Io

Designed to do it all

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Order Io

from a Railstars Authorized Dealer, or from the Railstars Web Store.

At a Glance

Io (named for the Jovian moon) is the perfect tool for diving headfirst into the exciting world of NMRAnet. Io is designed to hook into your layout, connecting your existing layout accessories and control panels into the NMRAnet network.

Io features 8 dedicated input lines, 8 dedicated output lines, and for developers, an additional 32 lines that can be used for inputs or outputs. Designed for modelers and tinkerers who like to be on the cutting-edge, Io’s inputs and outputs are designed for maximum flexibility, and can be adapted to nearly any purpose.

Features

  • 8 high-current outputs
  • 8 inputs
  • Designed for maximum flexibility: Use it for a wide range of layout control applications
  • Can be powered from an AC adapter, or receive power from the NMRAnet connection
  • Can be used to provide power to other NMRAnet nodes over the NMRAnet connection
  • Built-in configuration interface; no PC required
  • Future firmware upgrades are free and easy

Like all Railstars products, Io includes a No-Questions-Asked 3-Year Warranty!

Retail Price $150.

Why NMRAnet?

A layout control bus is a common way for your layout control elements to talk to each other: hand-held cabs, turnout controllers, fascia panels, and so forth. NMRAnet is the future of layout networking technology.

What makes NMRAnet great is that it is open, fast, and future-proof.

Open means that anyone can look at, implement, or help to improve the standard without barriers of any kind, so that hardware from different manufacturers will work together seamlessly.

Fast means that NMRAnet can keep up with whatever is going on on your layout without bogging down under heavy loads.

Future-proof means that NMRAnet is not tied to any particular technology, and can easily expand and adapt to encompass whatever new technologies may come without leaving older technologies behind. It also means that NMRAnet isn’t tied to any current technology: You don’t have to be running DCC to take advantage of NMRAnet.

NMRAnet FAQ

Do I need to be using DCC to take advantage of NMRAnet?

No, NMRAnet is not tied to any particular train control technology, and works equally well with DCC, DC, or any other system.

I already use DCC as an accessory bus. Why should I move to NMRAnet?

Of course, if you are satisfied with your current system, there is no reason to upgrade. But NMRAnet provides a great deal more flexibility than DCC for the control of accessories. Where DCC communications are one-way only, NMRAnet is bidirectional, permitting your accessories to talk to each other where it makes sense. NMRAnet permits real-time feedback from your turnouts, real ABS signalling, and integration with fascia panels or CTC panels.

I already use LocoNet as an accessory bus. Why should I move to NMRAnet?

Of course, if you are satisfied with your current system, there is no reason to upgrade. But NMRAnet provides a number of advantages to LocoNet. NMRAnet does not bog down under heavy loads like LocoNet does; NMRAnet is a genuinely open protocol that anyone can make nodes for, helping you avoid vendor lock-in; NMRAnet is not tied to DCC so if you decide to move to a new control system you don’t have to throw out your layout control system.
For modelers, Io is the ideal way to bring your layout into the 21st century. Io is designed to interface to your existing layout, adding NMRAnet capability to the accessories you already own, and preparing your layout to work with exciting new accessories Railstars and other manufacturers will be rolling out over the coming year.

Io is usable out of the box. Without any programming, Io is ready run, offering 8 high current outputs to control fascia indicators, signal masts, or even your existing accessory decoders*, and 8 inputs to receive feedback from fascia panel buttons and toggles, or other devices on your layout that provide feedback.

But if you crave more, Io is infinitely flexible. Use the on-board interface or your PC** to configure advanced layout behaviors: Io puts Automated turnout control, ABS signalling, complex CTC panels all in your reach.

*Provided that said boards provide some kind of input mechanism.

**Requires NMRAnet-to-USB adapter, sold seperately.

For hardware and firmware developers, Io has even more in store. Io is compatible with the Arduino IDE, providing an easy-to-use platform for rapidly prototyping new products. Full library support is available to assist in application development, and the included bootloader permits firmware to be deployed over USB or the NMRAnet network*. Moreover, the hardware design itself is open source, and available for use as a reference design for personal or commercial use.

As a hardware development board, Io provides 8 dedicated inputs, 8 dedicated high-current open-collector outputs, and breaks out an 32 additional GPIOs. Io also provides an ICSP header and an FTDI header for uploading firmware directly.

*Io ships with an NMRAnet-compatible bootloader; uploading firmware requires NMRAnet-to-USB adapter, sold seperately. Arduino IDE compatability requires burning an Arduino-compatible bootloader, available for free download on the downloads tab.

Manuals

Video Guidebook

Photographs

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