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| Homemade DCC Software - Computer Software. - Computing & The Model Railway - Your Model Railway Club | ||||||||||
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TeaselBay Novice
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As well as physically building Teasel Bay (http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=15131&forum_id=21) I set out to build some software to run it. Just like people build scratch built models, my interest lies in scratch building some software. My plan is to be able to run locomotives, accessories such as signals and points as well as control lighting etc from multiple computers which are all connected. Eventually adding sensors to locate locomotives around the layout so I can automate them with the ability to take control of aspects such as a locomotive or the signals and the system react. I also want to be able to control locomotives from my mobile as well as a more tactile controls like I used to on DC. If you are not interested in the technical bits simply ignore anything in italics!.. I've written Mainline as a web service in .NET Core. Having it as a web service means I am unrestricted in how many devices and connect and fur fill different roles. The front end is written in Angular with JSON as the communication layer between the server and client. I found an open source library called XPressNetSharp which takes commands and converts them to HEX which is then fired down to the eLink. Today I got trains running with it for the first time which is exciting! It needs prettying up but this is how it looks currently. Hitting connect creates a link to the eLink and initialises it ready for commands.  "Trains"/Control screen has a list of my trains and a control for each.  Its a start, I've no idea if I'll ever get around to writing half of the software I plan to but it was very satisfying controlling trains this evening on something I'd written. Hope this is of interest to some! ____________________ Chris Teasel Bay Teasel Bay on Facebook |
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Sol A modelling Moderator. 
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It shows that there are so many aspects in this hobby so enjoy what ever you do is the motto....
____________________ Ron NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline. |
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gdaysydney Member 
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A someone that uses a computer program to run a layout I think your new venture is great. I dont know much about computer programming but I have heard of Xpressnet in conjunction with JMRI software. ____________________ Dave Notmutley British OO outline, DCC - NCE PowerPro, Sound chips, Computer Control- RR&Co software |
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John Dew Full Member 
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gdaysydney wrote: A someone that uses a computer program to run a layout I think your new venture is great. Xpressnet is the information bus used by Lenz and other DCC systems.......I assume it is the equivalent of loconet. So on Granby, Xpressnet sends data to the Lenz box which in turn sends it to Train Controller ____________________ John Granby III Lenz DCC,RR&Co Gold V9 B4 Windows 10 |
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gdaysydney Member
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Thanks John  ____________________ Dave Notmutley British OO outline, DCC - NCE PowerPro, Sound chips, Computer Control- RR&Co software |
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TeaselBay Novice
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John Dew wrote: gdaysydney wrote:A someone that uses a computer program to run a layout I think your new venture is great. Yeah spot on, Xpressnet is a protocol which just defines how information is passed down the DCC bus to the locomotives/accessories. XpressNetSharp is a C# implementation of it which simply takes messages and converts them into commands for the ELink in this instance: https://github.com/networkfusion/XpressNetSharp Thank you for the positive feedback, it is most appreciated. I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested in this aspect! ____________________ Chris Teasel Bay Teasel Bay on Facebook |
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TeaselBay Novice
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I recently bought an Arduino Mega https://www.arduino.cc/ (which is basically a simple computer) which is very good at controlling inputs/outputs. This makes it perfect for controlling lighting across the layout. I created a simple proof of concept application on the Arduino which listens for inputs from the usb and then changes the state of the output which is a light. I then wrote a little C# play app to toggle the light on the laptop. You can see it working in the video below. This can easily be scaled up to turn on the platform lights, building lights etc. ____________________ Chris Teasel Bay Teasel Bay on Facebook |
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TeaselBay Novice
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The Arduino finally being pushed into action! Simply blue-tacked to the frame so it can easily be removed for prototyping. As I stated above, the Arduino takes commands from my laptop and turns on/off the corresponding light. Wiring is using reclaimed CAT5 cables, for the LEDs is low powered 5v 20ma direct from the Arduino digital outputs. Commands to pin:
 At the moment this is controlled by a very simple C# desktop app which simply toggles the lights on/off.  There is something strangely satisfying by simply turning the lights on/off, lol! ____________________ Chris Teasel Bay Teasel Bay on Facebook |
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gdaysydney Member
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TeaselBay wrote: There is something strangely satisfying by simply turning the lights on/off, lol! I agree - maybe its the therapy/gratification from the satisfaction of getting it to work I am following this thread with interest as the electronics / automation side of layout building has always appealed to me. Keep it going ____________________ Dave Notmutley British OO outline, DCC - NCE PowerPro, Sound chips, Computer Control- RR&Co software |
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TeaselBay Novice
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Brill Dave. Glad it is of interest to someone 
____________________ Chris Teasel Bay Teasel Bay on Facebook |
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| This is topic ID = 15609 Current time is 07:52 am |
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