The last version is v2.1 with no future versions planned. Since this is legacy 16 bit software, it will not run on any modern Windows OS (i.e. Vista, 7, etc.). Digitoys Systems has since ceased doing business. It is equivalent to JMRI's PanelPro

While a version was released for free, that was ten years ago and WinLok is no longer available on the internet. There was a review published in the December 1995 issue of Model Railroader. WinLok version 1.5 had a suggested list price of US$189.95.

GbbKolejka

GbbKolejka EnglishGbbKolejka in Polish New software for Lenz/Roco and DDW systems.

Model Rectifier Corp.

MRC offers a proprietary computer interface for their Prodigy DCC products, along with software. The software is for Microsoft Windows only, and is the only software which works with their Prodigy Computer Interface. At this time there is no other software package that can interface with the MRC Prodigy DCC system.

ZUG DCC For LenzXpressNet

ZugDCC, is a easy to use DCC Control program to operate LenzXpressNet DCC systems through the Lenz LI100, LI101F and LI-USB computer interface.

ZugDCC is Shareware. You can download a limited version of the software to try it, and upon registering it, other features will be unlocked and available.

Some of the features:

XpressNet only.

Drivers Rautenhaus Digital Voice Recorder

• Supports the fast 19200 baud connection of the LenzLI100F and LI101F.
• Support for LR101 feedback modules with map display and text read-outs for block detection.
• Supports the LI-USB.
• Easy Add-to and Remove-from MU consists.
• Support for CV1 through CV256.
• All programming modes are supported, including Program on Main (PoM)
• Easy 2 and 4 digit address programming.
• Accessory control.
• Clickable Turnout Map.
• Turnout / accessory decoder routing.
• Scale & Metric calculator.

See the Kent Software website for more information and registration fee.

iTrain

Developed by Berros.

ITrain supports multiple Operating Systems.

From their website:

iTrain offers an easy to use solution to control your model railroad with your computer(s), especially if you want to automate only parts of your layout and keep control of the rest yourself. For example, automatic block control avoids collisions and you control which train is driving manually or fully automatically according to a selected route.

Drivers Rautenhaus Digital Camera

Supported DCC command stations include. Refer to their website for exact details.

• ECoS ESU
• TAMS
• MRdirect 8
• Raptor via P50Xr interface
• TwinCenter
• LocoNet®
• Digikeijs DR5000
• MoBaSbS
• Rautenhaus SLX & RMX
• Müt MC-2004
• FCC (Doehler & Haass / MTTT)
• Stärz ZS1 & ZS2
• Zimo MX1 & MX10
• Massoth DiMAX
• OpenDCC Z1
• BiDiB (among others Fichtelbahn)
• Dinamo
• DiCoStation Digital-S-Inside 2 (DSI-Service only on Windows)
• CAN-CC-Schnitte
• SPROG (not for programming)

iTrain also supports a number of devices:

• LoDi-System: S88-Commander, Rektor, Booster and Shift-Commander
• µCON-System: s88-Master, Manager, Booster and RailSpeed
• GCA-101 (LocoNet®*) via TCP and UDP Multicast
• HSI-88 (HSI-88 USB only on Windows)
• CAN-PC-Schnitte
• TAMS RailCom link
• Blücher GBMX16XN via USB.
• OM32 & OC32
• DinaSys Turntable Control (DTC)
• Games on Track® GT-position (as a feedback interface with loc addresses)

DCC Manufacturer Specific Software

Digitrax

Digitrax software is only compatible with computers running MS Windows.

DigiIPL / DigiIPLII

Digitrax offered their DigiIPL (Initial Program Loader) which allowed the update of the firmware in certain Digitrax products. It is not integrated into the SoundLoader package.

Firmware Updates

It is possible to use the IPL software to update the firmware:

• Command Stations
  • DCS210
  • DCS210+
  • DCS240
  • DCS52 (Zephyr Express)
• Boosters
  • DB220
  • DB210
• Throttles
  • DT602 Advanced Super Throttle

Sound Loader

SoundLoader allows substitution of sound files, editing existing ones, or creating custom sound files with Digitrax SoundFX decoders.

It works with the PR3 and PR4 Programmers. The DigiIPL is integrated into this package.

Lenz

Universal CV Editor

For all decoders that comply with the DCC standard, manufacturer independent!

Drivers Rautenhaus Digital Driver

• Optional: Programming on a programming track
• Service Mode Programming or Operations Mode Programming
• Graphical representation of speed curve
• Tool Tips for CVs
  • Easy configuration of individual bits
• Can be used with all Digital Plus interfaces, the programmer and the LZV200 command station
• Decoder templates for all Lenz digital plus decoders as well as Lenz 0 locomotives
• Integrated editor makes design of individual templates easy
• Manual programming for decoders if no template is available
• Control for direct testing of settings
• Save decoder configurations: Create your own decoder database! Easily restore proven decoder configurations at any time
• Firmware update of Digital plus decoders (from version 7.0) when used with the programmer
• Firmware update for throttles LH01 and LH101
• Can be used with Digital plus version 3.6 or higher
• Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10

Controller

• Control trains with your computer
• Display of consists
• Switching, all functions
• Display of function status, direction of travel and speed
• Easily test the decoder settings programmed with the CV Editor

TCS

TCS has released their DEPOT (Desktop Engineering Programming and Operations Tool) software suite. Current version is TCS DEPOT v0.1.11, released 01/01/2020.

Currently it only runs on operating systems Windows 7 or better. Versions for the MacOS and Linux are in development.

External Links

Model Railway Software - Links to various software sources, from operations and switch list generators to DCC related software, as well as converters and calculators.