rrinkerSo you can make a generic DCC accessory decoder...
That would be a very useful application, especially if it could drive multiple devices, such as serving as a swicth machine controller. Serve that up with some Macros adressable in the DCC formats used by different mfgs and you have something very useful.
But even a remote for a single turnout could be useful if the net cost was comparable to commerical DCC accessory products.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
There's a fellow doing some work with Arduinos over in the Layouts forum on his On30 logging line.
I'm sure there would be interest in a TT stepper drive controller. I've wondered about how to do that cheaply myself since stepper motors now appear regularly in surplus shops and vendor catalogs. I have a nice NYRS drive on my big TT, but paid a nice sum for it, too.
My wife is a programmer and the hot little unit in town here is the RaspberyPi because of the CS and EE programs at UIUC. Supposedly, there's a build with it in JMRI that lets it run the layout, etc via Decoder/Panel Pro so you can use it as a dedicated computer controled via remoate over the network instead of needing a laptop attached to the layout itself
That's probably a bigger set of tasks than an Arduino could handle, but there's certainly some interest here from what I've seen in these new types of micro computers.
There's actually quite a bit. NMRA DCC library, Loconet library, and a CMRI library.
So you can make a generic DCC accessory decoder, a Loconet device, or a CMRI node out of them.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
As was said, Being discussed in the MRH forums since about 2012. They are a bit more advanced there then here.
Search for Arduino mrh.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I developed a system for signaling and have signaled about 1/3 - 1/2 of my railroad. Of course, I'm not by any means the first one to do so. You can read about my system at: "warrena623.wordpress.com", including sketches (small programs) and wiring details. One guy I know of has had an article waiting for publication for quite a while, same kind of idea. There is also a group in Southern California doing Arduino applications to DCC, etc, with a Yahoo group called the 'arduini'. Then there is Dr. Geoff Bunza's blog on MRH ezine (Model Railroad Hobbyist).
It does seem a rather natural application of very flexible technology to model railroading.
jrc
I did a search for "Arduino" and all I got was some video links to a DCC controller.
I'm really surprised that there is not more interest in using this versatile and inexpensive device in model railroading. I have a small N scale switching layout, and never have the need to run more than 1 train at a time, so I built a throttle that used the Arduino's PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) output to directly feed the tracks. This is essentially the same waveform that a DCC decoder supplies to the motor. No, I don't have sound or lighting control, but I also spent less than $50 and I have far better low-speed control than I ever had with DC. I programmed momentum and braking into the Arduino, but I took it out since I prefer to have tight control over the locomotive.
I'm in the middle of using an Arduino with a stepper motor to control a turntable. Initially I will just have a "run" and "jog" function in each direction, but when I can get a detection circuit I'm happy with, I plan to have the turntable automatically position at the selected track.
Is anyone else making use of the Arduino? If anyone wants my sketches, I'll be happy to share them.
Walt