Hans Tanner began his video series by introducing the idea of using MQTT as an alternative communication medium to wired LocoNet. He used its message transport capability so that LocoNet messages could be sent to an MQTT broker through a gateway, and the broker would then distribute them to client devices that had expressed an interest in the topic. The MQTT broker could be a public one, in the cloud; or a private one running on (for example) a raspberry pi on your own WiFi network.

4 years on, the range of options has expanded substantially. LocoNet messages can still be broadcast to an MQTT server. DCC can also be broadcast to an MQTT server, allowing the command station to operate devices with no wired connection. There are then two additional servers available in the IoTT stick to add further protocols:

  • LocoNet over TCP, to allow clients written for it (eg JMRI) to get their LocoNet traffic over a TCP/IP connection;
  • WiThrottle server, to allow smartphone throttle apps to control locomotives.

So what makes sense to use? My railway PC already has three USB Locobuffer devices; perhaps there could be a reduction. For example:

  • Have an IoTT stick with a LocoNet interface and BrownHat. This will provide a LooBuffer replacement.Β 
  • The same IoTT stick acts as a gateway to a Raspberry pi based MQTT server.Β This allows other IoTT modules to get LocoNet traffic via the broker
  • The same IoTT stick provides a withrottle server

This seems to me the most appropriate communication options; I'll see how it gets on. I've easily been able to assemble a working BrownHat after buying PCBs from China, and 3D printing the case. There are only 2 resistors and a capacitor to assemble, plus through-hole connectors.Β 

Interestingly, and as described in an earlier video, there is no standard for use of MQTT for model railway traffic. JMRI uses a different approach, so it can't connect to LocoNet via an IoTT stick gateway.Β 

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