Digikeijs (Digirails) DR5000

RCMan Jan 23, 2018

  1. RCMan

    RCMan TrainBoard Member

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    The UWT-100 Throttle also works with the DR5000.



    Dennis
     
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  2. TrainzLuvr

    TrainzLuvr TrainBoard Member

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    Of course it supports the Wi-Throttle protocol, but beside a very slick look and ergonomics, LCC is one of the major reasons the throttle stands out from others.

    I actually made a video about one of the OpenLCB (LCC) features using the throttle in combination with a LCC Command Station running via LCC protocol:

     
  3. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    I've looked at this system with great interest.

    The main problem for me with it is that the WiFi interface is not capable of connecting to your existing WiFi network. From their user manual:

    It is not possible to connect the DR5000 to your network using the DR5000's internal Wi-Fi module. The DR5000's Wi-Fi connection is intended only for connections to smartphones, tablets, PCs or laptops.​

    What this means is that, in order to connect your devices (phones, laptops, etc.) to it via WiFi, you have to switch them to the DR5000's hot spot WiFi network. While connected to this network, those devices would not have access to internet.

    You can connect the DR5000's (wired) ethernet interface to an ethernet jack on your existing WiFi router, and then you would be able connect your laptops, phones, throttles, etc. via your router's WiFi.

    I ultimately purchased a Pi-SPROG 3 system, which met my less demanding needs. I have it connected via WiFi to my home network, so i don't have to switch my laptop or phones over to a different WiFi network to run trains, and then back again when finished. I originally ran it for a while with it's own WiFi hotspot, and it was a royal PITA.

    Note I am not suggesting the Pi-SPROG3 system is an acceptable alternative to the DR5000 for everyone; I'm just illustrating the impact of the DR5000's WiFi interface limitation.

    Otherwise, this looks like a really nice system.
     
  4. mtaylor

    mtaylor Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Good to know and good read on the DR5000. It has perked my interest. The TCS Command Station also looks interesting. I currently have a DB150 that I am using as a command station to mess around with my locos and Decoder programming. This is also the command station left over from my former layout. I use to have a DCS200 that I sold off years ago during my hobby hiatus before the most current one. So, I am no immediate need of solution. My current DB150 will most likely end up being used as a command station for a simple layout I am putting together for my son (and shared with dad from time to time as I am layout homeless for probably a couple years yet lol.
     
  5. Atani

    Atani TrainBoard Member

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    It's still nice to see ESP32 CS in this video...
     
  6. S t e f a n

    S t e f a n TrainBoard Member

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    Different question: From what I found so far, it seems an NCE power cab can not be plugged into or be otherwise connected to a DR5000 (except maybe if both connect to a PC running JMRI, but that requires an additional USB interface for the NCE side). Is that correct?
     
  7. RCMan

    RCMan TrainBoard Member

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    That will be available soon. I have a prototype and works well.

    Do not know when it will be available right now.

    Dennis
     
  8. bocabob

    bocabob TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, this is what I have implemented. To be fair, this is a command station, not a robust router. When I configured my system the first thing I did was disable the WiFi. I have enough traffic in and around my house that I didn't want another SSID and channel to manage. I use the Ethernet connection which gets me to JMRI running on my workstation and to the household WiFi. I'm more comfortable using the household WiFi security and guest access infrastructure. Engine Driver on phones/tablets drive the layout.
     
  9. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    That's probably the best way to do it, if you have wired ethernet access in your train room (I do not).

    So, I guess if you use JMRI, you disable (or don't enable) JMRI's Wi-throttle server, since your CS has one already?
     
  10. bocabob

    bocabob TrainBoard Member

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    Andy, sorry, I wasn't clear.

    The first thing I did in configuring the DR5000 was to disable its WiFi. I already had JMRI's Wi-Throttle running on my old CS setup. So all I had to do was get the DR5000 talking to JMRI. I chose to use Ethernet. I could have used USB. I do hook up USB as required for the Digikeijs software interface. I like JMRI as the hub since it is my repository for roster and turnout definitions, and I'm getting more into using panels.
     
  11. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Okay, that brings up a different question: Can the DR5000 (perhaps not by default) serve WiFi throttles over your home WiFi, if the DR5000's Ethernet is connected to your home router (without using JMRI)?

    Might be useful if you just wanted to run trains, and didn't want to run JMRI on your computer... (though perhaps not very likely)
     
  12. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    I am having some issues with my DR5000. When I try to configure the WiFi part of it, my computer just goes "ding... ding... ding... etc" over and over and I cannot make any changes to the system. Some times the app crashes too. I am running Win10 on a Dell all in one computer. The DR5000 is connected through a USB cable. That is my first issue... The second issues is with JMRI

    On my Windows PC... So I have it set as a digitrax device, with Loconet-USB, and a DCS100 as the command station. The com port works, JMRI connects to the unit and all seems well. It did read the decoder on the program track, but it messed up the write a couple of tries.

    On Linux with a Raspberry Pi... It sometimes takes a bit to figure out which of the TTY ports my Pi decided to give to the DR5000, but once I do everything seems to connect. I cannot read or write codes on the main or program track. I honestly have not tried Panel Pro yet to see if it will run trains through a virtual throttle, I have just tried to program a train. This is the unit that is in my briefcase build that in this DCC & Electronics group.

    Any help in getting this configured would be great. OH yea... I cannot get a throttle server to work either, but I am guessing that is more along the lines of the WiFi setup issue.
     
  13. bocabob

    bocabob TrainBoard Member

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    Andy,
    That's a good question. It's been a while since I looked at the manual but I seem to recall that there were a couple of ways to configure the WiFi. If it was set up as the client (non-router) and running WiThrottle then perhaps that could host connections through the home WiFi router. I have not tested this because I like having my engine roster and turnouts loaded into Engine Driver by JMRI.

    As you say, this is an unlikely scenario. I can see someone using the DR5000 WiFi to directly support throttle connections, but if you go to the trouble of getting on the home WiFi then there is likely a JMRI instance (its free after all...).
     
  14. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah, I like the idea of having the CS itself on the home network, with the ability to connect a computer running JMRI anywhere on that network!
     

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