Is DCC++ as a programmer 'sensitive' ?

lyled1117 Jun 18, 2017

  1. crusader27529

    crusader27529 TrainBoard Member

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    Two questions......first, does anyone other than the original author actually know how the exponential smoothing works related to the programming side of the system(both main and program track)?

    Second, the example for the timing change was obvious for the read side(since you showed an example of the code), but not so obvious on the write side.......can you post some of the modified code you did?

    I use the ACK timing of 3 with the IBT-2 woo woo woo boards (use BTS7960 chips), and I have no problem reading or writing QSI indexed CV stuff, or NCE and TCS non-sound decoders. BUT I cannot read the simple, non-indexed CV stuff from a LOK Sound Select decoder at all.....I haven't tried any indexed stuff.

    Also, with the standard unmodified code and the original type MD shield, I have no problem reading ALL the CV stuff in QSI and LOK Sound. That leaves me to believe that the timing isn't the problem, but rather the algorythm for the smoothing.......just a guess.

    I wonder how necessary the smoothing stuff is, and if it chould be replaced with a simpler piece of code, or some simple hardware to smooth the current sense.
     
    Scott Eric Catalano likes this.
  2. crusader27529

    crusader27529 TrainBoard Member

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    UPDATE:

    Concerning HO decoders and DCC++ and IBT-2 MD boards, I was incorrect in my ability to read CVs with the ACK timing set to 3.......I guess I got confused in what was tested with what parameters, but I was unable to read ANY CVs with the timing set to 3 or the original value of 30, so I experimented with many combinations of parameters. The returns when reading were mostly all 1's.

    I was finally able to get reliable reading withy the IBT-2 MD boards with all the decoders that I have access to.......the ACK timing that finally worked was 70(all other parameters were original), which was counter to what everyone has reported or suggested so far. I don't understand the smooting algorythms as defined or why increasing the values worked, but it works with QSI, ESU, Digitrax, NCE, TCS and Bachmann........that's quite a range of decoders(both sound and silent), but I can't argue with the results.

    ALL the other parameters for smoothing were completely original, and I will continue playing/testing. If I find any more, I'll post it.
     
  3. lyled1117

    lyled1117 TrainBoard Member

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    Crusader, thanks for the research and update. I was just coming in today to see if there had been any changes in this thread. I am also going to create a new thread looking for a 'home group' that supports DCC++ . Given its open source nature, I'm hoping there is an active corp somewhere. Several months ago I had contacted Gregg (original developer) on a different subject relating to DCC++ and ,paraphrasing, he said he hasn't had any time to continue developing DCC++ . I'm hoping there are others who have picked it up and are continuing to develop it. I really want to use my system as a programming station so I need it to work reliably and consistently in that role with whatever decoder I connect to it.

    Lyle
     
    Scott Eric Catalano likes this.
  4. TexasRailroader

    TexasRailroader TrainBoard Member

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    Where in the DCC++ sketch can the 15 threshold be found? What is the original threshold set to?
     
  5. Quax

    Quax TrainBoard Member

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    PacketRegister.h (30)
     
  6. lyled1117

    lyled1117 TrainBoard Member

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    A bump of this topic. I had let the DCC++ system I have sit idle for a long while. A few days ago I pulled it back out and searched for updated software, found some and installed it. The system now works quite well for what I want it to do with only one exception so far and am hoping there may be some info' on it I haven't found yet.

    I've been unable to read a TCS WOW decoder. I have been able to read and write nearly everything else I've tested. While it's not a long list it's the majority of what I possess. Loksound 3.5, Loksound 4, Loksound Select, Loksound 5DCC, Tsunami 1, Tsunami 2, and Soundtraxx LC series. Couldn't read an antique Digitrax DH140 but that I don't care about. I was able to read a TCS motion decoder but not a TCS WOW sound decoder. Keep alive is NOT attached. Anyone have success in doing so?

    Curious minds, all that
    Lyle D
     
  7. TexasRailroader

    TexasRailroader TrainBoard Member

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    What did you update to?
    With the old original classic DCC++, I have no issues reading TCS WOW decoders on the programming track in JMRI.
     
    BarstowRick likes this.
  8. lyled1117

    lyled1117 TrainBoard Member

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    To be honest , I'm not sure if I installed the Classic version or DCC-EX. I found the EX versions while searching and downloaded the installer. It gave me the choice of 'classic' or 'command station EX'. I suspect I chose EX as for what little information I could find for what is current I guessed that the EX version was more up-to-date. I could certainly reload one and then the other to test if I get performance variations. However, the WOW decoder is a coworkers that I don't have access to until next week. I built an identical system for him back when this was still relatively new (2017'ish?) I want to use in predominantly as a programmer as explained early in this thread, he wants layout/module control capability

    Lyle D
     
  9. TexasRailroader

    TexasRailroader TrainBoard Member

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    The installer can be problematic.
    If you were running the classic DCC++ before and updated to EX then the jumper wires would no longer be necessary.
    It's important you know which.
     
  10. lyled1117

    lyled1117 TrainBoard Member

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    I suspect I did the EX version with the expectation that is was simply 'better'. Did no research into any hardware changes that might have been needed or different. I have the jumpers on the Uno. Would those jumpers allow the programmer to work for some and not others? That would seem to be the case. Everything I own has worked with the exception of an antique Digitrax decoder and my friend's TCS WOW. I'm going to reload with the Classic version and test again

    Lyle
     
  11. TexasRailroader

    TexasRailroader TrainBoard Member

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    EX is better but I have 3 classic DCC++ base stations, in various configurations, that I don't want or need to update. They all work fine. Two interface by USB and one by ethernet. The ethernet base station is the one I use on my main layout. One Mega clone I use as a traveling base station and one UNO base station I use for programming.

    I do have one DCC++EX with an Arduino Mega, Motor Shield and ESP2866 that I use as a wifi base station that doesn't need JMRI. I use this one to simply run trains from my android phone's Engine Driver: no programming or reading CVs and such.
     
  12. lyled1117

    lyled1117 TrainBoard Member

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    I'm going to remove the jumpers and keep it as an EX version, continue testing

    Lyle
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2021
  13. TexasRailroader

    TexasRailroader TrainBoard Member

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    I know very little about EX. I had a lot of help setting up the EX wifi base station.
    Not sure I could duplicate the effort without help again.
     

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