Cool, thanks for the help!
It's pretty much all here:
https://github.com/DccPlusPlus/BaseStation/wiki
There are also some YouTube videos.
Technially,. the language for the Arduino IDE is Wiring, based on but not 100% C++, sort of an in-between C and C++. Enough to probably drive a hardocre C++ program nuts if you try too many complex things, but most of that is not needed. Also you can still program the boards using native Atmel assembly ot Atmel Studio (stripped down version of Visual Studio) - the nice thing about the Arduino IDE is it pretty much isolated you from the board being used - same code, you cna compile and load it to an Arduino using an 8 bit Atmel MCU, or a 32 bit ESP32 to STM32, or one of the Arduino boards with a 32 bit ARM core. Which physical pin is digital pin 1 will vary depending on the microcontroller, but the Arduino libraries take care of that, you can just assume your LED will be connected to Digital 1, set to output.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinkerBut what might make it interesting to him is perhaps DIY DCC, like DCC++
That sounds like a good Idea.
from what I saw about DCC++ it looks like a DCC system running off of a C++ script. If that's correct then I think my dad will like it (he literally wrote the book on C++, though it's admittedly outdated after 29 years). And i like your other suggestion of adding movement using an Arduino to make it even better!
Do you happen to have a link to something where I could learn more about DCC++? a website or even another forum conversation.
Thanks
Complexity of wiring a switching layout? Not very.
But what might make it interesting to him is perhaps DIY DCC, like DCC++. And perhaps using Peco Electrofrog turnouts and modifying them all per the diagrams shown on the Wiring for DCC site to make them bulletproof and able to be easily traversed by small switchers running at prototypically slow speeds.
Maybe a switching layout isn't the best - with more room for structures, you could perhaps investigate using Arduinos for structure lighting and animation, and even signalling. Although on a switching layout you can do neat animations like having a switching spot behind a gate in a fence surrounding the business, and animate it so that the crew "gets out" and opens the gate, then shuts it when finished switching. Or a rollup door on a warehouse, stuff like that. Not just the running of the trains, but everything lighting up and moving.
I recently posted on to the layout building forum that I was trying to get my father back into the hobby. I gave the dimensions of the room we have available (9'6"L x 5'11"W with a door positioned 30" from the bottom right corner) and asked what type of layout could be possible in that space.
Most of the people that responded said that a switching layout was probably best (though there were some other really good suggestions too). My dad's favorite part of the hobby is the wiring, doing model railroad wiring is what got him into his field of computer science, and I guess it stuck with him.
Anyway, I've never wired any form of layout, so my question is as follows: how difficult/interesting is doing the wiring for a DCC switching layout, And is there anything that you would suggest trying to include that makes the wiring more difficult/interesting/fun.
-Aton