Hi all,

After a long time of studying Stefan Krauss's document, building electronics, writing software and staring at an oscilloscope screen I managed to create a DIY MFX controller. It's called the Alternative Train Controller or ATC.
You can read about my endeavours on my website https://www.alyda.nl/atc.

I do have to thank Mark aka 'revmok' for proofing the text and keeping this a secret. He helped me a lot in the last months. Also his log files containing MFX communication proved to be vital in the creation of the ATC.
Also Stefan Krauss helped a lot to get me going.

Please note, the ATC is meant as a starting point and proves it can be done.

Have fun!

RCH

Hi Christophe,

1° - Which software, which control unit to drive the ESP32 ? What is the protocol between the control interface and ATC? TCP? CAN to be compatible with Marklin's graphical interfaces (MS2...)? But on your diagrams, I see that it's more likely to be USB?

The ATC is based only on the ESP32. That's all you need as a controller. No Gleisbox, no CS or whatever. Just the ATC. At this moment you can communicate with the ATC via a text terminal and give it simple commands, like drive forward with a giving speed. I'll elaborate on the software but realise that the ATC and software covers the first steps of the "OSI-model".
And yes, you communicate via the (serial) USB port of the ESP32.
I do however have a version that works with a web interface via Wifi. Handy if you want to walk around your setup with a tablet or so .

2° - You don't list the components for this feedback circuit as you do for the control unit. It's probably not very difficult to do from the schematic, but could you add it to the site to avoid confusion?

The feedback circuit shown in the chapter Feedback is a snip of the complete schematics. In the chapter Schematics you find a pdf link for the complete schematics. The feedback components are included in the components list.

Greetings