DCC++ Update Project 2020

FlightRisk Feb 16, 2020

  1. Roger Beschizza

    Roger Beschizza TrainBoard Member

    58
    8
    3
    Agree with that although I suspect the tested - what works group will be smaller and easier to document to start with. The untested section that has been found not to work "out of the box" will rely on follk feeding that in. R-
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2020
  2. Roger Beschizza

    Roger Beschizza TrainBoard Member

    58
    8
    3
    Does anyone have an idea for a system that allows for the collaboration of our ideas, thoughts and comments that can be made available to interested parties? I feel the Google Sheet is becoming unwieldy as I keep noting ideas down pretty much all over the place. Is there anything on this forum that we could utilise? It's just that with so many folk coming forward to help I am afraid of missing a good point [or two], losing version control, getting ideas into the right place and making sure that we can all follow the flow. R-
     
  3. Mani

    Mani TrainBoard Member

    76
    15
    4
    If you say version control, Git is first thing came up in mind.
    Or just PM, simply we can use trello.

    Just my 2 cents.

    Sent from my GM1901 using Tapatalk
     
  4. Roger Beschizza

    Roger Beschizza TrainBoard Member

    58
    8
    3
    Hi Mani, thanks, yes that has come up before. I have opened an account but I am struggling to find my way around. R-
     
  5. Mani

    Mani TrainBoard Member

    76
    15
    4
    I can help on that if need and if you find that is the system going to be used.

    Sent from my GM1901 using Tapatalk
     
  6. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

    2,798
    5,837
    63
    My thought is that if this is at first aimed at giving a non-computer, non-electronics person a path to setting up a DCC++ system you need to limit it to "this works" and here is how to do it in the easiest steps possible. Those steps are out there, but in a couple different places. They need to be brought into one common place with, as I see it, maybe three branches.

    1. How to setup the Arduino and motor shield and load the sketch and connect it to the main and program track.

    2. How to set up a Raspberry Pi with JMRI on it and connect it to the the Arduino

    or

    3. How to load JMRI on a computer and connect it to the Arduino

    Keep it simple and I think you will find that people will be willing to give it a try. Put all of the stuff about this board and that board and all the other possible paths in a different place or they will be turned off and feel that it is too complicated and over their head.

    Once up and running people that want to can start looking at other options.

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2020
    rray and Roger Beschizza like this.
  7. Mani

    Mani TrainBoard Member

    76
    15
    4
    Geek Robot shield will not give Output voltage. Tested with jmri.

    Sent from my GM1901 using Tapatalk
     
  8. Roger Beschizza

    Roger Beschizza TrainBoard Member

    58
    8
    3
    Exactly! I am that person, and I’ll bet there are a lot more.

    I am hopeful the repository can be built up over time to include other tested configurations - and maybe eventually a list of known non working ones. But yes, for now start simple.

    R-
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2020
  9. vasilis

    vasilis TrainBoard Member

    110
    39
    10
    I requested access to this spreadsheet. I would like to have a read only access. Thank you
     
  10. Roger Beschizza

    Roger Beschizza TrainBoard Member

    58
    8
    3
    ‘‘tis done. R-
     
    vasilis likes this.
  11. Keith Ledbetter

    Keith Ledbetter TrainBoard Member

    279
    195
    12
    I agree it has to be very simple with UNO, original motor shield and sketch that is tested and proven to work on that. That is the quick setup guide with appropriate trace cuts, wiring and a connection to the computer to run JMRI.

    The rest should be branches and links that are more advanced (code tweaks for other motor shields, other motor shields wiring, Mega wiring, boosters, wireless throttles, etc should and could all be sections of the documentation.

    This alone I think will get more people to try DCC++ which should be the goal as then more can start to contribute to that second group as they get more advanced. As with most things it's mostly pulling links and information together rather than creating but that is always harder then it seems :)
     
    vasilis and Roger Beschizza like this.
  12. Keith Ledbetter

    Keith Ledbetter TrainBoard Member

    279
    195
    12
    I'll volunteer to do the screenshots and documentation of doing intial setup of jmri for starters.
     
  13. FlightRisk

    FlightRisk TrainBoard Member

    548
    237
    14
    What do you mean? Are you saying the Deek-Robot (you meant DEEK, not GEEK, right?)
    board is not turning on and powering the track or the track is working but JMRI is not reporting something?
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2020
  14. FlightRisk

    FlightRisk TrainBoard Member

    548
    237
    14
    I think Trello might be a good option to organize the project. Let's look at some options (hopefully free) and take a vote and get started. If somebody knows and uses a piece of software like Trello and can get it going and teach the rest of us, I'm all for it.

    As for the documentation, let's try to go through all the links on the spreadsheet that pertain to the tutorials and documents that already exist and see if we can pull from those. Like these:

    http://www.clubncaldes.com/2016/02/build-your-own-dcc-command-station-for-8.html another good step by step tutorial with pictures

    https://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/sma32-jmri-does-dc-with-up-to-48-wifi-or-jmri-dc-cabs Talk about how JMRI integrates with DCC++

    And do we just start here: https://github.com/DccPlusPlus/BaseStation/wiki and add to that documentation or create our own? If we use this, we need a backup since anyone can change it. Also, using Git, we can work on it locally and push it back up there. We could also use the DCC docs, from which DCC++ derived, here: https://dccwiki.com/Introduction_to_DCC
     
  15. Mani

    Mani TrainBoard Member

    76
    15
    4
    A typo. Its 'DEEK'. In jmri, there is a widget that shows 'Track power/Voltage'. When I use this shield, that widget always shows 0 (zero). But everything else working Ok.
    When I changed to genuine shield, it is showing the correct number.
    [​IMG]

    Sent from my GM1901 using Tapatalk
     
  16. Mani

    Mani TrainBoard Member

    76
    15
    4
    Asana & Airtable could be other options. But a bit advanced & need to check the number of user allowed in their free plans.

    Sent from my GM1901 using Tapatalk
     
  17. vasilis

    vasilis TrainBoard Member

    110
    39
    10
    I agree, is something like the uniting of fundamental interactions in physics. I'll try to explain this with a chart.
     
  18. Roger Beschizza

    Roger Beschizza TrainBoard Member

    58
    8
    3
    That would be a great start Keith. What program will you use to produce the document? If we can all access it then all the documentation will look similar. R-
     
  19. Roger Beschizza

    Roger Beschizza TrainBoard Member

    58
    8
    3
    I've put this up on a new Trello account for DCC++ - not entirely sure what I am doing as there is a lot to it. There is a way to attach links etc. to the cards - but I can only see that option on my iPad - not my Mac.

    There is also this one which is a standard template supplied by a Trello user I believe. It gives an idea of what is possible - once we work it all out :rolleyes: .

    I have not invited anyone to join the Trello Board so you may not be able to play with it. R-
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2020
  20. Roger Beschizza

    Roger Beschizza TrainBoard Member

    58
    8
    3
    These appear to be apps that we would pay for, at least after 14 days [Airtable].

    R-
     

Share This Page