DCC++ issues with D&H 10C - resolved

ThomasP May 21, 2017

  1. Marco87

    Marco87 New Member

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    Hmmmm....

    After a lot of failed attempts, I still couldn`t figure out what the problem is/ was.
    But....then it sprung to my mind: what if there is something wrong with my brand new decoder??
    After a close look and comparing with a picture, I saw that the 2 resistors in the lower corner are soldered together in the bottom. :cry:
    This means a production error...

    The Saga Continues....

    Greets, Marco
     
  2. RCMan

    RCMan TrainBoard Member

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    OK, great.
    Next Test.
    1. After starting JMRI , bring up DecoderPro.
    2. On the top of the screen you will see a icon which will either say "Unknown, OFF or ON". Click it and see if the power to the DCC++ going off or on. You might have to click a couple of times.
    3. If nothing happens then you might not have the correct USB port selected.
    This is the very first test you should make.

    Second test if the power does work.
    1. Bring up a throttle and assign #3 to the throttle.
    2. You must be on the "Main" track as the "Programming" track can not control a throttle.

    Let me know the results.
     
  3. Marco87

    Marco87 New Member

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    1. After starting JMRI , bring up DecoderPro.
    2. On the top of the screen you will see a icon which will either say "Unknown, OFF or ON". Click it and see if the power to the DCC++ going off or on. You might have to click a couple of times.
    - This is not visible in DecoderPro, but is an option in PanelPro.
    - In PanelPro, it does react to the On/Off inputs: the lights on the motorshield light up, and also very faintly on the loc.

    3. If nothing happens then you might not have the correct USB port selected.
    This is the very first test you should make.

    Second test if the power does work.
    1. Bring up a throttle and assign #3 to the throttle.
    2. You must be on the "Main" track as the "Programming" track can not control a throttle.
    - I also did this in PanelPro, but no reaction on the Main track.

    Greets, Marco
     
  4. RCMan

    RCMan TrainBoard Member

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    OK, faintly on the loco may tell us something.

    If you have a DVM, set it to AC Volt and read the voltage on the track with the power on.

    Then change the DVM to DC and read the DC voltage.
     
  5. Marco87

    Marco87 New Member

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    Power supply gives 14 Volt.
    On track AC: 17.6V and DC 0.4V

    What I also noticed is that in the DecoderPro window, in the lower left corner, it says in red: "No Service Mode Programmer Available" and "No Operations Mode Porgrammer Available". Could this also be a reason why I don`t see a "Unknown/On/Off" button in DecoderPro?
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2019
  6. RCMan

    RCMan TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, that might be a good clue.

    Start DecoderPro and then go to EDIT>Preferences.

    You should see DCC++ and Internal listed with a line of options to check.

    If anything is checked for INTERNAL, then click the DCC++ button(s) to put them in the DCC++ column.
     
    Marco87 likes this.
  7. Marco87

    Marco87 New Member

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    That did the trick as for DecoderPro!
    I apparently did not assign anything to DCC++ in the Preferences for DecoderPro. Now I did under the tab: Connections and also in Defaults.
    I now have the Track Power button visible, And the Service Mode and Operations Mode are in green lettering.

    Then I do the following:
    - Be sure to Program on Mains,
    - Turn track power on,
    - "New Loco",
    - Read type from decoder: and then I see error 308 again.

    Greets, Marco
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2019
  8. RCMan

    RCMan TrainBoard Member

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    Great, Did you assign all the internal to DCC++?

    Next did you try to operate an engine with #3 or what you have already programmed it for?

    We still need to make sure everything is working and you have a base standard to fall back on if something goes wrong.

    Dennis
     
  9. Marco87

    Marco87 New Member

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    In the tabs "Connections" and "Defaults" I assigned everything to DCC++. I could not find anything else to switch to DCC++.
    Also for the first time when you can select a new loco, I selected DCC++.

    Now I do the following steps in PanelPro:
    -New Loco,
    - Select from "train decoders 2017" the newest DH10C,
    - In Roster ID I type: Railion 6408 and set active address to 3 and then "save".
    - Then I select the loc in the list & click on throttle.
    - In the Address Panel in the throttle, I "release" and select my Railion 6408,
    - Then I switch from forward to reverse, and nothing happens, also no throttle response.

    Wires are in mains, "programming on mains" is selected and power is on.

    Greets, Marco

    Edit I did exact the same things in DecoderPro, and it gave the same negative result.
     
  10. RCMan

    RCMan TrainBoard Member

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    Here is a video to watch for now. Still looking for some info on using the DEEK shield



    Dennis
     
  11. Marco87

    Marco87 New Member

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    Thanks for all the help so far Dennis!
    I`ll have a look!

    Greets, Marco
     
  12. RCMan

    RCMan TrainBoard Member

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  13. wee

    wee New Member

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    Hallo,

    I saw this issue about another loc decoder on this forum. I use
    DCC++ basestation to controll my train layout. I recently bought
    a new Piko loc with SmartDecoder 4.1 PluX22. I have the same problem
    as descriped earlier, I can not read the decoders cv's both not on
    programm track or on POM. I can read programm cv's of all my locdecoders
    except this one. JMRI does not recognize the decoder at all.
    Ofcourse I have updated Basestation with the adjustments as mention here.
    But still no result.

    Anyone have any idea what is the problem here? Must the code be adjusted?
    Hopefully someone can help me here.

    Thanks in advance,

    Wil
     
  14. pepeONrails

    pepeONrails TrainBoard Member

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    Hi,

    I have had problems in reading D+H CV's on the Prog-Track, but with the files of Felix it worked nice so far.
    Now the problem is back with a similar decoder you mentioned
    its a "Piko SmartDecoder 4.1 Sound" in 221 Diesel-Loco N-scale which does not respond!
    I use Arduino Uno/Arduino MotorShield (both genuine) with JMRI - error 308
    I can drive the loco on Maintrack, the loco can be programmed read/write with a minitrix MobileStaion2
    but not with my DCC++ Station.
    I've sent an email to the Piko hotline but they are on holliday and not back before next monday...
    I let you know about their answer.

    I also have a Motorshield which did not work on the ProgrammingTrack at all, so I ordered a Polulu MC33926
    and try that one, I also think about a ESP32/DCC++ version from Atani, parts are ordered, hope I have enough time to sort it out.

    so long,

    Peter
     
  15. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    if the motor shield does not read on the programming track, or if you get error 308 coming up, then chances are that either the shield does not support current sense or the pin outs are set different to what jmri expects them to be ..
     
  16. pepeONrails

    pepeONrails TrainBoard Member

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    thanks wvgca for the hint to look at "current sense" !!!

    The brandnew Arduino Motorshield was not properly soldered !!! There is an OpAmp IC on the shield (the little eight pin one)
    which connects A0 (sense operation-track) and A1 (sense prog-trck) as inputs for this IC.
    But pin7 (for A1) has no connection, i re-soldered it very carefully and no the shield works... boahh... unbelievable
    So, thanks for that, one problem is gone and the shield now works with all tested locos, except that Piko loco.
    Now I'm waiting for the answer of my enquiry at Piko...

    kind regards

    Peter
     
  17. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    glad that part of it worked out for you .... it's not fun when 'new' parts aren't soldered ../
     
  18. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    if the piko has a 'stay alive' it might have be disconnected from the circuit, or the voltage upped a bit [2 - 3 volts]
     
  19. wee

    wee New Member

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    hi Peter

    of you have a solution for the Piko SmartDecoder please post the result Iam very much interested thanks
    Wil
     
  20. pepeONrails

    pepeONrails TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Wil,

    today I got an answer from Piko, but they have no solution to it, because they
    don't know dcc++/JMRI ...(n)

    I soon will try a Polulu MotorDriverShield ( as soon as it arrives) and let you know
    the result

    so long

    Peter
     

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