#4.b - Installing & Configuring DCC-EX @DriverDTrains
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 มิ.ย. 2024
- @DriverD Trains #4.b - Installing and Configuring DCC-EX
Welcome to Driver D trains. Thanks for stopping by! I’m your host Driver D.
Our conductor and brakeman Scratchy-C is busy debugging our code.
[Lick]
In my last video, part 1 of this series, I showed you how to assemble a basic DCC-EX command station to control our trains using an Arduino Mega microcontroller. If you haven’t already seen that video, be sure to check it out!
**Assembling a DCC-EX Command Station: • #4.a - Assembling a DC...
Videos in this series:
Part 1: #4.a - Assembling a DCC-EX Command Station - th-cam.com/users/videoHatlU7A...
Part 2: #4.b - Installing & Configuring DCC-EX [**This video!**]
Part 3: #4.c - Adding Wi-Fi to DCC-EX - th-cam.com/users/videoB08Qo0a...
Part 4: #4.d - Configuring DCC-EX Wi-Fi for Station Mode - th-cam.com/users/video4pT273C...
Part 5: #4.e - Adding and LCD Display to DCC-EX • #4.e - Adding an LCD D...
Part 6: #4.f - Correcting the Wi-Fi Firmware for DCC-EX [**Coming soon!**]
In this video, part 2 in the series, I’ll show you how to download and install the free DCC-EX Command Station software. Then we’ll use the EX-WebThrottle app to test our new command station, and try running our trains.
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Driver D trains!
02:07 Installing and Configuring DCC-EX
04:58 Step 1 - Connect Arduino to Computer USB
06:05 Step 2 - Download DCC-EX Command Station
08:27 Step 3 - Download Arduino IDE
11:01 Step 4 - Launch & Test Arduino IDE
17:08 Step 5 - Upload DCC-EX to Arduino
21:06 Step 6 - Test With EX-WebThrottle
24:55 Step 7 - Run Some Trains!
27:36 What’s Next… WiFi Shield & JMRI
29:25 Thanks for watching!
29:44 Credits
Products included in this video:
DCC-EX: www.dcc-ex.com
Arduino: www.arduino.cc
DCC-EX Download Links -
EX-CommandStation GitHub Page: github.com/DCC-EX/CommandStat...
Arduino IDE Download Page: www.arduino.cc/en/software
EX-WebThrottle Webpage: dcc-ex.com/ex-webthrottle/ind...
EX-WebThrottle App (Chrome browser only): dcc-ex.com/WebThrottle-EX/
What’s next?
In our next videio we’ll add a WiFi shield to the command station, and install the WiThrottle app on our phone. In later videos we’ll install and configure JMRI, and set up some JMRI throttles.
All aboard!
[Meow!]
DriverDTrains ©2023
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Most in dept instructions on DCC-EX installation I have ever seen. Your excellent tutorial should be watched by any novice starting in DCC. You sure have done a most comprehensive explanation on how to get DCC-EX loaded. Many Thanks for your video
Thank you very much for your kind comments. I really appreciate it. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos and hope to have the next one done soon.
Thanks again! DD
Thank you for putting together this nicely paced and informative video. It must have taken you hours. I followed it step by step. Brilliant
Thank you so much for your kind comments. I really appreciate it. I'm so glad you enjoyed the videos and found them helpful. It does take a lot of time, but I plan to keep making more. : )
Thanks again!
DD
Such a pleasure to watch your tutorials. Pro video and on point instructions given by you. Nicely done!
Thank you so much for your kind comments. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos.
Thanks again!
DD
Hi. I pretty much never comment on youtube videos, but I have to make an exception here because your videos match with me so much. I love how they are jam packed with no-nonsense information, yet carry a bit of whimsy too, courtesy of Scratchy C. Following this,I've managed to assemble the command station and install DCC-EX. The sense of happiness when you see the loco run that first inch is unbeatable, eh? However you choose to measure the success of your youtube presence, I hope that success is huge. Please never change the style :)
Thank you so much for your kind comments. I really appreciate it. I'm so glad you are enjoying the videos, and even more so that you have gotten your locos up and running with the new system! As you say, the joy and satisfaction that comes from these kinds of successes are what keeps us going in the hobby and makes it so rewarding. Keep on!
Thanks again for your kindness,
DD
As previously stated, kudos on doing these videos in such great detail. Also thanks for the assistance with my LCD screen. I now have it working! Thanks again!
hank you very much for your kind comments. Very glad to hear the tips on the LCD helped and you have it working. I hope to have the video for that out soon and will show how to edit the sketch code to add a few custom messages to the display.
Thanks again! DD
Cheers brilliant video I was having issues downloading onto a mac but alls good now thanks
Thank you for your kind comments, and glad to hear it's all good now!
Thanks again,
DD
Thank you for this detailed video. By following your instructions precisely, I was able to install the DCC-EX command station. The EX-Installer app failed to load the command station sketch, but using the IDE worked perfectly. I am using a Mac mini M1, so I installed the Apple Silicon version for the IDE. The DCC-EX sketch transferred over in seconds, so fast that I thought it had failed, but all was well. I did test the Arduino first using the blink example provided. Thanks, and Happy New Year!
Gopal
Thank you so much for your kind comments! I'm glad you found the videos helpful and that the Arduino IDE worked for you. I also have a Mac with M1 and had trouble making the EX-Installer work. Enjoy, and Happy New Year!
Thanks again,
DD
Excellent tutorial! Thank you!
Thank you very much for your kind comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I hope to have the next installment out soon.
Thanks again! DD
Very-well presented, thanks!
Thank you very much for your kind comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I hope to have the next one finished soon.
Thanks again! DD
Thank u, bro ))
Thank you! : ) DD
I wonder if my Bachmann DCC turnouts will work on this
Thank you again for your kind comments. I tried to answer this one last week but TH-cam locked up on me. I have not tried to control a Bachmann turnout with DCC-EX yet but I'm sure that it's possible. I know that the Bachmann's have a particular way that you program them. Maybe one of these days I'll try to pick one up somewhere and see how it works. In the meantime, best of luck and enjoy!
Thanks again,
DD
Outstanding DriverD! You take most of the confusion out of the many options in the DCC-EX web pages.
When I tried to load Arduino IDE into my Windows 7 desktop I get the error "The procedure entry point GetPackageFamilyName could not be located in the dynamic link library KERNEL32.dll". Apparently Arduino IDE won't run on Windows 7. I had previously loaded Arduino version 1.8.19 on the PC so I went ahead and installed and ran DCC-EX Command Station 5.0.0 and the EX-Web Throttle on that. Everything appeared to install correctly but because I don't have a DCC Decoder installed on my Loco as yet I couldn't test past that point.
Do you know if the older version of Arduino is fully functional with EX-Command Station or do I need to update my Operating System to Windows 10?
Thank you for your kind comments. I have not tried to use the IDE on older Windows versions like Windows 7. However, with that said, if you are able to load DCC-EX on the Arduino using the version that you have, everything should work. Even without a locomotive you can use the EX-WebThrottle app in Google Chrome and try sending a few basic commands to the DCC-EX command station and observe its replies in the debug console. The only question is whether you will be able to make any edits to the code later on to set up things like the Wi-Fi and the LCD. In any case, once you get a decoder installed in a locomotive give it a try. Best of luck and enjoy!
DD
I am really enjoying this series, you are maybe a month or two ahead of where I am. I have my DCC-EX controller going - I am hoping to see the video where you get the display working. What device did you use for the display and its I2C interface? Love the cat, too. Thanks
Thank you very much for your kind comments. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos. I am working on the Wi-Fi Shield video and hope to have it out soon. I will do the LCD Display video next. The LCD display I used is this one:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QLRD3TM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
When you hook it up, you need to make sure this line is in your "config.h" file:
#define LCD_DRIVER 0x27,20,4
Note that the commented-out version in the example config file is for a 2x16 LCD.
// #define LCD_DRIVER 0x27,16,2
You'll also need to make sure the 4 jumper wires are plugged in correctly. I used the 4 pins on the motor shield (not the header socket) closest to the USB port. Then make sure you recompile and download the sketch after you have plugged in the display. Use the screw-adjuster on the back of the display to adjust the contrast/brightness.
Hope that helps! And Scratchy C says Meow for the love. : )
Thanks again! DD
Thank you for this excellent explanation! btw I have a feeling you might have some experience in software development, am I right?
Thank you so much for your kind comments! I'm glad you enjoyed the videos. While I don't have formal experience in software development, I have at various times over a lengthy period conducted computer configuration and software training in professional settings, so maybe that counts for something lol. I'm sure I'll need to brush up on some of my coding as I dive deeper into DCC-EX and JMRI. : )
Thanks again!
DD
In setting, the App is Installed, were do I go the find (App Installed) DCC++EX Web Throttle?
Thank you for your kind comments. Once you have installed the EX-WebThrottle app in Chrome, enter the following in Chrome in the address bar where you would normally type in the name of a website (don't forget the colon after chrome and before the forward slashes):
chrome://apps
This will show you all the installed web apps, which should include DCC-EX EX-WebThrottle along with all the Google apps. If you right-click on the icon for the EX-WebThrottle app and select "Create Shortcut" it should take you to where the app is stored. I need to check in Windows 11, but for earlier versions of windows the address is usually:
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\
I will check it later in Windows 11 and see if I need to update this message.
Again, the name of the app should be "DCC-EX EX-WebThrottle".
Also, if you go to chrome://apps and open the app from Chrome, then you will probably see it in your task bar. You can right-click on the icon in the taskbar and pin it to the taskbar if you like.
Hope this helps!
Thanks again and happy railroading!
DD
p.s. Note that you can also download all the EX-WebThrottle web files to your computer and run them offline (no internet access required). You can find them on GitHub at the link below. Open the index.html file from the download in Chrome to open EX-WebThrottle.
github.com/DCC-EX/WebThrottle-EX/archive/refs/tags/v1.3.27.zip
Ive just followed all the steps but when I turn the power on using the web throttle the DCC locomotive just start running like if it was on a DC track and none of the buttons work other then power off
Sorry to hear about the trouble. It sounds like the locomotive may think it's on a DC layout. This can happen if it was used on a DC layout before. Make sure you know what the locomotive DCC address is set to. Place it on the programming track and type "R" in the debug console if the WebThrottle app and verify the address as I show in the video at about the 25:45 time mark. In the video the address is set to the locomotive's road number, but the default for new locomotives is 3. You can change the DCC address in the WebThrottle app by typing "W xxxx" in the debug console, where xxxx is the DCC address you want. But be sure to read it back to make sure it changed to what you set. Also make sure to set the Locomotive ID in the WebThrottle app to be whatever the DCC address is set to. Then with the track power off, set the locomotive on the main track, notch the throttle up to 1 or 2, then turn on the track power. If the DCC address is set correctly, the locomotive should either move very slowly, or not move at all. If it still takes off, then it is not responding to the DCC address properly. If the locomotive was used before it could be programmed in consist mode. Or there could be some other glitch. In that case I would recommend resetting the locomotive to the factory settings. For most locomotives you can do this with the locomotive on the programming track by typing "W 8 8" in the console. Then turn off the track power, wait about 1 minute, then turn the power back on. After a few seconds you should see all the locomotive's lights flash, or some other signal. Check the DCC address again and it should be back at 3. I hope this helps and good luck!
Thanks again for your kind comments, and happy holidays!
DD
@@DriverDTrains Hey buddy! Thanks for the follow up, the issue was mau contact on the motor shield, Ive found out that the pins were not completely touching the connection on the Arduino because the 4 lights were not lighting up when I turn the power on, or they were but randomly. So Ive removed the motor shield, and put some solder coat on each pin of the motor shield connection and now is working fine and reliably. That was so odd.
But I can't wait for that motor shield designed for the DCC-EX to come out again, because of the 5 amps.
With this motor shield we are using, I can only run 2 or 3 locomotives depending of its power drain. Then I start getting a lot of track power overload and sometimes it shuts down. I believe with the new motor shield that delivers 5 amps, that will not happen. This current one we are using delivers 1.5 amps only even when using a 5 amps power supply.
@@DriverDTrains Ohh and I figured out a way to use the Bachmann DCC turnouts with JMRI. These turnouts all share the same DCC address and each turnout is activated using a different function button in that same address.
So Ive created a dummy locomotive in DecoderPro, manually added the labels for each turnout using for example F3, F4, F5 and so on for each turnout. So now that shows up on the tablet app as a turnout roster then I see all the buttons to activate each turnout on the same screen I see the throttles. That is really cool, even more practical than using the turnout table in JMRI.
I'm so excited playing with this, all thanks to you. Your tutorials are by far the best Ive found so far on TH-cam, so clear and detailed.
Again, thank you! I can't wait to see your upcoming videos! 😃
Fantastic! So glad to that you got the turnouts working too. Thanks again for your kind comments. Working on more videos now.
: )
DD
That's a really weird problem but glad you figured it out. Thanks for letting me know! I'm not sure what the delay is on the EX-Motor Shields but hope they have them ready soon. DD
Im interested in your LED display and making one for my DCCEX setup
Thank you very much for your kind comments.
The LCD display I used is this one:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QLRD3TM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
When you hook it up, you need to make sure this line is in your "config.h" file:
#define LCD_DRIVER 0x27,20,4
Note that the commented-out version in the example config file is for a 2x16 LCD.
// #define LCD_DRIVER 0x27,16,2
You'll also need to make sure the 4 jumper wires are plugged in correctly. I used the 4 pins on the motor shield (not the header socket) closest to the USB port. Then make sure you recompile and download the sketch after you have plugged in the display. Use the screw-adjuster on the back of the display to adjust the contrast/brightness.
I am currently working on a video for the Wi-Fi shield and hope to have that done soon. After that I will put together a video for the LCD Display installation.
Hope that helps!
Thanks again! DD
Where is EX‑WebThrottle on EX‑CommandStation? I would like to run EX‑CommandStation without going to (Run Ex-WebThrottle Now) each time.
Thank you for your kind comment and question. EX-WebThrottle is a web app that runs in Google Chrome. You can access it in your Chrome web browser by going to this web page:
dcc-ex.com/WebThrottle-EX/
You can also download the app onto your computer by opening the app in your Chrome web browser, then clicking on the three horizontal lines at the top-left corner of the screen to open the sidebar, then selecting "Settings" at the bottom of the sidebar, and finally clicking "Install as an app" at the bottom of the list of settings. This will download the app to your computer (probably as a ZIP file) that you can then open in Chrome without having to go on the internet.
Hope this information helps. Good luck and happy railroading!
Thanks again,
DD
@@DriverDTrains I would like to run EX WebThrottle from my computer (Windows 11) start menu. I have ESP8266 WiFi shield also. If I go the hamburger menu to setting to app I see (App Installed) What now?