EX-DCCInspector - part 2

 

Following part 1, I brought my setup to the layout and tried it out:

This is the output I get:

19:50:11.330 -> Bit Count/4 sec=23723 (Zeros=9326, Ones=14397), Glitches=0 19:50:11.367 -> Valid Packets=394, NMRA out of spec=41, Checksum Errors=4, Lost pkts=0, Long pkts=3 19:50:11.367 -> 0 half-bit length (us): 123.2 (96-1200) delta < 1100 19:50:11.367 -> 1 half-bit length (us): 57.7 (36-68) delta < 12 19:50:11.367 -> -- 19:50:11.631 -> Loc 1087 F20-F13 0 11000100 00111111 11011110 00000000 19:50:11.631 -> Loc 7689 L F4-F1 0 11011110 00001001 10000000 19:50:11.631 -> Idle 11111111 00000000 19:50:11.631 -> Loc 7689 Fwd128 Stop 11011110 00001001 00111111 10000000 19:50:11.631 -> Loc 1087 L F4-F1 10000 11000100 00111111 10010000 19:50:11.631 -> Loc 1087 Fwd128 65 11000100 00111111 00111111 11000010 19:50:11.667 -> Loc 7689 F20-F13 0 11011110 00001001 11011110 00000000 19:50:11.667 -> Loc 1087 F28-F21 0 11000100 00111111 11011111 00000000 19:50:11.701 -> Loc 10000 Stop 11100111 00010000 01100000 19:50:11.741 -> Loc 1087 F36-F29 0 11000100 00111111 11011000 00000000 19:50:11.780 -> Loc 7689 F12-F9 0 11011110 00001001 10100000 19:50:12.041 -> Loc 1087 F8-F5 0 11000100 00111111 10110000 19:50:12.105 -> Loc 7689 F8-F5 0 11011110 00001001 10110000 19:50:12.139 -> Loc 1087 F12-F9 0 11000100 00111111 10100000 19:50:12.442 -> Loc 7689 F28-F21 1 11011110 00001001 11011111 00000001 19:50:15.651 -> -

So, we see a lot of things. It seems that there's a memory in what has been transmitted recently - typically everything related to the engine I ran right before - Loc 7689, but nothing about blocks or Railcom related information

 
More investigation required, but looking at DCC-EX Discord, it seems that EX-DCCInspector might not be supporting Railcom just yet.

EX-DCCInspector - part 1

 

Now that my test stand is all set up with the DCC-EX Command Station, I spent a bit of time with another tool from DCC-EX: EX-DCCInspector and its DCC Diagnostic Tools. The goal is to understand if an Arduino could analyze the DCC packets and identify the locomotives running on the layout. More specifically, it would need to identify the engine going into a specific block.

A while back, I ran an experiment with RFID, but the range was still an open issue, as well as the speed off the models.

I purchased the part mentioned by the DCC-EX website: 

https://www.iascaled.com/store/ARD-DCCSHIELD

I followed the instructions and saw it could support a OLED display. It could also do Wifi, but I think I need different parts for that: ESP32, so I'll do that later. On the software side, I had to adjust the Config.h file and comment line 55 that is active by default (which doesn't make sense to me...):

line 55 // #define USETIMER

Eventually everything worked and this is how it looks:

Thanks for the DCC-EX Command Station, I'm able to use JMRI to command the train wirelessly while my laptop is connected via USB to the EX-DCCInspector module 😁

And this is the type of output I got on the Serial Monitor:

20:23:53.279 -> Bit Count/4 sec=24621 (Zeros=10016, Ones=14605), Glitches=0 20:23:53.279 -> Valid Packets=387, NMRA out of spec=30, Checksum Errors=0, Lost pkts=0, Long pkts=0 20:23:53.279 -> 0 half-bit length (us): 116.0 (108-124) delta < 16 20:23:53.312 -> 1 half-bit length (us): 58.0 (48-68) delta < 12 20:23:53.312 -> -- 20:23:53.312 -> Loc 1833 F28-F21 0 11000111 00101001 11011111 00000000 20:23:53.349 -> Loc 1833 Rev128 Stop 11000111 00101001 00111111 00000000 20:23:53.349 -> Loc 1833 L F4-F1 10001 11000111 00101001 10010001

Next step is to go on the layout and try again; this time with the ECoS as the command station where I have block detection via Railcom.

Traxx 186 291-1 LINEAS

 

I mentioned this model in a previous post, but besides providing pictures of the prototypical engine and a quick snap of the screen on the ECoS, I stopped there. The main reason for stopping there at the time is that my test stand did not really handle non-ESU decoder, which is the case with Roco models. But, with the new functionalities of the test stand, I can now configure a Zimo or Lenz decoder via JMRI/DCC-EX. Here's the outcome:

Custom test bench - part 12: DCC-EX + WIFI + OLED Display + Volt/Amp

This series of posts about my test stand is reaching its end ... After installing the DCC-EX, I also wanted to have a device measuring the tension and courant going into the main track - for me, track #1.

I installed the DCC Concepts Alpha Meter on the layout, but it would be too big for the test stand. Fortunately, a US manufacturer makes something similar, but smaller. It is the RRampMeter from DCC Specialties:

The setup is very straight forward. The main challenge was to create the opening on the panel so that the LED display would be flush.

So, I'm pretty happy with the end state as it is. The panel is not exactly organized in a logical way, but that will do for now!

Custom test bench - part 11: DCC-EX + WIFI + OLED Display

 

Today, I focused on replacing the Roco DCC station by my new DCC-EX. First, I reconfigured the Arduino with the DCC-EX motor shield. It was one line in the config file to adjust and it worked immediately.

With the Arduino motor shield, the OLED display was plugged into the Mega board:

Pins 20 and 21 for the clock and the data: 

The DCC-EX motor shield not only simplifies wire management with only one power connection, but it also provides a dedicated header for the OLED, which will make it easy to fix the whole set into the box I purchased.

To mount the OLED display on the panel, I decided to mount the whole board on the panel. I had to bend the connectors, but it was quite easy.

Here's the final result! I added a switch - the round red one - for the DCC-EX unit, so I can choose not to start it if I don't need it. It also makes it easy to reset the Arduino without having to unplug the entire test stand.

Custom test bench - part 10: DCC-EX + WIFI + OLED Display

 

I just received the "official" DCC-EX motor shield named "EX-MotorShield8874". I ordered it directly from the DCC-EX web store.

My main reason to replace the Arduino shield with the DCC-EX one, is that this DCC-EX shield makes it easy to have only one power source with all the components: motor shield and Arduino Mega. Space is limited in the test bench ...

I unplugged the Arduino motor shield and positioned the new one. I plugged the power source and it seems to work immediately!

I still need to test it with an actual locomotive, but it would easy to reconfigure the Arduino with the DCC-EX installer or rather the Arduino IDE, since I modified the source code for the display.

Maubeuge - Paris

 

Before it is too late, here's a formation for Paris - Maubeuge based on a BB 22200 engine with Corail passenger cars. Those will disappear very soon in favor of modern EMUs ...

Prototypical formation

Here are two of many pictures available online:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ferimages/52347745179/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ferimages/53114262409/

Miniature models

The locomotives have been released by LS Models and Roco, and interestingly enough, the same goes for the passenger cars!

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express - part 3

 

Some videos now:

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express - part 2

In this post, I'll focus on the models for the VSOE.

Locomotives

There are many locomotives pulling the VSOE during its journey throughout Europe. I focus on northern France and some of Belgium:

Icon	Description	Image	Reference	In stock
	BB 26000 Fantôme		Jouef HJ2166 Base Roco	✔
	BB 26000 Carmillon		Jouef HJ2214 Roco 73865	✔
	BB 26000 Béton		Jouef HJ2259	✔
	BB 26000 En Voyage		Jouef HJ2014 Jouef HJ2053	✔
	BB 26000 Multiservice		Jouef HJ2083	✔
	BB 26000 Fluo Grand Est		Piko 96149	✖
	BB 67400 En Voyage		Jouef HJ2020 REE MB-169	✔
	BB 67400 Bleue		REE MB-100	✔
	BB 67400 Fret		Jouef HJ2004 REE MB-069 Rivarossi R1682	✔
	BB 67400 Multiservice		Jouef HJ2049	✔
	Traxx BR 186 Lineas noire		Piko 97771 Piko 97775 Roco 73214	✔
	Traxx BR 186 Lineas Railpool		Base Piko	✔
	Traxx BR 186 Lineas blanche		Base Roco	✔
	BB 15000 TEE		LS Models 10489	✔
	BB 15000 En Voyage		LS Models 10485	✖
	BB 15000 Multiservice		LS Models 10490	✔
	BB 22200 Béton		LS Models 10053 Roco 73877	✔
	HLE 18²	\	LS Models	✔
	HLE 12		LS Models	✔
	HLE 27		LS Models	✔
	CC 72100 En Voyage		Roco 62978	✖

Passenger cars

Icon	Description	Image	Reference	In stock
	n°3425 Lits type S1			✖
	n°3482 Lits type Lx		HR4144 HR4321 - n°3525 n°3473	✔
	n°3525 Lits type Lx		HR4144 HR4321 - n°3525 n°3473	✔
	n°3552 Lits type Lx		HR4144 HR4321 - n°3525 n°3473	✔
	n°3539 Lits type Lx		HR4144 HR4321 - n°3525 n°3473	✔
	n°3543 Lits type Lx		HR4144 HR4321 - n°3525 n°3473	✔
	n°3912 Service type Yt			✖
	n°3674 Bar		HR4135 HR4319 - n°3674	✔
	n°4095 Restaurant		HR4322 - n°4110	✔
	n°4141 Salon		HR4322 - n°4141	✔
	n°4110 Restaurant		HR4322 - n°4110	✔
	n°3915 Service type Yt			✖
	n°3544 Lits type Lx		HR4144 HR4321 - n°3525 n°3473	✔
	n°3483 Lits type Lx		HR4144 HR4321 - n°3525 n°3473	✔
	n°3553 Lits type Lx		HR4144 HR4321 - n°3525 n°3473	✔
	n°3473 Lits type Lx		HR4144 HR4321 - n°3525 n°3473	✔
	n°3309 Lits type S1			✖
	FS UIC-X Bc I-IT		ACME 55224	✖

Still some research to do regarding the type S1 and type Yt cars!