Hi,
some great work has been done here in order to get digital slotracing up and running. My proposal is to found something like the NMRA (the standardisation body for RR-DCC), which would moderate the standardisation process for digital slotracing. DCC is a very good start into digital slotracing, as it provides a reliable, proven protocol for transmitting signals over DC. But it is foreseeable, that the DCC specification will need to be modified in order to better suit to slotracing needs. Some of the tasks of such a body would be
A look into history of NMRA/DCC shows that such a federation would be helpful: Some 25 years ago, a small German firm (Lenz Elektronik) invented a protocol transmitting signals over DC and being very reliable and robust working under difficult conditions like bad contacts between rails and locos. Lenz started creating first products and, at the same time, opened up the protocol description and applied for standardisation within the NMRA. This is how DCC came into life, with only one manufacturer resisting (Märklin).
So, anybody out there who would be interested in taking part? I could contribute webserver, .org domain, maybe some OpenSource CMS installed there.
Best
Joerg Resch
some great work has been done here in order to get digital slotracing up and running. My proposal is to found something like the NMRA (the standardisation body for RR-DCC), which would moderate the standardisation process for digital slotracing. DCC is a very good start into digital slotracing, as it provides a reliable, proven protocol for transmitting signals over DC. But it is foreseeable, that the DCC specification will need to be modified in order to better suit to slotracing needs. Some of the tasks of such a body would be
- set up and run a .org website being the home for information on the standard and specifications to be established
- moderate the standardisation process through RFCs, similar to IT standards development
- get in touch with all manufacturers and ask them to open the protocol they use
- Create a compatibility label for products developed for that standard
A look into history of NMRA/DCC shows that such a federation would be helpful: Some 25 years ago, a small German firm (Lenz Elektronik) invented a protocol transmitting signals over DC and being very reliable and robust working under difficult conditions like bad contacts between rails and locos. Lenz started creating first products and, at the same time, opened up the protocol description and applied for standardisation within the NMRA. This is how DCC came into life, with only one manufacturer resisting (Märklin).
So, anybody out there who would be interested in taking part? I could contribute webserver, .org domain, maybe some OpenSource CMS installed there.
Best
Joerg Resch