Hi Khanzir,

It seems that header pins of CAN-BUS Shield is not soldered. You have to solder header pins of Sparkfun's CAN-BUS Shield.
Please see how to solder header pins.

After soldered, you need to connect Arduino and CAN-BUS Shield like this.

Best regards,
Yaasan

Hi Yaasan

I just did as you said and have reconnected everything. of course my CAN BUS Shield is from spark fun so had to put it the other way around. but all connected and soldered. its pinging so lets see when it recognizes the locomotive. there is current in the tracks.
For protocol I used DCC with address as 41.

will delete Railuino from the library and up load again. start from there and see.
thanks so much, Yaasan. been waiting for you response.

so now this is what I see!!

under Arduino IDE I clicked on Arduino 1.0.5 and used windows instller to down load.

I did select Arduino Uno on the board option.

Hi Khanzir,

Your screen shot shows that Arduino with CAN-BUS Shield doesn't connect with 60113.
You have to check between CAN-BUS Shield and 60113, for example cable and connectors. Also check power supply of 60113.

I can't see whether connector pins is soldered correctly or not.

Please check my cable assemble guide.

Best regards,
Yaasan

Well, the engine did move once a long way and twice just a little twitch and then it stopped. then I realized I have Marklin 66361 which uses 230V. while in US we use 110 volts. could that be the problem? I really did not read and thought its like the Cell Phone chargers all ready for any kind of voltage. maybe I need a step up transformer......

Thanks a lot. so despite the gibberish I get on looking at serial monitor, it worked for a bit. I had to resolder the wires and looked at the configuration of the pins and D sub again. I destroyed the pins, so have ordered new ones. meantime tried working with what I had and it did move. that was a huge relief. now have to make it work consistently. you were right about the connection between the shield and 60113. so that has to be fixed. I got this 60113 on the ebay so not sure its a great piece. the power connector seems defective and not sure I can fix that. so maybe will have to order another one. Thanks again Yaasan!!. really appreciate it.
I am really enjoying the challenge, to the exclusion of everything else!!. not good!

Hello Yaasan ,
sorry about this but I'm a little confuse of what to buy

I'm looking in AMAZON, what is the exactly componets of Arduino I have to buy?

I have one Marklin Mobile 2 with the transformer and the conextion box

Thanks and best regards

CM

Hi Yaasan,

Your Desktop Station is a great project!
I've tested it with the Watterott components and the S88 modul 78832 from TRAINMODULES .
All works fine! Next time, after I understand all functions , I want to prepare the german language file.
Are you planning to extend the functions in Desktop Station? For example to programming loc-decoder or to insert a double slip switch in the track diagram panel?

Regards,
Henry from Germany

Thanks Henry,

Yes, I have some plan. Your advise is fine, I'll add a double slip switch in the track diagram.

Best regards,
Yaasan

Hi Yaasan,

Nice to hear that the Desktop Station project grows. I plan to use it for my new (first) model train project.
Is it possible to integrate a Bluetooth connection from Desktop Station to the CAN-shield? In the Railuino examples I found some code for it.

Best regards,
Henry

Hi Yassaan,

You wrote:
Automatic position recognition is difficult for Desktop Station. Because 60113 doesn't have a function which finds a locomotive position.

Yes, this is true. This could be overcome by implementing railcom, lizzy or other new technology... but that's in my opnion future wish technology.

However, i think the easy way to do is just that a user of Desktop station just manually set his locs on the trackplan on the correct (the current loc) position.
So the starting position of the locs is manualy given to Desktop station.
Desktop station just needs to remember the former and new position of the loc(s) involved when they move around.
So Desktop Station remembers the currect position of the locs on the trackplan and updates this when a sensor is triggered by this train.
You can even 'mark' the trains on the trackplan if you wish, so you can follow the train 'life' on the trackplan.

I suppose this could be done, right?


///
Another question / bug found:

Turnouts and signals are set green/red , so green is straight on and red is turn away/stop.
However i have paired some signals/turnouts and those work just the opposite.
So signal A is green, then parallel signal B goes on red (with the same adress set on the decoders)
Same with some turnouts.


Could it be done to set an option for turnouts/signals that you can reverse the function for each?
But take care that this should be done for each turnout/signal separate; so for instance if you have two signals paired on the same adress; they act differently

Hi Yassaan,

To use automatic routing i thought also about the S88 sensor events into the first case.
basicly this is what have to be done in general, for instancte to make blocks... however just as in your example;
it's not flexible. Only fixed routes can be made. Not conditional ones, like if...then...else/ random choice/ time involved

I'll try to explain:
Let's look at your example by case. typicly block-after-block trainshuffle control.

!!--------block 1---------!!-----------block 2----------!!-----------block3---------!!--------block4---
......................<------ train A....................................train B

- the s88 sensor on block 1 is triggered. So set signal to green to the former block3 on the track (so the other train B can start to drive and enter in block2)
and set at the same time the current block2 signal on red (so train B is stopping in block 2). Train A is moving at the same time to block 1. and so on. and so on.

In this case you can use the S88 sensor events to move trains automatic. But always in the same arrangement, after each other and no 'intelligent' moving.every train has to move up a block. then the other train can move up a block etc.

---
But what to do if you want to have some kind of intelligent moving?
Trains just drive not after each other & shuffle, but at most as possible all at once.
For instance:

!-------block 2----------!!-----------block3---------!!--------block4----!!----block5-------!!-----block6-----!!--
............... train A ---------->...................\ ...........................train B
........................................................!!----------block7-----------!!--
........................................................................train C <-----------

Train A moves from block 2 to block 3.
Block 4 after the turnout is free.
However block 7 is not; train C is there already and wants to move in opposite direction to block 3.

How to handle?
We need to have conditional S88 sensor events .
For instance;
IF 'sensor block 4' is set THEN set turnout to direction block 7, ELSE set turnout to direction block 4 (move train A into directon of block 4; the free one)
IF 'sensor block 3' is set THEN set signal on block 7 AND block 4 on red. (block entry of trains coming from block 4 or block 7 to enter block 3 also. train C is stopped.)
WHILE 'sensor block 7' is set AND 'sensor block 3' is not-set DO set signal block 7 on green (train C is now moving and entering block 3)
etc. etc.

So we need conditional settings and scripts to operate more efficient & flexible on the track. Trains moves were the next free block is AND if they are allowed to move on this track (uni-or bidirectional tracks)

I should be nice if you could have some random setting to; for instance red signal or turnout or waitingdelay.
Or a counter; for instance very thirth sensor trigger set turnout to red; else set it green

I hope you get the point... ;-)

Edited by user 16 January 2014 13:13:23(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

How do you type an address on 6021 ?
I can't make it to work.

Hi billys,

Firstly, you need to select a protcol. Select MM2 or DCC.
Then type a locomotive address which you want to run. If you want to run no.23, press 2 and then 3.

You can run the locomotive when you click red dial.

Best regards,
Yaasan

Hi billys,

I tested 6021 keyboard. no problem.
Would you watch below my example video?

http://yaasan.mints.ne.jp/figures/6021example.mp4video.mp4

Also would you check your using locomotive address and protcol?
Can you run the locomotive on the cab panel?

*note: The mfx locomotive address is not unique. 6021 keyboard is not suitable for mfx locomotives.

Best regards,
Yaasan

Good mornig billys,

If possible, send me your screen capture.
If I could improve, I will do it.

Best regards,
yaasan

Hi John,

I'm sorry for reply delay.

Do you mean Desktop Station need more some trigger items, right? Also need random value function?

Currently, start trigger is positive edge (same as coming) and negative edge (same as leaving).
Your advice is to add existing or non-existing, right?

Best regards,
Yaasan

Hi Yaasan,

Unfortunately I can't change the com port number to COM10 in the drop down in Desktop Station. With every new start the com port number has an new suffix after COM10. In the device manager it's COM10 without suffix. I've attached corresponding screenhots.

I hope you can help !

Kind regards,
Henry

Hi John,

I'm considering to improve event function. Currently, The S88 event function uses GUI style.
But Desktop Station needs text style script to implement your suggestion.

GUI style is easy to use but implementing is a little difficult.
Text style is not easy to use but implementing is easy for me .

What do you think about this solution?
If Desktop Station users want to add these feature, I will add.

Best regards,
Yaasan

Hi Brian,

In case of using double heading control, the function can control only the header loc. For example, You are using 2 locs which DCC address are 84 & 85. DCC address 84 loc is main loc which means the loc is mainly controlled. The other loc which DCC address 85 is 2nd loc. Desktop Station can't control the functions of 2nd loc because function buttons in cab panel are occupied in main loc. Consequently, Desktop Station doesn't send a signal to control 2nd loc functions.

Your issue seems that sound function of ESU decoder is automatically enabled when power-on. You need to disable sound function(F2 or F3 or F_) of DCC address 85 loc before using double heading control.

Best regards,
Yaasan

this is really cool!!

Hi Yaasan, I think what you have done is awesome. I came accross a YouTube video recently of an Arduino Mega being used to control Marklin M track turnouts, which I have been able to replicate and test effectively on a breadboard with a turnout. Currently waiting for my protoboards to arrive so I can solder up perms ant circuits. Would love to be able to use your program with the can shield to control the locomotives, and then hopefully also use your program and use an arduino mega to control turnouts and possibly signals rather then have to lay out lots of money for more k83 decoders.

Hi Manhattan,

You need a 60113 trackbox. 60113 includes the booster function. Internal booster of 60113 doesn't seem to work on the big layout. Because power supply is not powerful.

By the way, my original booster board has booster function too. However, power supply specification is similar to 60113.

Currently, railuino and my original solution don't seem to cover very big layout and running many locomotives.

If possible, please post your big layout as photo.

best regards,
Yaasan