dcc++ ex and wi throttle

sidney Feb 1, 2022

  1. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    hello ive got my dcc ++ ex i think running pretty well but i am unable to get engine driver to connect.
    ? #1 is it that you cant run engine driver when other throttles are open ?
    or is just me not knowing what im doing . pic below of my set up running.
    cant remember if its dcc++ex or dcc++ how do i check this...
    thanks in advance
     

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  2. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    [​IMG]

    Yes you can run EngineDriver with the other throttles open. With an older android phone and EngineDriver I had to have "Mobile Data" turned off on my phone to connect. I don't think that is the case with my new phone. Might try that.

    I'm running JRMI connected to DCC++EX on a Raspberry Pi. I used Steve Todd's image file on the Pi so it was really easy as I didn't have to configure anything other than a couple items in JMRI and from your screen shot it looks like you are past that.

    [​IMG]
    When EngineDriver starts do you see the screen above? Is there a server in the top screen that matches the bottom screen ( above that is RPI-JMRI DCC++)? In my case using the Pi Steve has the Pi setup as a WiFi access point. On my new phone it connects to the house wifi and I have to change it to the RPI-JMRI DCC++ access point (which the phone also sees). Just takes a second. Unlike the other phone I have I don't have to turn the mobile access off but have to change the network to the Pi away from the house. You might have to do something similar.

    [​IMG]

    From your screen shot it looks like the JMRI's WiThrottle is on the same settings as mine 192.168.6.1. and 12090 so if that is a legit Wi-Fi access point then your phone should be able to find it. What are you running JMRI? Is it a Pi with Steve's image file?

    Post a picture of your phones screen when you start EngineDriver. That will help.

    Sumner
     
  3. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    I also use Steve Todd's JMRI image file.....works wonderfully. I update my system every time he releases a new file
     
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  4. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    Quote :When EngineDriver starts do you see the screen above? yes but i do not see RPI-JMRI DCC++ . i just see the jmri,stevetodd.com 4444.
    im using an old android phone that takes real good pics for the throttle.
     

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  5. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    On your phone go to settings and Wi-Fi and see if the JMRI Wi-Fi shows up there as an option to connect to. If you see it there and the phone is connected to the house Wi-Fi you need to change it. Then it should show up when engine driver starts.

    Sumner
     
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  6. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    nope no jmri on there just my home wifi an a few neighbors edit : ok i got it but its asking for a password. i remember reading about that some where.......
    (it helps if i turn the system on )
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2022
  7. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    OK Ive it working now . Thank You Sumner. I had to go back reading everything and finally found what i was looking for.
    Thank You again for the help.
     
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  8. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    ok ive played with this for a few hrs. wow this is way better than my nce power cab. now i can run two or three trains and also do some switching with my phone throttle while every thing else runs. this is awesome . ya i could do the same with nce BUT i can now very easily stop one if one jumps rail or gets to close to another loco running on same track. with nce you have to hunt them down , with this dcc++ex and 10 inch screen i dont have to hunt there right there nice an handy. so for $160 bucks ive got a nice system and with more amps than ill ever use
     
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  9. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Are you using a tablet with it? One other thing to keep in mind for about $30-$40 you can also have physical throttle/direction control ....

    [​IMG]

    .... with a phone and probably a tablet also if you want. More on that here .....

    http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/DCC/page-3.html

    I'm wondering about the $160? How about a list of the items you bought to go that way.

    One can put DCC++EX together for under $70 if they start with only the Arduino, motor board, and power supplies (under $50 if you can wait a few weeks).

    Thanks for posting your results,

    Sumner
     
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  10. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    as far as a list = 1 pi4 , 1 Arduino, 1 motor shield, 1 10inch screen (not touch screen my daughter bought for me ) 1 12 volt 150 watt led power supply, 1 small keyboard. Mouse i had in storage... i have one of those rotary knob thingy bob some place . i need to dig through my junk box. i also need to print your phone holder box too now that you helped me get the phone part working. ive saved it in m 3d folder. i could have saved a bunch of money by using a computer power supply and using an old screen from a laptop that i have laying around + an old key board in my junk box. i agree it could have been built much cheaper.
    Im very happy with this setup. it all was still cheaper than nce or the others.
    Again Thank You for your help and your 3d files as well. I do appreciate all your work and Steve's work on the dcc++ex builds.
     
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  11. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, I think that gives some perspective for the cost of going DCC++EX for someone considering it. My under $70 cost was for just the DCC Command Station. To run JMRI and DecoderPro and have all the other options that are associated with JMRI you need a computer and with my cost just being the Command Station you would need to also use an available computer, most likely a laptop.

    For those considering this sidney's cost also included a computer (Raspberry Pi4). Not bad having a DCC Command Station that can run wireless phone/tablet throttle and also has a dedicated train room computer with JMRI (free) running on it for under $175 and you can get that cost down to under $125 if you have some items like a monitor/mouse/keyboard laying around.

    JMRI's associate program DecoderPro is pretty much the go to program for decoder programming. It also lets you create your DCC engine roster. On the phone throttle you can pull up loco's from either the roster or using the road number. I'd guess a majority of the people who have a commercial DCC Command Station sooner or later want to be able to use JMRI. To do that they usually spend another $50 or so for another piece of equipment that allows them to connect to a computer running JMRI. With sidney's install he already has that built in along with not needing another computer to implement it.

    Not saying that DCC++EX is the solution for everyone but it is a very powerful DCC system that can be put together for very little if you are up to doing a minor amount of research and implementation on your part. Once I had a wireless throttle in my hand at a club layout I knew this was the route I wanted to take. I was able to pursue it for about $100 and I have almost what I would of had spending over $400 on the commercial system I was looking at. I also bought a nice slightly used DC throttle off the bay for under $30 which lets me run older DC loco's until I can convert them to DCC.

    I'll also venture to guess that some start with DCC++EX and later move to a commercial product for one reason or another. So DCC++EX is probably bringing people into the hobby that might not of come in due to the high initial cost of some DCC systems.

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2022
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  12. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Model railroading has always had an electronics aspect to it, whether it be a power supply, a DC power pack, or a DCC system.
     
  13. Uncle peanut butter

    Uncle peanut butter TrainBoard Member

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    It’s my love of electronics that keeps me in the hobby part of the time. The other part is model building. They’re my two favorites.
     
  14. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    it works great. but for some reason one of my locos went into braking mode (i think thats what its called ) i throttle up and it takes a while to go then i throttle down and it takes a few to come to a stop. did i do something that i dont know i did ? it was running fine then i started to stop it and this started happening. funny gizmos
     

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  15. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Which throttle in the image are you running? Phone or JMRI throttle? Does it do the same thing on both or only one?

    I don't believe either throttle has a momentum option either braking or accelerating but if you have set those values via the decoder CV's they will be in effect. I bought one used loco that had these settings quite high and when I first ran the loco and didn't know better.

    I believe there are some commercial throttles that have the option on the throttle itself.

    Sumner
     
  16. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    I agree. I think Sidney has some significant momentum programmed into the decoder on that loco.
     
  17. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    With DCC systems, software also plays a huge role, whether embedded into the DCC system (e.g. DCC++EX, but EVERY DCC system is based on a microcontroller running software/firmware, even in throttles), or as JMRI running on a separate computer, controlling the DCC system, providing various amounts of layout and train automation, and/or providing virtual sound decoders for soundless locos. The throttle apps on smart phones (Engine Driver, et al) are software.
     
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  18. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    its happening only on phone throttle so far. i know i dont have the loco programmed for momentum. its the atlas loco that runs very slow , its been that way from new. i have not tested the other locos yet to see if the phone throttle does it with them. ill test today sometime.
    i thought maybe i hit some button on the phone that caused it to fall into momentum mode...:)
     
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  19. Uncle peanut butter

    Uncle peanut butter TrainBoard Member

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    Understood and should have clarified that is part and parcel to electronics in my world of trains. The electronics led me into arduino IDE and I'm enjoying learning how the system works behind the scenes. I've a long way to go though.
     
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  20. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    ok after a full day of running my trains ive came to the conclusion that the Arduino is corrupted dcc++ex . it kinda confuses its self when switching from phone throttle to the 10 inch screen . one thing that i noticed is when i fire up the pi4 and all that two of my locos just take off running untill i hit the power button then they stop running and i can control then with the screen throttles and or phone throttle.
    When i turn on the phone and fire up engine driver then get a loco connected it works as it should but then when i 1 either stop that loco and fire up a new throttle for another loco that's when i start having problems. today every thing went nuts. i shut it all down and restarted all of it and everything was fine for a bit. . so now i think i need to delete what ever is on that Arduino and reinstall something . but im at a loss again on how that is done.
    i tried the dcc++ex windows installer but i got no where fast.
    maybe i need to wipe out the pi4 too and start fresh from that as well. right now im confused with whats going on...
    what i have is pi4 , Arduino and a 10 inch monitor all powered by a led power bank. im a lost puppy :ROFLMAO: strolling down the tracks :D
     

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