JMRI is a handy tool for anyone running DCC. Essentially, it’s a computer interface for programming DCC decoders and controlling DCC command stations.

As you can see, it’s pretty straightforward to use and quite familiar to anyone who has spent time around computers. The program is frequently updated and “knows” what DCC CV settings are supported by different decoders. So if you tell it you have a Zimo 695 decoder, it knows that this Zimo decoder supports pulsed smoke output and will display a tab for configuring those settings. This means that you aren’t necessarily reliant on the manufacturer’s documentation or limited by the limitations of your DCC command station.