Hi !

Very interesting !

Do you have any plan for a linux version of the command station ?

Cheers
Fabrice

Thanks for reply.

Currently, I don't have a plan for a Linux version.
But I provide source code too. Anyone can update it.

On the other hand, WINE(http://www.winehq.org/) may have possibilities to run my command station in a Linux.
Also I Checked Desktop Station capability for the Linux mono platform. The result is OK. See an attached picture.

Edited by user 02 June 2013 08:48:00(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

This looks like an excellent idea....and already you have made great progress! And with the Arduino platform, the possibilities are endless...like bluetooth communication and perhaps positioning of the trains with ultrasonic!

Paul

Hi Yaasan. Could you explain to us how your shuttle control will work please?
I have a couple of friends using Arduino in a different role and they are really enthusiastic about it and the support which is available.

Regards.........Chook

Thanks Paul,

It may be easy to play via Bluetooth. Because Desktop station uses only simple serial communication. "Serial_RS. ino" including inside Desktop station is required to change some lines when you play with bluetooth.

However, If we used Bluetooth, we have to connect the AC adapter to the Arduino board. X(
Consequently, I seem that connecting with USB is simple and useful.

Yaasan that is a great start.
Are you now able to use track sensors to further control the trains?
Say addressable sensors which can be allocated to particular functions for a piece of track.
And the step after that would be to program a further addressable output which would allow the operation of points or turnouts under the control of certain sensors.

Are we going too fast for you?



Regards..Chook.

I'm developing a function to change accessories graphically.

Because I don't have marklin 24624 double slip switch and 3-ways turnout, I'd like to know these turnouts mechanisms.
For example, I'd like to know the signal value which is related between an accessory address X and X+1.

Below is my estimating.

3Way turnout:
Address X:RED(0), X+1:RED(0) -> turn Left?
Address X:GREEN(1), X+1:GREEN(1)-> turn Right?
the others -> straight?

double slip switch:
?

Do you know if there is any Arduino code in this project to read the Marklin digital signal and turn the Arduino into a K83/K84 type device?

Robert

The teaching is a cool feature, but the locomotive will drift over time and not start and stop in the same place. The sensors in the track would make sure it stops and starts always in the same places.

Hi Tim,

Thank you for the reply.

I upload the latest Desktop Station 0.82d. This version supports S88 function.
How to setup is written in preparation page.

At my work we have built a small layout during the summer for certain testing purposes. We are using the Arduino to control it, but we connect the Arduino with the controlling PC via Ethernet. I haven't been much involved in it but it seems to work well from what I have seen.

We use Ethernet because then we can plug it into our ordinary LAN and it can be accessed by the different users from their respective workstations at their normal offices. USB is only suitable if you have the PC close to the layout, which is not always the case for us. But for the ordinary user I think USB is just as good.

I think Ethernet is the way to go for a general solution with Ardunio. That is of course my personal view of it...

Nowadays you do not necessarily have a dedicated PC to control the layout via a direct cable. I myself use a Märklin CS1 and CS2 + iPods & iPad...
My CS:s are interconnected via Ethernet, and the pod/pad devices use wifi on the home LAN, as well as a PC with train control software for the CS1...

Akis,

Thanks.

I have next step which aims to support Ethernet with using Raspberry pi etc.
Now I'm considering to change main programming language from C# to node.js for Ethernet support and server style.

Hi, the program runs ok, but i am not being able to run any mfx loc....no problem with DCC and MM2....

Hi Yaasan, no luck with mfx locos, but anyway i am having great fun, also exploring more Arduino stuff.
there is a great piece of software you have writen so far!
Thanks!

Hello Yaasan, now it works!! but not completely
The loco register itself, but as unknown mfx loco, also it seems that commands are not send in the right way, the running is not smooth and there trouble with sound functions...
I would love to help you more, but my programming abilities are far, far of the ones required for that kind of program.
Anyway, i must say it again, great work!!! Hope you can solve all the issues with mfx locos.
Other option would be to simply let the command station run with DCC and MM2
Cheers
Francisco

Hello Yaasan, i will check with the newer versión and more mfx locos on Friday and then let you know
Cheers
Francisco

Hi Oliver,

Thanks for your interest.

Because Desktop Station is written in Microsoft C# with Windows.Forms, the portability is currently difficult.
If you have Windows license, please use Apple's bootcamp or third parties's Parallels Desktop, VMWare fusion.

Best regards,
Yaasan

Hi all,

I found a topic in the another forum.

I seem Desktop Station has a problem which form size is strange. This problem seems to be caused by font settings.
Probably I have improved this problem in the latest version 0.85b.

Could someone try this version?

Best regards,
Yaasan

Just ordered the control box for MS2. Also a Arduino and Network Shield is on it's way. Hopefully I will have everything by the end of the week. I do not like waiting for fun things like these..
I am going to commence building of the canbus cable/rj-45 tonight or tomorrow. I have not been able to source a 10 pole mini-din however so I will sacrifice a cable from an old MS1 and use a multimeter to indentify pins and map them to the leads in the cable.

Hello Oliver.
Did you remember to copy the railuino library to the Arduino directory?

Thank you for the tip Fransisco! I had forgotten to rename the folder. I was certain I did but apparently not.




Now to the new problem:

Since I was not able to source a 10 pin mini din plug I decided to sacrifice one of a defective Mobile Station 1. By using a multimeter I mapped the pins to the correct wires. Since I can't see the actual pin schematic and numbers I closely studied the images and diagram at http://yaasan.mints.ne.jp/ready.html.
I believe I have correctly mapped the pins and soldered to the correct pins on the 9pin D-SUB.

After my first try I put all of the things together including the trackbox, arduiono etc. Fired up Desktop Station and opened COM6. Seems to work. Desktop station also identifies the trackbox. So far so good, right?
Now this is where it gets strange.

The first loco I tried was actually an mfx loco. I am aware of the possible issues with mfx but just thought I would try anyway. Guess what, it actually detected it right away! Took a few seconds but then "unidentified mfx loc" showed up. This is a loco I converted myself with the 60947 kit. However after detecting it I was not able to control the loco or it's functions. I tried playing around with the settings for a while but gave up.

After this I tried with a delta locomotive. Set the adress to 24 using the dip switches. Added "24" in dekstop station. No reaction. I see in the console it sends loco speed and ping etc and also recieves some "random?" data. However I fail to control the locomotive. It does however move. Slowly forward. If I press stop. Then start. The loco is at standstill at first. Then slowly starts to move. It is like it takes my "accelerate" command very slowly.

Everything stops/goes if i press STOP/GO in desktop station. So I seem to have some control.

My analysis

Flashing the Arduino was straight forward. I don't believe I could have done anything wrong there.

Setting all the hardware up was straight forward except for the cable.

The Desktop Station application does receive information. Registering the mfx loco confirms that. I do not seem to have any control though. I tried desoldering pin 2 at the D-SUB end. That resulted in errors and emergency stops in the console so this leads me to believe that if the cable would be incorrectly soldered, I would receive errors in the console?

I have yet to try a regular FX loco. I am going to my parents after work to pick one up from my storage there. I do not see why delta locos would not work though. One idea is that they could be struggling with the "acceleration delay" when adding locos but I haven't had time to try this morning. Could that be the reason for the delta loco not working as it should? The speedometer did move accordingly when increasing the speed.

My conclusion is that my likely issue is either:
A: Incorrectly soldered cable
B: Delta loco/issues with acceleration delay.

If I manage to get a regular FX loco to work I know the problem with the Delta loco. If I don't it must be the cable. I guess I will have to strip the plug of the plastic and do it the "ugly" way to ensure the pin mapping is correct if that is the case.

Unfortunately I am "stuck" at work for 8 more hours but I will be checking in here often as I would love to get this working .

Any ideas as to what my problem may be?

Hi Yaasan!

Thank you for your reply! I have to quit work early today.. This is just too exiting!

I am not really sure what you mean by this:
"Please type 23 or 22 or the others to register Desktop Station. "
Do you mean that I should try other decoder adresses? Or are you referring to the delay of acceleration etc when adding locos manually?

CAN_H and CAN_L as I understand is send/receive. Is one pin send and one receive, or do they both do the same thing in duplex?

So just to be clear, I can try without soldering VCC and GND?

Perhaps I should resolder the cable tonight just to try?

I will try just soldering the CAN_H and CAN_L then. Probably a good idea to minimize my confusion. .

Also, have you tried Desktop Station with locos that are equipped with delta decoders? The reason I ask is that I suspect that perhaps the delta decoder's few speed steps could be an issue if adding the loco and not changing the acceleration delay setting. What do you think?

I don't actually own a Mobile Station 2. I just bought the connector box for this project so I can't try with that. I do have a Mobile Station 1 though. Will that work? I presume it won't work with the MS2 connector box?

Sorry for all the questions. I really appreciate your answers!

Kind regards,
/Oliver