I have read so many post on DCC++ my head is full and need to delete some of the information. 1. I have a China Arduino Mega and the Pololu Shield. Did the cuts and verified they are open. 2. Wired up the jumpers as shown for the Pololu shield and verified. 3. Downloaded the Arduino S/W and it is Version 1.8.1 also on another computer it has V1.8.2. 4. Went to the JMRI.org website and confirmed what Github to use and downloaded the 'Base-station' and 'Controller' sketches and placed them in my documents/Arduino folder. 5. Loaded the Base-station sketch and compiled and verified it complied OK, then uploaded it to the Mega. Question: does the Controller sketch compile also with the Base-station sketch? 6. I put the system on my test track and confirmed the serial port and baud rate are correct. I get a response back saying the Mega is there but 'no serial' at the end of the string? 7. Tried using the V1.8.2 Arduino S/W and get errors when uploading. What do I check or do now? I did verify my test track and engine worked first by setting up my Lenz Set100.
OK, lets get back to the issue. I am not getting any voltage to the output of either the Main or Programming track. No DCC voltage or commands.
In the Serial Monitor window type <1> (include the arrow brackets). That will enable the power on the outputs.
OK, did that and still nothing. Here is the serial monitor display after sending the <1> <iDCC++ BASE STATION FOR ARDUINO MEGA / ARDUINO MOTOR SHIELD: V-1.2.1+ / Apr 13 2017 14:23:36><N0: SERIAL><p1> What next?
Well I would suggest removing the motor shield and connecting a couple of LEDs with series resitors to the output pins of the Mega to make sure the signals are being sent to your motor shield. If they all light up, then your motor shield or power supply is your problem.
Figured out what was going on and now works. Love reading the CV's off this unit. Does not error out on any using the TCS WOW series decoders.
If you don't mind, could you share what went wrong? In the future, someone else may run into a similar situation.
Yes, In my original post I stated my Arduino and Power shield I was using and showed the header that is displayed using the serial port viewer It showed the shield was the Arduino. In reading all the posts here it looked like the Pololu and Arduino shield where interchangeable. However what was not clear you had go into the config.h and change the " Motor Type" from 0 to 1 and compile then upload again. Now I get the proper header "<iDCC++ BASE STATION FOR ARDUINO MEGA / POLOLU MC33926 MOTOR SHIELD: V-1.2.1+ / Apr 17 2017 09:42:51><N0: SERIAL>" As a new user and never using this type of technology it was not apparent what I needed to do. I am a retired Electronic Eng. but old school so I want to learn how to use new tech stuff but needed more detailed instructions to prevent frustrations in the learning curve. I know a lot of model railroaders, who like me, would use this but also they need the detailed step-by-step instructions to give them confidence this this is not over their heads to understand and learn. Just my 2 cents worth.
