hi all, i am new on here and new to Dcc++. the Adm. suggested i post here. how do i move the base station and controller downloads from GitHub to my Arduino Mega and motor shield. i am 70+ and this upload download stuff is driving me nuts. i have went to arduino.cc, i think i have that setup correctly. i am using windows 10. i look in my files and downloads , three things for base station are there but i cannot do anything with them. i hope there is a simple step 1 step 2 etc. thanks, Willis.
I'm also 70+, but have been a computer professional for almost 50+ years....... You should load and run the blink sketch that comes with the arduino IDE. That will verify that you have basic communications withe the Arduino, and can send it a program to run. Basic communications obviously requires a USB cable, and to use it you need to know what USB port it's connected to, so you can tell the IDE. It also sometimes requires a driver program for the USB to talk to the port. These things can be a PITA and very difficult to explain in words, so you'll likely need someone local to help you with them. Windows 10 is a real PITA for me. Good luck.....the effort is worth it.
Heya! I should have asked, I guess. What is it you're trying to accomplish? Maybe the learned folks here can help you find either another way, or maybe make suggestions. I haven't wandered into any programming or the like yet - I'm just using DCC to run locomotives, make lights go on and off and the like. None of which requires any programming to speak of. Later!
i have connected the mega and the blink works, i can change the values to make the led change. what i am trying to do is get the base station and controller onto the mega. i went to GitHub have the zip for both in downloads. i tried to follow the installing libraries from arduino getting started but after i hit add zip library it says i should see sketch > include library, i do not see include library anywhere.
Well, the Windows issue sounds like a security setting. Usually Windows is suspicious of anything downloaded from the web that has certain characteristics - such as .exe files, or .bat files. So you'll have to give specific permission, no doubt, to Windows to tell it to stop blocking that file running. So far as the "mega" and "github" and the like, it's all greek to me! Are you trying to make a light blink for something specific, like in a locomotive, or a house? Or is this a project not really related to model railroading? Seeya! Vic
at the Arduino.cc help it says to be sure the blink sketch works to start with, then modify the delay to make sure the interface works, it does. when i download base station and controller, i check property's looks like download worked, lot's of bits and bytes. when i try to add the downloads to the library i get error empty file? then there are 0 bits and bytes, but the zip is still in my downloads. the downloads say windows blocked content, so i click unblock then the downloads stay in downloads with bits and bytes showing the download to my computer worked. i still cannot load the mega 2560. has anyone got the Dcc++ to download to the Arduino Mega 2560 with the Arduino Motor shield ? i am just about ready to throw this crap in the trash and just stick with JMRI and Sprog II those i figured out.
One thought - you are unzipping the zip file, right? Usually what you'd do would be to unzip the file to a new location and then point your program needing the additional libraries at that location. Well, I wish you luck, my friend! You are operating far above me - I've not even touched JMRI yet - I'm still playing with just learning what CVs are!
Hold on a sec... The software for the arduino's are known as 'sketches' .. So you have so far been able to install a blinker sketch onto your Mega. Which means you have got the Arduino software downloaded and installed correctly. When you downloaded from the GitHub you downloaded the Basestation-master.zip correct? Have you gone to your Downloads directory on your computer and Extracted the files? Right click on the file and select Extract All. Plug your Arduino into your computer now. You will see a new directory named BaseStation-master, go in there and you'll see another directory with the same name, click on it too, until you get to the DCCpp_Uno directory, click on that directory,and select the file that is titled DCCpp_Uno. Your computer should launch the Arduino IDE and open the file. Goto Tools and down to 'Board' and select the Arduino Mega, and the goto Tools - Processor and select the 2560.. Click on the check mark and it should start compiling and upload the sketch to your Mega. Unplug the arduino, make sure you have the Vin trace cut on your motorshield, and install the Motorshield onto your Arduino. There is one jumper to add but it escapes me where it goes at this moment You can then wire up your motorshield, and plug your Arduino into your computer for power if you don't have a seperate 5v supply. In the Arduino IDE goto Tools - Serial Monitor and make sure the Baud Rate is set to 115000, type in <1> into the Serial Monitor and the lights on the output of the motorshield should start flashing. If that all works, type in <0> (arrow brackets too) then close the Arduino IDE, and then you can begin setting up JMRI to use DCC++
hi brendanf, the instructions from help said the zip would open automatically, so no i didn't unzip. yes i have the Basestation-master.zip and the controller zip both saved in downloads. one post said jumper 13 to 2 another said 13 to 3 . i was trying to set these boards up like Gregg. i don't need controller installed to run engines and program track? thanks.
Ok, so you will have to do the unzip for sure then. I checked afterwards and because you are using a Mega you will only need 1 jumper to go from Pin 2 to Pin 13 Once you open the DCCpp sketch, there are very detailed instructions you can read at the beginning. No, you don't need the controller if you don't want to use it. Once you have to sketch uploaded, you can use JMRI if you like. You will have to create a new connection and you can select DCC++. Just make sure the Arduino is connected via USB before you run JMRI.
After reading this thread, we just need a step-by-step tutorial of how to download from github, install Processing and get DCC++ working with JMRI. I will see what I can do to make this happen, with screen shots on Win10, and get it up this weekend.This should be pretty easy. Now, getting a wifi connection will be a completely separate tutorial...
brendenf, thank you for your help. it is 6:40 AM here, i will try again to download in a little while. VaBEast, that would be great, my forgetter is getting better than my rememberer now a days. then i can print the steps out.
ok, i got the basestation onto the mega. when i connect the motor shield to set the baud rate i do not have 115000 listed only 115200. all 4 lights come on but do not blink, i am putting <1> send. what am i doing wrong?
Sorry I made a typo. The baud rate of 115200 is correct. The lights on the outputs came on? They flash faster then the human eye can detect, so if they are lit, you are golden and it is working. You can setup JMRI now or if you read through the documentation that is provided in the sketch you can manually enter commands into the serial monitor to control locos.
well i am wrong, i had base station on the Mega, it blinked rapidly and showed that it was there. the sketch page showed it went to the Mega successfully. when i unplugged the Mega, installed the motor shield, plugged Mega back in set the baud rate 4 lights came on steady no blink. a assume i was supposed to save the sketch, because the sketch is not on my drop down list. i have to reinstall base station then hit save, is that correct? is there a way to look at what sketch is on the Mega? i am going to try putting base station on again then hit save, then leave mega connected, put motor shield on, power up, hit serial monitor, <1> send.
Just open the "serial monitor" using the Arduino software. If you have the correct serial port selected and the correct baud rate selected you will get a line of information showing the Mega and the motor shield that was uploaded. If so you are ready to go to JMRI and set it up as DCC++ with the same com port number and baud rate. Dennis
You only need to upload the sketch once to the Mega. It stays on there even after power is removed. The SAVE button is only for saving any changes to the sketch like you would do for an Excel or Word document. Again, you won't be able to see the lights blinking as it happens so quickly they appear to the human eye as if they are on steady. So if they are lighting up, you are successful.
thanks RCMan that's what is showing finally. brendanf, thanks i fumbled around and got it loaded, so <1> turns led's on <0> turns them off for test. never used Word or Excel.
