Introducing DCC++ ---a complete open-source DCC station and interface

Gregg Aug 25, 2015

  1. UK Steve

    UK Steve TrainBoard Member

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    Can you try an early copy of the sketch?

    The one below is dated Jan 3rd. Change the .txt extension to .ino and move it to the folder with the other dependencies.

    We can probably eliminate the Arduino then if this doesn't work.
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. UK Steve

    UK Steve TrainBoard Member

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    Probably a silly question, but I trust you have everything wired as below.

    There is potential to produce a DC output if the wiring is incorrect.

    CaptureUNO.JPG
     
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  3. esfeld

    esfeld TrainBoard Member

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    Steve
    I am so embarrassed that I feel like I should fly over and buy you a pub dinner. Realizing that I had not reverted the pin jumpers from a Mega configuration to the Uno ....... I now have serial communication and after adding my ESP Shield have a fully operational ESP8266 system. I guess after 78 years I have lost the procedural integrity that I have always had. Thank you again and again for your help and indulgence. You are a prince.
    Steve F
    I see from your latest post that you came to the same conclusion.
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2016
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  4. UK Steve

    UK Steve TrainBoard Member

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    Glad I could help.

    So what do you think of Mobile Controller :) ?
     
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  5. esfeld

    esfeld TrainBoard Member

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    Absolutely a fantastic development ......... cudos!
     
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  6. esfeld

    esfeld TrainBoard Member

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    Way back in the beginning when I tried Chrome on an Android cell I did not see a connect button .... am I missing something?
    OK ...... found it buried in an old Bodnar post ...... all is well. :)
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2016
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  7. UK Steve

    UK Steve TrainBoard Member

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    In the beginning of the development I'm guessing you mean.

    Yes, there wasn't one at that time, you just entered the address and tapped the screen (or hit enter on pc) and it just connected.

    The addition of the button clears any confusion. What device are you using it on?

    Thanks for the Cudos. Enjoy your day.

    Steve.
     
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  8. esfeld

    esfeld TrainBoard Member

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    Just tried it on an old Samsung Galaxy S4 and it renders very well ........ the only thing that doesn't show up is the loco selection at the bottom of the functions.
     
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  9. UK Steve

    UK Steve TrainBoard Member

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    Oh, I didn't know the loco selection was on the current release. I put it out as a test development on here a week or so ago.

    Is it something you would like to use?
     
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  10. esfeld

    esfeld TrainBoard Member

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    Absolutely .......
     
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  11. UK Steve

    UK Steve TrainBoard Member

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    There is a caveat to that though Steve.

    As we are now you can use a generic copy served from anywhere.

    The Loco selector will require you to customise your own copy and store it somewhere on your own network that you can easily access.
    Or put a copy on each device that you wish to use it on.

    The files are posted on page 55 of this thread along with some instructions. And please note you will have to reflash the ESP with the matching server code.

    Hope this helps.
     
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  12. zephyr9900

    zephyr9900 TrainBoard Member

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    OK, I'm stumped. Is there a "DCC++ for Dummies" document somewhere? I have the Mega clone and the motor shield clone and a power supply (ready to use later--Vin Connect trace on the motor shield cut). But I have never used an Arduino and am flying blind there. I've watched the 8+1 Youtube DCC++ videos, but not one shows actually plugging the Mega into a USB cable and programming it.

    I have installed Arduino 1.6.8 on my Win7 PC, loaded DCCpp_Uno sketch, under Tools selected Board "Arduino/Genuino Mega or Mega 2560", Processor "ATMega2560", Port "COM7 (Arduino/Genuino Mega or Mega 2560)", Programmer "ArduinoISP". I hit the Upload button and the sketch compiles and then I get error messages

    avrdude: stk500v2_recv(): checksum error
    avrdude: verification error, first mismatch at byte 0x3579
    0x4f != 0x23
    avrdude: verification error; content mismatch

    I have no idea what I'm doing wrong becuase I have no context. I've searched this thread but "checksum" does not appear.

    I've been building and running home CNC equipment for over 20 years and this feels like every bit the learning curve from the beginning of that. ;)

    I would much appreciate some kind of step-by-step "do this and look for this result then do that and look for that result" etc. kind of document...

    Sorry for the rant but getting a loco to move on a track was my only goal this weekend...

    Thanks,

    Randy
     
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  13. zephyr9900

    zephyr9900 TrainBoard Member

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    Update: when I select Verify/Compile I do get two "warning: deprecated conversion from string constant to 'char*' " error messages but searching back through the thread I see that they will not be my problem.

    Randy
     
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  14. zephyr9900

    zephyr9900 TrainBoard Member

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    Update: I found the Github and it does have a step-by-step programming guide, and a newer set of files than I had, neither one of which unfortunately helped. Still the checksum error.

    Randy
     
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  15. lnxlnx

    lnxlnx TrainBoard Member

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    Try installing an early version of the IDE say 1.6.6 and see if the checksum error still exists. Sometimes IDE updates break things.

    But before that, have you tried to load one of the sample Arduino sketches provided with the IDE, such as the one of LED blink examples. Just to see if you can program the board.

    This Adafruit guide may offer some help and links to trouble shooting the install. https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/installing-arduino-ide
     
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  16. DougL

    DougL TrainBoard Member

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    Are there larger cases add-on enclosures for Arduino Unos and Mega? The physical form is larger with each hardware addition.

    --- edit ---
    Solved. I raided my son's Lego box. The resulting box can be expanded easily.
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2016
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  17. zephyr9900

    zephyr9900 TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you for the help, Inxinx. In installed IDE 1.6.4 and the Blink sample sketch did compile and load and run properly. The Base Station sketch does compile and load without errors.

    My laptop does not find the Arduino. So I installed Processing3 64-bit on my desktop and Controller does find the (apparently properly programmed) "DCC++ BASE STATION FOR ARDUINO MEGA"

    So at this point it must be a USB connection issue on my laptop (Win7 32-bit). When I hit S to scan the ports, all it finds are the emulator and what looks like an Ethernet port (dotted quad address) but no COM ports.

    But I know it isn't the Arduino. :) Thanks again.

    Randy
     
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  18. zephyr9900

    zephyr9900 TrainBoard Member

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    Final update--I had to install Arduino on the laptop to get the Mega USB driver. Now Controller recognizes the board so I can try moving the locomotive when I get home from work! :)

    Randy
     
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  19. crusader27529

    crusader27529 TrainBoard Member

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    Greg:

    I've get a question about using the system.....

    I need more power than the standard motor driver shield supplies, so I've decided to use the 43A part the Dave Bodner was able to get operating for the main power track(s), but that obviously is overkill for the programming track. I plan on using another type board for the programming track, but that brings us some probable issues.

    The 2 different boards will likely have different requirements for current sensing, so the question is this: I understand that the current sense are on different pins, but does the design allow for different current sensing parameters for multiple boards, and/or can this be added without a major redesign?
     
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  20. esfeld

    esfeld TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Steve
    All of a sudden I am getting a "Websockets Closed" when trying to connect ...... does that mean that the server is down or is it at my end?
    Thanks
    Steve F
     
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