Wow! after reading a few model railroad forums on this emerging technology... the doubters and naysayers sound just like the same ones scoffing at a manned mission to the moon... I for one didn't truly believe id see the day when my mobile phone would possess more computing power than the space shuttle! but it happened and it happened quickly! It is refreshing to see that in a few areas we haven't lost our ability to pose the challenging questions that start with "what if..." Nor is the adventurous spirit of willing to make things happen fully repressed. With everything else, albeit slowly, in some cases, tech zadvances into new and uncharted territory. I think the current advancements with bluetooth have merely just begun, at the tip of the iceberg. lot's beneath the surface to explore. plus it opens up a new realm of possibilities for us on our layouts. I'm very excited to see and try the new things they come up with! Bachmann made a smart move by bringing the game developer on board. Some on the forums are quick to give a wave goodbye to digitrax, nce, etc... I don't believe they are going anywhere. I'm sure, from a business standpoint, that from the first hints of this newest technology for the hobby were heard, they went to work on it. You can find bachmann's and bluetrains patents online already. Let's see what the the other big kids come up with..
DBTC HO board, but no cigar yet! The picture is the first DBTC HO board with one thin-dime and an extra the Bluetooth board. Don’t let the extra wires nd connector freak you out they are for a debugging interface and to allow the experimental addition of new and unique capabilities. Additional details on this board will not (in all probability) be released until the boards are available in volume. Unfortunately the control processor is not getting data from the Bluetooth board, yet (no cigar). So we are having to backup and do a breadboard version to work this problem out. The HO-FTA has already been modified to add the tachometer-wheel and mounting for the tachometer-sensor. The HO-FTA also has a read-switch added (hidden) on the bottom that will be used to implement stops at precise locations. Bob
First DBTC Locomotive Sound? How about an inexpensive (>$13 delivered), simple, good sounding, HO locomotive sound option for DBTC (see picture)? Just stick it on, add a removable-fake-trap and make it look like an over-sized load, and then put it directly behind the locomotive you want to have sound effects. That’s right; it is battery powered and will play sounds from any iClone. [Open-source iClone App developers, here is your chance to get in on the ground floor.] Bo
I am very interested in this technology. I like seeing it developed. I will make one comment. Up at the top a requirement was stated That is (or appear to be) ultimately unidentifiable. I know people have lots of handles. People should be required to sign their full name. I have some information, but there is Zero chance I am going to share it here without knowing who is on the forum. Pete Steinmetz Dead Rail Society
Personally, green tooth or whatever holds zero interest to me. I want a hard handheld. That said, there is in LS an app just out to allow you to control radio/battery locos with RailLinx from your stupidphone 3.0 or whatever. I entered the modern era (on demand) with a Star Trek flip phone, all I need. I am glad the tech junkies like doing this. I do get a kick out of the debugging....certainly didn't need all those wires and plugs to do straight radio control of battery powered loco.
The FreeMo N layout at the N scale convention in Sacramento last week was phones and tablets to run their trains. Seemed to work great.
Russ, What we use is WiThrottle (iOS) or EngineDriver (Android) accessing JMRI via its WiFi server interface and a router. The JMRI system is hooked up to an NCE command station. Much simpler to use, and no interference with other radio DCC setups in the room
That's the problem when folks decide to throw dcc continuous packets into R/C. Seen it. I refuse. Use only radio/battery on 900, no hairwire involved, full stop. No cvp either. Having an app for your mandatory, President of the US able to communicate with you at any time phone makes it easy...and no dcc structure. How hard is this? Well, I suppose if you have to have wires and plugs hanging out for development work, must be a bit harder. Dave
I can only assume that you are talking about the link to the DBTC Group that TrainBoard has taken down. They may or may not put the group back up, only time will tell. You are welcome to send a private message here to me RT_Coker.
From a Bachmann rep in the Bachmann forums. EZ APP products should be available at retailers around the end of September. Rich
Here's my question. How are retailers appealing to the youth? I haven't seen much marketing if any. Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
Just so we don’t confuse viewers, Bachmann (and associates) are not doing open-source or even open-interface (as in DCC).
Apparently one way is to announce a new product for next-year just before the current Christmas buying season, and then have a “Coming Soon” message than apparently does not mean coming soon. Bob
I am trying to get back on track with this development effort, after recovering from an acute case of sever-embarrassment. It was a bad case of pointing my finger at the hardware for “not getting data from the Bluetooth board”, and then finding out that it was my firmware-code. As has been said a long time ago, I have met the enemy and he be me! I am also praying that a questionable DBTC patent-application is not approved because of lost evidence of prior-art that was in the “Open-Source-Bluetooth-Train-Control” Group, and its predecessor Blog. Bob
We had a small problem with the motor control circuit. Unfortunately, the fix requires an updated board design and fabrication and population of new boards (?? weeks). I believe that it necessary to get a demonstration-DBTC-locomotive running and demonstrated before the field becomes too crowded with Bluetooth-locomotives. So while I wait, I will be building a back-up breadboard-DBTC (Bluetooth-PIC18-DRV8801) and replacing the Atmaga286 and USB-tether in the tender of my first DBTC-locomotive. The DBTC group is apparently never going to be put brought back up by the forum, so if you know of a good place to re-host the DBTC group please let me know. The DBTC group will be used to facilitate communications between the various developers (of H/W, F/W, computer-programs, & Apps) in an environment that is separated from the users. Users’ communications will be through this DBTC thread and other threads. The default location is “www.sourceforge.net/projects/dbtc/”. This is where the source code and documentation releases are already hosted. Bob
Bob, I am very interested in your development project, I am looking to replace my present home made train controller that I designed, (20 odd years ago) using an infra red remote control to control one locomotive and 16 turn-outs. I have been looking forward to the release of a commercial device, but would much prefer an open source environment, and I am getting tired of the "coming soon" quotes. it's now been over 12 months since the first you-tube video and still nothing commercially available. It makes me wonder about what the support is going to be like. Keep up your development work, I have spent 30 years in the electronics industry and I can appreciate the problems you have along the way. I have ordered a blue-tooth module about a week ago and will start playing around myself. Rob.
Ron, Much thanks for the encouragement! The prospect of having working DBTC boards from an American manufacturer any time soon does not look good. I have been taking a break, but will be finishing the breadboard-DBTC-demonstration-locomotive this year. After that I plan on making a demonstration video and using it to seek a board manufacturer anywhere I can find one. If things go as planned the demonstration video will show a “smart” DBTC-locomotive precisely negotiating a layout without the expensive layout electronics that are presently used to automate a layout. I do not recommend them, but there are rumors the BlueRail Trains will have Bluetooth boards available in November. Bob
Bob, Any progress since last post? I currently have an arduino ( adafruit ) mini with an ez link bluetooth board running gregg's dcc++ code. Using dc track power or f7 b unit towed lipo power i am going to supply a dcc signal to a tsunami gn1000 in an ho f7a, either through a hardwired signal input or onboard motor shield. Dave
