nnmageeI have followed 3 different tutorials and no one tells you how to use the aduino in an application.
message me if you'd like some help
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
3ftroads(but you need to understand classes to use Arduino.
Absolutely not true!
all you need to understand is basic C programming. You dont' even need to understand structures or pointers
rrinker nnmagee I have the same problem. Plus...how do you find out actually using your Aduino, like railroad signals, lights. etc. I have followed 3 different tutorials and no one tells you how to use the aduino in an application. I am sick of programming..I would like to see some results Interesting thought - one of the driving points of Arduino is that if you follow the examples, you start right off making something happen, like flash an LED. Which for some is used as a point of derision, as in it's such a simple thing that all it does is flash an LED.
nnmagee I have the same problem. Plus...how do you find out actually using your Aduino, like railroad signals, lights. etc. I have followed 3 different tutorials and no one tells you how to use the aduino in an application. I am sick of programming..I would like to see some results
I have the same problem. Plus...how do you find out actually using your Aduino, like railroad signals, lights. etc. I have followed 3 different tutorials and no one tells you how to use the aduino in an application. I am sick of programming..I would like to see some results
Interesting thought - one of the driving points of Arduino is that if you follow the examples, you start right off making something happen, like flash an LED. Which for some is used as a point of derision, as in it's such a simple thing that all it does is flash an LED.
Rich
Alton Junction
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
richhotrain The C programming manual 228 pages; the C++ 11 programming manual is 1347 pages. That's a good indication of the relative complexities of the two languages. Fortunately, you don't have to use all of the features of C++ (but you need to understand classes to use Arduino.) -Bob gregc richhotrain C++ is a powerful programming language, but like all programming languages, it comes with a steep learning curve. Bjarne Stroustrup said he felt it takes 10 years to really understand how to use C++ proficiently. I was reading an interview with Stroustrup. When asked if he is working on the development of a new programming language, he responded No, he is still learning how to use Standard C++. LOL. That from the original developer of C++. Rich
The C programming manual 228 pages; the C++ 11 programming manual is 1347 pages. That's a good indication of the relative complexities of the two languages. Fortunately, you don't have to use all of the features of C++ (but you need to understand classes to use Arduino.)
-Bob
gregc richhotrain C++ is a powerful programming language, but like all programming languages, it comes with a steep learning curve. Bjarne Stroustrup said he felt it takes 10 years to really understand how to use C++ proficiently.
richhotrain C++ is a powerful programming language, but like all programming languages, it comes with a steep learning curve.
Bjarne Stroustrup said he felt it takes 10 years to really understand how to use C++ proficiently.
I was reading an interview with Stroustrup. When asked if he is working on the development of a new programming language, he responded No, he is still learning how to use Standard C++.
LOL. That from the original developer of C++.
nnmagee I am sick of programming..I would like to see some results
I am sick of programming..I would like to see some results
RR_Mel I did a quickie to checkout my scratch built diorama crossing signals. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K9swL2KWEslU978JuSvFSGMnX0m_-hMX/view?usp=sharing I wanted to see what they look like in operation. The SMT 1206 LEDs can be a bit too bright. These are operating at 5 volts from a Arduino NANO. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I'm tempted to use fade-out and fade-in routines to make them look like more period correct flashers for my 50's era setting. I wish there was an in-between size chip from the Tiny to the Mega, the Tiny doesn't have enough IO to do the flashers, servo to lower gates, and sensors to trigger it all, and a Mega is overkill (although I guess for the price, does it really matter?). Or I could make the detection/trigger with one Tiny, and the flasher unit itself with another Tiny.
RR_MelI did a quickie to checkout my scratch built diorama crossing signals.
I think they look good Mel! Dimming them a bit should be easy.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
gregccurious how you've made out ... or has the arduino been thrown at the wall? Add Quote to your Post
Hi Greg,
I was very tempted to throw the thing at the wall but I managed to contain myself. It is on the back burner for now but I will go back at it sometime soon. I have another Arduino starter kit somewhere so I think the first thing I will do is see if there is an Arduino board that I can substitute for the one I have been working with. Failing that, I will order another set of boards to see if that solves the problem.
I have looked at the first boards with my Optivisor and I can't see any stray bits of solder or fried traces so I don't know whether the boards are defective or if I'm not using the correct software. I have studied the help sections in detail but I have to confess that I don't understand a lot of the language or how to sort through the different programs.
Very frustrating.
In the interim I have multiple other projects to work on.
hon30crittero far at least I have been able to figure things out and I have not thrown the computer at the wall even once!
curious how you've made out ... or has the arduino been thrown at the wall?
richhotrainI was reading an interview with Stroustrup. When asked if he is working on the development of a new programming language, he responded No, he is still learning how to use Standard C++. LOL. That from the original developer of C++.
Well that's encouraging!
Seriously, I haven't tried to get the Arduino Uno programmed again but I will give it another try soon. Hopefully your answers have provided a solution. I am pretty stubborn about figuring these things out. It may take me many hours to solve a problem, but so far at least I have been able to figure things out and I have not thrown the computer at the wall even once!
Cheers!!
richhotrainC++ is a powerful programming language, but like all programming languages, it comes with a steep learning curve.
I worked on one of the first data terminals to use C. The supervisor said most of the developers were writing assembly code in C. Today, most code is still simple C. C++ compilers do more type checking as well as add object oriented constructs and many other other non-OO features.
Fortunately, C is a relatively simple language and all you really need to program an Arduino.
Two keys with getting the Arduino IDE to be able to upload to your board. First, you need the right COM port. With no Arduino connected to your computer, whatever COM port it shows, if any, is NOT the right one. When you plug the Arduino's USB cable in, a new COM port should appear. That will be your board. Some knockoff Arduino boards use a different USB chip that supposedly requires a driver to be installed that is not included with Windows - but on 3 different computers I never had to install anything besides the IDE (and some other stuff for advanced things which you don't need to even think about right now).
Second, the proper board must be selected under Tools, Boards. If you have a board that is supposed to be just like the Uno, select Arduino Uno, etc. If what I'm seeing on the Dr. Duino site is what you have, it's supposed to be an Uno.
Also- start with the basics - use the Arduino (the one pictured on the site is a blue PCB) disconnected from that red board with all the extra connections.
No doubt about it, greg, C++ is a powerful programming language, but like all programming languages, it comes with a steep learning curve. After I retired, I continued to program in Visual Basic for awhile to provide client analysis. But when it comes to model railroading, I view it as a total escape from the real world, so from that perspective I have no interest in Arduino. Even programming the NCE Mini Panel struck me as tedious.
richhotrainApparently, Arduino is most useful to model railroaders for lighting applications and animation effects.
much much more than that.
The Atmel processor used on an Arduino boad has many built in peripherals including I/O, serial USART, ADC, EEPROM that make it a microcontroller rather than simply a microprocessor. It has 32k of Flash memory for program, 2k of RAM and 1k of EEPROM.
Arduinos are well suited as Bruce Chubbs C/MRI nodes that allow a network of nodes to communincate with a PC to monitor block occupancy and turnout positions and control turnouts and signal, among other things. C/MRI is supported by JMRI. Not only does this allow more sophisticated control, but saves wiring (and sanity)
i've used Arduinos for turntable indexing and an NCE compatible cab.
programs can be written in C/C++ rather than assembler. Unlike higher level languages and Basic, C allows direct access to memory mapped I/O and RAM.
An Arduino can be re-programmed within a few seconds using a simple USB cable (an Arduino board has a separate USB interface chip)
The Arduino IDE Serial monitor displays prints and the monitor allows ascii string commands to be sent to the Arduino. This allows an arduino to be used as a physical interface while using a laptop for control
it's just a heck of a lot easier than writing in assembler, programming EEROMs or dealing with processor specific in-circuit-programmers.
It allows control of physical devices rather than just doing inventory or spreadsheet type of stuff.
BigDaddy I got a kit a while ago, but for some reason I am reluctant to learn another programming language. Did Fortran in college and some basic when PC's came out but no longer have interest in it.
I got a kit a while ago, but for some reason I am reluctant to learn another programming language. Did Fortran in college and some basic when PC's came out but no longer have interest in it.
Gerry Leone did a video on MRVP where he had buildings with lights going on and off randomly and signs where the lights go on and off sequentially around the edge of the sign. You need to have a subsciption to see this
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
hon30critter richhotrain Why? Why bother? What is it that you are trying to accomplish? Hi Rich, The simple goal is to be able to use the Arduino modules to perform various tasks on my new layout from things like controlling simple structure lighting and traffic lights to more complex signal and crossing light control. The other motivator is to learn something new. I am retired. I have precious little going on in my life besides model railroading and my family life. I have dropped out of the train club for reasons I won't repeat, so to answer your question directly, why not? Cheers!! Dave
richhotrain Why? Why bother? What is it that you are trying to accomplish?
Hi Rich,
The simple goal is to be able to use the Arduino modules to perform various tasks on my new layout from things like controlling simple structure lighting and traffic lights to more complex signal and crossing light control.
The other motivator is to learn something new. I am retired. I have precious little going on in my life besides model railroading and my family life. I have dropped out of the train club for reasons I won't repeat, so to answer your question directly, why not?
Apparently, Arduino is most useful to model railroaders for lighting applications and animation effects.
Good luck!
Okay, I have the Arduino software loaded onto my computer. The first step is to test the Arduino module that I have just assembled. Unfortunately the module won't accept the test software upload. The Arduino Help section suggests a rather large variety of possible problems so I have been trying to work through those, so far with no success. I have quit for the night because I am a bit frustrated, but I will try again tomorrow.
Patience, patience, patience!!!
richhotrainWhy? Why bother? What is it that you are trying to accomplish?
Welll... there are other ways besides the Arduino IDE to program the boards - there is a plugin for Notepad++, there is an add on for Microsoft Visual Studio, and there is always Atmel Studio, from the maker of the various microcontrollers that are often found on various Arduino boards. Which is really just a stripped down version of Visual Studio.
The Arduino IDE is plenty good to get started with though. I just lacks some things that fancier tools have, like version control, but for a solo experimenter, you don't really need anything more fancy than keeping copies by using changing file names or extra folders. There's no need to worry about configuration with the official IDE, it more or less just works when you install it.
I'm currently working on learning how work with an Arduino and learn a little bit of C++, and here are a few things I have found helpful:
-First the Arduino website (https://www.arduino.cc/) can be quite useful. An expsially useful part I have found is the search bar in the top right. I use it often when I find a command in an example code I don't understand, as it will pop up pages explaining all the commands. (As an example here is the page for the digitalWrite() command: https://www.arduino.cc/reference/en/language/functions/digital-io/digitalwrite/)
-Second it can be helpful to mockup things virtually, so websites like TinkerCAD (https://www.tinkercad.com/dashboard) can make it easy to test things out without dealing with the actual Arduino. The Arduino stuff in TinkerCAD is found in the circuits section. This is especially helpful for me as I have yet to buy my own Arduino.
Also about the Arduino IDE it is definitely something you'll need to download, I don't know how you could avoid it!
I hope you enjoy working with the Arduino! It has a lot of applications in model railroading! I'm currently using it to design a model railroad signal system as a part of school project, and it is really enjoyable!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
richhotrain Mel, what kinds of applications have you used Arduino for? Rich
Mel, what kinds of applications have you used Arduino for?
The main purpose of those starter kits is to get you some components and modules to get started. The Arduino IDE is what you want. It comes with examples programs ('sketches') for various features. The documentation for all those, including the wiring diagrams, are here:
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/BuiltInExamples
but the kit I got included it all printed out in a little book. There's a lot on the Arduino site under the Getting Started and Tutorials sections.