Browser access to the layout!

Nine years ago I wrote an app for my Hewlett-Packard Pocket-PC that communicated with my train layout control software and could thus be used as a wireless mobile controller for the layout. It worked fine, but with time, the HP device is no longer current, can't hold its charge and is not really useful. I thus decided to replace the app with a plain browser-based solution. This would mean that any browser based device could be used, meaning that any modern smart phone could be used. Visitors to my layout can use their own device to operate trains!

This means that I essentially had to add an HTTP server to my software, and generate the HTML pages dynamically. It took a couple of weekends and I am very pleased with the results.

The main functional features are:

1. Switching the layout power.
Power can be switched on, off, or the 'halt mode' can be set on. These controls are available at the top of every screen (including the '404 not found page!).
This ensures that the power can always be switched off in case of emergency, such as a derailment.

Viessmann 5210 Signalsteuerbaustein

I use the Viessmann signal modules to drive my light signals from k83 (Viessmann 5211) type modules.

Advantages of these modules are:

• You can use momentary contact decoders (k83) type instead of K84s
• Once a signal aspect is selected, it is latched (held) by the module
• Each module can support two signals (up to a 3 aspect plus a 4 aspect)
• It has the ability to handle the Dunkelschaltung of German distance signals on the same pole when the Hp signal is on aspect 0
• It can use 16 VAC or DC input
• The signal lights fade out prototypically

I find it useful to mount them on Velcro strips as shown below. In this case I needed to drive 3 HP0/1 signals and one Vr0/1/2 signals plus a couple of turnouts so I needed two 5211 modules to do the digital switching.

Signal module rack

I attached the rack of K83 type modules and the Viessmann signal modules under the benchwork.

This was mostly to get the rack out of the way as it is a long way off before I will be able to connect any signals...