Skip to main content

JMRI: CAN Network Support

There's an emerging trend to develop model-railroad control systems that are based on standard CAN network technology. JMRI provides support for the development and use of these.

Two initial efforts:

MERG logo MERG CBUS
A group of hobbyists, under the umbrella of the Model Electronic Railway Group (MERG), are developing a layout control bus called CBUS. They are creating extensive documentation.

JMRI includes basic support for CBUS, and more is being developed along with CBUS itself.

OpenLCB logo OpenLCB
OpenLCB is a group of hobbyists and manufacturers who have come together to produce a future-oriented layout control bus, also called OpenLCB.

JMRI includes basic support for OpenLCB, and more is being developed along with OpenLCB itself.

NMRA logo NMRA NMRAnet
The NMRA has a working group developing a layout control network, notionally called "NMRAnet". No other information seems to publicly available.

NMRAnet developers may find the JMRI tools for tracing and exercising CAN to be useful.

Capabilities

JMRI provides a basic monitor tool for watching traffic on a CAN bus.

There's also a tool for sending CAN frames manually and in sequences.

For CBUS, JMRI can provide the usual Sensor and Turnout features once configured for CBUS events.

For development, there are scripting tools for sending and receiving CAN frames. These can be very useful in testing hardware, etc.

Configuring a CAN connection

JMRI can connect via a number of hardware adapters:
gridconnect
GridConnect CAN_RS, which is also the protocol used by the MERG CAN_RS board
lawicell
LAWICEL AB CANUSB and CAN232 adapters.