Hi there, Just managed to join after getting through all the security checks....eventually. I have some N-Scale stuff that was gathering dust for the last 15 years. I am in the process of building a 2 meter by 1.2 meter layout. I plan to use Arduino and DCC++ LOTS of questions to be asked Just wish me luck.
Hi, Woody. Welcome to TrainBoard If you have questions, you've come to the right place ... and the best part of that, NO question is a 'stupid question' here! So don't be afraid to ask. Photos of your progress of building your new layout are always enjoyed.
Thanks Bill. It will be a slow one as I have about 100 other hobbies / things keeping me busy. I am very keen on the Arduino part of the hobby. When I packed my stuff away it was pure DC. DCC was and maybe still is to expensive for us South Africans with the poor exchange rate.... And our President does not help in this regard with all his antics. So let us see how it pans out.
Welcome aboard. One of the good things about model railroading is that it can lay dormant until you come back to it. I look forward to seeing some progress photos when you get started.
Hi Woody, Welcome. What nationality are you modeling? I can't remember seeing anything specific to South African railway modeling.
Thanks guys. Unfortunately South African models are not readily available. Once upon a time we had some HO stuff. Some people make / paint stuff to fit in. I might go European as I worked in Holland for 5 years. Love the German and Swiss railways. Already I made progress with my Arduino and DCC++ from reading posts here on this forum. Found a post about the current sensing setting in the PacketRegester.h file . Changed that from 30 to 15. Also changed my power supply from 12 to 18 volt. After 4 weeks of fighting to get 2 locos working I managed last night to get them working 100%. A normal 6 pin decoder connected to a motor I could program so I knew my Arduino and motorshield was working. But my BRAWA Diesellokomotive with sound just did not want to be programmed correctly. When I did a READ from DecoderPro it came up with a generic Doehler und Haass decoder. Tried them all, but no go. Also the Fleishmann loco did not have the specific decoder in DecoderPro. So I default both locos to factory setting with my MultiMaus controller. Then read them back into in DecoderPro and saved them. Happiness !!
Happy to hear you were successful, though not by following a myriad of complex instructions, but by resetting back to factory basics. The concept of DCC and its many generational enhancements is exciting technology and enjoyable to watch at shows, but its complexity reinforces my comfort with DC that has been my friend for 70 years. Notwithstanding, I look forward to sharing discussions and photos of your system as it evolves.
I am an electronics technician and in my job you must be able to work your way systematically from one point to the next...and when all fails RESET THE DAMM COMPUTER.!
Precisely...a man after my own heart. Though I once saw a device that prevented such action. Visualize a solid cube about six inches on a side with a toggle switch on the front. An onlooker is tempted to activate the switch upwards. Immediately the lid opens, a hand comes out and pushes the switch down, then retreats back into box as the lid closes. Obviously developed by someone who had far too much spare time.
