Hi all, i'm new here, and i'm a Lego train fan i'm searching an automation system for my lego trains since a few months it is not easy because, Lego trains Don't take current from tracks but from batteries the trains are controlled by Bluetooth or Infra Red (or Wifi with a special module from a 3rd party company) my layout will have about 30 switches, lots of IR sensors and the signals i was planning to use RFID readers to know where are the trains,not sure at this time the most important question at this time is how to control all the layout, i found DCC++ and Rocrail i think it won't be a problem to control lights and sensors as they are the same as other scales using arduinos for the switches servos i think no problem too, even if i did not manage to control a servo with Rocrail and DCC++ the big problem is to control the trains!!! is there a solution with DCC++? or if someone have another solution... i need help to know if i may use Rocrail or JMRI or Processing to control all thanks in advance for your help David
We use wifi and mqtt to control everything on the layout. For those locomotives and other stuff that have DCC-decoders we have a DCC++ base station that we control with wifi and mqtt via a "translator" (not jmri). Everything else with wifi and mqtt. Flexible and dirt cheap. If you are interested I have written some i Spur Null Magazin forum (in english, well, almost): https://forum.spurnull-magazin.de/0...trol-model-railroad-with-wifi-and-mqtt-21390/ But there is probably many other ways to solve your problem
Your looking for DCC++ to send command via WiFi instead of motor shield. Not sure if it was done before on DCC++ as most HO and smaller scales locos don't have space for WiFi, not that some are stopped by it. I know WiFi is used a lot in the garden scale layouts and gaining traction in the scales around O. Maybe some of the other members will be able to tell you is it is easy to use WiFi module in place of a motor shield.
yes that's exactly what i want to do...or Bluetooth... very interesting, i check all the link , i would be really interesting to know more about this, can you contact me via email : davidblain@laposte.net i think i can't send PM at this time on the forum and i have lots of questions for you thanks David
Welcome aboard RCmodeler and collectorman. Yesterday another new member stated that his layout was Lego trains. Search for that.
We don't use JMRI and I know nothing about Rocrail or any similar solutions. Inside our handheld wireless controls there is an ESP32 microcontroller and it has built in Wifi (which we use) and also Bluetooth. I don't know anything about Lego Train either, but if it can be controlled via Bluetooth and it is an open protocol that could be a way to go. Why use DCC if you don't have DCC trains? How do YOU want everything to work? Make a plan, sketches and thoughts. Can you construct, program, build things yourself?
Hi rcmodeler, thanks for reply i'm still searching the best way to do automation, i saw that DCC++ would be a good solution for me but i think there maybe better solution i was thinkign using DCC++ because we can use arduinos, there are some lego things already done, but really expensive the goal is to control all for a limited price... the lego trains can be controlled using Bluetooth or wifi (the Library for Arduino exist, so it can be use with Arduino) i already have an ESP32, did not try it at this time but i will do soon i already have the layout plan, and the layout itself is Under construction (half done) for the arduin sketches i'm a beginner, but i read lots of things and made a few try, i begin to understand the basis, and i know a few people that could help me when i have problem with code (and forums are Always a good help ;-) i will use rocrail to have a TCO and for programming the layout, it seems really interesting a friend is working on it, all works great with non physically trains next step is to test it with real trains... at first we were thinking to use DCC++ but since your reply, i think that using MQTT and wifi without DCC++ seems to work too i found examples from another guy and it seems working well i will give it a try as soon as i got more stuff it seems amazon stop work for a few days in France, so i can't buy what i still need…) i will let you know David
ESP32 can be programmed using Arduino IDE (I do that) as you maybe already know. And if there is a lib for Lego Trains it should not be that difficult to get started. Then you can get going right now without waiting for Amazon And ESP8266, such as Wemos D1 Mini (my favourite) has built in Wifi (not Bluetooth) can of course also be programmed using Arduino IDE. It is a small and cheap little device that is much better than Arduino, in my opinion.
yes i would like to buy a NodeMCU with ESP8266, to try it and i need a wifi router my internet box is far away from my garage and it won't work so i can't do lots of things now... i was thinking to buy a Raspberry Pi too, but it is expensive, i will wait for this...
If you need the Raspberry Pi acting as a router it also works with Raspberry Pi Zero W. Cheaper but maybe hard to get right now, sold out in many places. But you can still program your ESP32 and try to connect to a Lego locomotive with Bluetooth
