This window allows you to define the hardware that connects your computer (PC, Mac or Unix workstation) to the railway, and how that hardware is connected.
The layout is connected through RS232 ports on the computer. These connect to various hardware modules, and these connect to various input or output lines. Each RS232 port communicates with its attached hardware using some kind of message protocol. All of these aspects are defined in the network configuration window.
This window is organised as a tree, similar to the display that Windows Explorer or the Macintosh Finder sometimes uses to show the tree of nested files and folders in a Disk. Each 'folder' icon has a key icon to its left. Clicking on this key icon will open (expand) or close (collapse) the folder. Double clicking on the folder icon itself has the same effect.
The left-most icon, at the top of the window is the root of the tree and can be likened to the 'My Computer' icon in windows. Inside this folder is another folder for each serial port connecting to your layout, and a box labelled 'New Interface'.
Pressing the new interface box (point at the box and hold down the mouse) brings up a popup menu listing the supported interface types. Selecting one from this menu creates an interface folder for a port of the selected type.
Supported interface types are:
http://www.cti-electronics.com make ready assembled hardware modules for connecting to your railway. The individual modules are listed here. They connect directly to the RS232 port in a daisy chained manner. The only interface adaptor required is a connector block supplied with the starter kit.
CTI modules run at 9600 baud and