Hi Arthur,
A silly question. I'm investigating Raspberry Pi and its use as a power/controller for my trains. Do the loco's require a sound card, or whatever, for this 'system' to work. Probably a dumb question
....
No such thing as a dumb question! Sound cards are an optional extra.........
Dual answer as this does come under DCC automation, undoubtedly the DIY route is both economical and limitless in user configurability.
Scenario one, Raspberry Pi configured as either a stand alone WAP (Wireless Access Point) or just a normal device on a home WiFi network, JMRI* as the controlling software, Arduino Uno with either a genuine controller board, clone as in a Deek Robot Board, or the ultimate in power the "DIY" Turbo charged H Bridge controller, forms the "brains" as the DCC Central Station.
There are far more routines for use with Arduino with DCC, a stand alone Raspberry Pi on the other hand has very few options under DCC.
Smartphone, latest version of Android not required, as long as the Engine Driver App can be installed.
Then it's just a case of imagination and technical ability, loco control, signal control, switch control, bolt on a CAN interface for genuine two way communication, the possibilities are limitless and endless..........
Scenario two, Massoth Automatic Control for locos and switches, using a variety of Massoth, PIKO, LGB equipment, whilst it is indeed the most expensive way, it is undoubtedly simpler to implement.
Can be used as part of a main system, or just to control another section of a Garden Railway, even some way from the main system, no third party or separate controlling system required.
Whilst it is constrained to use Functions directly, it was primarily designed to use Accessory Decoder Addresses, this can be worked round by using the addition of an Arduino to pretend to be a Function Decoder.
Two way communication, advent of LLC, has provided this option, interesting to note that on the rear of the new 1202B Booster is a CAN BUS Interface output, remains to be seen if this is either a Industry Standard CAN Interface, or a licenced Marklin proprietary mfx interface.
As work on the Area Group Layout proceeds, it was always the intention to incorporate a DCC automation project as part of the layouts operating potential.
Der Schuppenbahn, has been the guinea pig project as in scenario one above, it is in the process of an electrical tear down, to be converted to scenario two, thus enabling the members of the Area Group with a slant towards the Dark Arts to practise their craft!
Equipment from scenario one, will either be recycled or put up for sale.
Plenty of options and choices, as we say down here in the South West, there are no problems, just challenges, and we go more for innovation and less on procrastination!
* If you thought Win 10 was bloatware, JMRI has taken this to a new level, thankfully progress on using Processing 3 is proceeding at an astonishing rate, the day draws nearer when JMRI can be dumped in the dustbin of history!