JMRI, Raspberry pi3+ and DCC++

french_guy Feb 6, 2021

  1. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    Hello

    Just re-installed the newest Pi OS on my Raspberry pi3+ and then downloaded the latest release of JMRI
    Once extracted, I click on PanelPro or DecoderPro
    I see Execute, Execute in Terminal, Open and Cancel....But when I click on "Execute", nothing happens !!!

    For now, my DCC++ Basestation is not hooked up to the Raspberry, but I think PanelPro or DecoderPro should at least open.....Or do I need to have it attached to be able to open PanelPro or DecoderPro?
     
  2. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    The easy way for me was to just download Steve Tood's image file ....

    https://mstevetodd.com/jmri-raspberrypi-access-point

    Plug it into the Pi and JMRI comes right up on the screen but you still should check the settings to make sure it is connecting to the DCC++ command station. Look for how to do that down the page here where it talks about setting the prefrences. Might be your problem now...

    http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/DCC/page-2.html

    Edit: Steve's latest image file should work on a Pi3. It was the Pi3 image file that wouldn't work on a Pi4.

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2021
  3. Mike 354

    Mike 354 New Member

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    If you click launch in terminal mode it will run. I had to do some internet searching and found a way to create way to add it to the programs menu. I like terminal mode it gives you a running tally of what JMRI information and status.
     
  4. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    I tried "Execute in terminal" as well, but it didn't do anything...
    Do you think not having the basestation hooked-up to the Raspberry and powered is the issue?
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2021
  5. Ash

    Ash TrainBoard Member

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    I had a problem a few weeks ago. I wanted to keep what I had, so I got a new microSD card and copied everything to the new card. Then I updated/upgraded the OS and did the 'Update JMRI' per this link: https://mstevetodd.com/enhancing-your-rpi-jmri

    But apparently my new 32gb microSD card was not compatible with RP3b. Or maybe it was the updated OS. Or maybe the power supply.

    Using a different branded 8gb card, I made another copy. Then the 'Update JMRI' - straight to 4.21.3, and this time I did not do OS updates or do the prescribed update to JMRI 4.20 first. JMRI has started every time, except I get a warning if my Arduino USB is not connected. I have RP3b with JMRI 4.21.3. (And I ordered some extra microSD cards.)

    Once JMRI froze, I was unable to do anything, and the system would not restart until I put the old microSD card back into the RP3b. Perhaps there was something in the new OS that was using more resources or my power supply was shot. And I replaced the wall wart, since I had noticed the low power icon appearing on the screen a couple of times.
     
  6. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    I have a 2nd 32GB micro SD card (same brand though)...
    1) I format the card with the SD Card formatter
    2) I install the Raspberry PI OS using their Raspberry Pi Imager V1.5, and select the 1st option (recommended one)
    3) Then I boot the Raspberry pi and complete the setup
    4) After, I downlnoad JMRI. This time, I've installed the test release version 4.21.4
    5) I extract the file
    6) Basestation is powered and attached to the Pi this time
    7a) When I click on PanelPro or Decoderpro (Execute)....nothing happens
    7b) When I click on PanelPro or Decoderpro (Execute in terminal)....i see like a windows popping out briefly (like a super fast blink), and then nothing happens

    Very frustrating................!!!
     
  7. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Try Steve Todd's image file. Yesterday I put it on a SD card (download to your computer and use Win32 Disk Imager to move the image to the SD card -- read his instructions and don't format). I put the card in a brand new Pi4 and JMRI came right up and I ran an engine.

    Love it, one doesn't need to know anything about a Pi or how to download and setup JMRI.

    Sumner
     
  8. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    I have the Raspberry Pi3 b+.........not the 4 !

    Edit: I just saw your comment in a previous post, where you say Steve's image should work on a Pi 3 B+......well, I guess I can give it a try
     
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2021
  9. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    OK, so it finally works......it was about JAVA not being installed
    After typing the 2 following commands, DecoderPro and PanelPro finally open
    sudo apt update
    sudo apt install default-jdk

    It's explained in the following link:
    https://phoenixnap.com/kb/install-java-raspberry-pi
     
  10. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    I did try Steve's image, and it works perfectly on the RPI 3+ B ................
     
    Sumner likes this.
  11. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Glad you got things going.

    I finally remembered the problem I had with Steve's image file in the middle of last year (long time ago for my memory). I had sent his older image file, before the Pi4 came out, to someone on a SD card so they wouldn't have to put the image on a card. Well they had just bought a new Pi4 and the image card wouldn't work. Found out at that time the operating system on the 4 had changed some.

    So old image file doesn't work on the 4 but the new one works on the 4 and is backwards compatible to the 3. Moral of the story....just download Steve's image file and it will work regardless of if one has a 3 or a 4,

    Sumner
     
  12. craftech

    craftech TrainBoard Member

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    Don't format the card. It won't work if you do that. It also will not fit on an 8GB card. Needs 16GB or 32GB. I put it on a new Pi4 and it worked perfectly using a 32GB unformatted card.

    No monitor. My tablet and phone found the wireless network that automatically starts when you power up the pi with the card in it (connected to an UNO and motor shield) , entered the password once. Engine Driver finds the network. Connect. Enter loco number. Click on the power button in the software. Off you go.

    The power button is hidden in the menu, but there is an option to put it on the throttle page.
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2021
  13. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    So when programming a decoder....you do it from your tablet if you have no monitor?
     
  14. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    So i had my Raspberry Pi3+ B working just fine with JMRI and DriverEngine on a android phone (I was using Steve's image for Rpi 4)
    The only thing I did was to update JMRI version from the Google play store on the phone
    Now, it seems my cell phone cannot connect to the Withrottle server......
    I just re-installed the image on the sd card (and by the way noticed there was an update done 2 days ago)
    So now it works again on the phone (Galaxy Grand Prime) but I'm trying on another phone (Huawei Mate) but it doesn't see the withrottle server...
    What should look for in the phone's settings?
     
  15. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    I'm on an Android phone and for some reason have to turn 'Mobile Data' off on the phone while I'm using Engine Driver. I think someone had a workaround for that but can't remember what and it just takes a second to turn it off or on,

    Sumner
     
  16. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    OK, I will try that...However the 2 phones I'm using are "old" phones, so no sim card
    But I will check and try to turn mobile date OFF on the Huawei
    Gosh............I forgot how much this hobby is time consuming !!!!!
     
  17. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Sumner,

    You should be able to update your Engine Driver app, and you won't have to turn off mobile data anymore.
     
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  18. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    If I want to install the latest Steve's image (March 5).....how do i save my roster?
     
  19. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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  20. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    So meaning before installing the new image, i need to copy from current sd card the JMRI User Preferences folder, and copy it back once the new image is installed?
     

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