I am new to the forum so forgive me if I posted something already addressed. Basically I wonder if it is feasible to create a track side hardware module "simply" to detect the trains/locomotives passing, similar to the track side balise function in real life train monitoring. Though for model trains with the purpose to a) identify the train passing using wifi without (or with a minimum level of...) cross talking with neightbor detectors b) enable a mapping the detected train to time and location by a automated train control system suited for model trains :-) I am thinking that the wifi might not be so suitable as train tracker as most model train implementations are in area smaller than most Wifi communication distances creating risk of cross talk.
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Thanks, I fully understand your priorities and agree with the comments on wifi. wifi's longer communication distance is not favourable in this application, which rather should require a read distance in terms of cm, maybe less than 2-3cm rather than in meters. There are some RF id systems that could accomodate for this short distance. An alternative approach could be using optical reading like bar code or similar holograms read underneath the passing train, or simply accept that the model train network cannot accomodate higher densities of traffic when run in an automatic control mode. For example one train per rail segment with a preconfigured set up of trains across rail segments could be satifactory in most cases. Populating readers (model balise) across a set up can be quite costly as well.
Hello Per Jarle Furnes,
That is an excellent idea. However, it may not be possible to do this for model railroad and using WiFi because the range of each WiFi beacon would extend to the entire room. We can try to detect the strength of the signal but it may not be a very reliable method. We can instead use other means like RFID under each locomotive and a "balise" looking tag in between the rails to simulate the functionality. For example, the "balise" could be powered and WiFi enabled to transmit a train crossing over it to detect the train's location and the train can transmit it's own ID resulting in a match at the "server" or "automated train control system" which can reveal which train is at what location.
There can be several versions of the above idea. One other way could be to use RFID to simply trigger the communication between the passing train and the the WiFi unit attached to the "balise RFID tag", etc.
We have been thinking at this and other possibilities for train detection and automation for some time. However, being a small team and more projects to handle, it will be some time before we can deliver this feature.
Thanks again for this wonderful idea!
Best regards,
LocoFiā¢ Team