Will Mark & Vince

[Rene Schweitzer]

Attention everyone: There was an error in the locomotive decoder diagram. I have added an updated diagram here: http://grw.trains.com/en/How%20To/Construction%20and%20Landscaping/2014/06/Build%20your%20own%20wireless%20DCC%20system.aspx

If you're on our Facebook page, I also posted the diagram there.

[Rene Schweitzer]

Tom, I updated the file on July 15, the day I posted that message. If you had two files with the same name, one would be incorrect (obviously).

[Valleycrest RR]

Rene S

I wanted to let everyone know that I made a mistake and uploaded the INCORRECT .txt file for the Junior Throttle. I have updated the download. If anyone still has problem, please email me at rschweitzer @ kalmbach.com (without spaces) and I'll be happy to email the file(s) to you directly.

Rene

What date did you upload the correct file? How would I know if I have the wrong file?

I already programmed the throttle chip and the transmitter appears to function. Would it still appear to work if I had the wrong file? I have not built the receiver yet so I can't tell for sure if the transmitter is working.

Tom

[Rene Schweitzer]

I wanted to let everyone know that I made a mistake and uploaded the INCORRECT .txt file for the Junior Throttle. I have updated the download. If anyone still has problem, please email me at rschweitzer @ kalmbach.com (without spaces) and I'll be happy to email the file(s) to you directly.

[jarable]

I checked the links - the pages look similar, but they are for two different articles.

[tom462]

jarable

The transmitter code was in the June 2014 issue
http://grw.trains.com/How%20To/Construction%20and%20Landscaping/2014/04/Build%20your%20own%20wireless%20DCC%20system.aspx

The receiver code was posted with the August 2014 issue.

http://grw.trains.com/en/How%20To/Construction%20and%20Landscaping/2014/06/Build%20your%20own%20wireless%20DCC%20system.aspx

Both of the links you mention point to the same article and same code which appears to be for the decoder.   Is there another place from which the transmitter code can be downloaded?  thanks

[ceesdutch]

Unfortunately I could not even start building because I could not program the MCU.

When I try to communicate with the Launch Pad with the FET-Pro 430 Flash Programmer I get a Message: “Check communication port setup”  But I don’t know what to do

[jarable]

OK - it definitely works as advertised. I've got mine connected to a Bachmann 4-6-0 with a couple of 9.6V battery packs wired in series. All the functions work and the speed control has just enough momentum in it. There was one typo where in the text it says to "short pins 6 and 5 of the CD40107" - it should say pins 6 and 7. I went with the circuit diagram which is correct. Also the parts list is missing a surface mount LED to solder onto D1 of the receiver booster pack board. I went with Digi-Key part number 160-1447-1-ND.
I haven't tested the range yet but it seems to work well enough from ten feet away.

[jarable]

The transmitter code was in the June 2014 issue
http://grw.trains.com/How%20To/Construction%20and%20Landscaping/2014/04/Build%20your%20own%20wireless%20DCC%20system.aspx

The receiver code was posted with the August 2014 issue.

http://grw.trains.com/en/How%20To/Construction%20and%20Landscaping/2014/06/Build%20your%20own%20wireless%20DCC%20system.aspx

[ceesdutch]

I Found that the code in the article is different from the downloadable file so I presume that is the m_430T0.txt code.

I've got my 'booster pack kit to day in the Mail so I going to try to program and assamble it in the Weekend!

[cacole]

The m430_D0 file is the only one I found, too.

As I mentioned in my first message, these Do-It-Yourself articles usually have mistakes in them that will be corrected in subsequent issues of the magazine, such as wrong parts listed, parts no longer available, schematic mistakes, etc.  

[ceesdutch]

I try to build the throttle and decoder.

In the text are two program files metioned: m430_D0 and m430_T0

Are these the same files?

I only find one (m430_D0) on the website

 

[ceesdutch]

Have made a deal on Aliexpress,

Thank you for your help

[cacole]

Try Digikey Electronics -- they show 743 items in stock and ready to ship --

Just type TB6568KQ Motor Driver into their product search box --

http://www.digikey.com/

Click on "Terms and Conditions" and then scroll down to read their international shipping policy.  It appears that they will ship to the Netherlands but you may have to pay any import duties.

[ceesdutch]

Thank you for helping.

unfortunately they don't ship to the Netherlands

Cees

[cacole]

When  I typed TB6568KQ Motor Driver IC into Google, an eBay seller in China  named AliExpress supposedly has it in stock.

It's a Toshiba Electronics product and is probably made in China.

[ceesdutch]

TheTB6568KQ Motor driver IC is not available. (20 weeks dilivery) Is there an alternative?

Cees van Herpen

from the Netherlands

[briandh]

I agree with jarable, having access to the source code would make this project much more useful as members would be able to easily extend the software, for example adding configurable locomotive addresses and operation of multiple trains.  Open source would allow everyone to benefit from the efforts of anyone with the time to invest.

[jarable]

I would love to see an open source version of this project. I've got the internals of my transmitter built and coded but without the source code it's always going to be a "what it says on the box" project. I can see adding a serial LCD screen for status and a few more function buttons at least.

[cacole]

The 430 Boost-air booster pack printed circuit board shown in the article is a commercially available product from Texas Instruments.

http://www.ti.com/tool/430boost-cc110l

Anaran also has a web site with ordering information for their radio module shown:

http://www.anaren.com/air

If you notice the second paragraph in the middle column on page 41, they state that the 430 Boost-air booster pack printed circuit board shown comes as a kit with two boards that costs $20, and includes the Anaran radio module pre-installed.  It further states that one board is being used for the hand held controller, and the other will be used as the locomotive receiver.

If this turns out like most "Do It Yourself" projects, it will drag on for almost a year before the final article and a list of required parts and their possible sources, and by then some may no longer be available.

And then there will be "corrections" to the instructions, schematics, parts lists, and sources in subsequent issues.  

[dlr11164]

be providing sources for their pc boards, etc. for the Build Your Own Wireless DCC System series which started in the April 2014 issue of GRW?