Maybe the red color will improve the operation of my home built projects? 
It’s always worth a try!
We shall see if red helps, order just placed with SEEED. Now off to Digikey for more parts.
If nothing else, I'm helping with economic growth!
Just out of curiosity...
If this board was put on a car and wired to pickups on the truck, could it be used as a DCS signal check around the loop? Would a slightly more generous go/no go adjustment on the pot make it capable around a loop?
Following with great interest...
I actually have no real idea how well this would work, but I don't think this is all that appropriate for that use. The "signal strength measurement" around the layout with the DCS locomotive is just checking the percentage of error free vs sent packets are received. I would expect the actual signal to vary pretty widely on a layout and still be considered "good".
That's left as an experiment for the student. 
eddiem posted:Just out of curiosity...
If this board was put on a car and wired to pickups on the truck, could it be used as a DCS signal check around the loop? Would a slightly more generous go/no go adjustment on the pot make it capable around a loop?
Following with great interest...
Adrian made a car in this thread - AGHR DCS Telemetry Train Rev 7 - that I believe checks the DCS signal around the track in a similar manner to the TIU Tester being discussed here. It is quite elaborate (over my head by a foot or two) and I believe costs quite a bit more, but it is a really nifty device.
I was thinking that the project in this thread may have come about from the thread link above, only as a less expensive test module? But I think, as GRJ said above this one was more for just testing at the TIU outputs and not the entire layout. At least that was my interpretation of it anyway? If I'm off a bit here, maybe Adrian or GRJ can set the record straight. I have also just been trying to follow along and keep up as best as I can.
rtr12 posted:eddiem posted:Just out of curiosity...
If this board was put on a car and wired to pickups on the truck, could it be used as a DCS signal check around the loop? Would a slightly more generous go/no go adjustment on the pot make it capable around a loop?
Following with great interest...
Adrian made a car in this thread - AGHR DCS Telemetry Train Rev 7 - that I believe checks the DCS signal around the track in a similar manner to the TIU Tester being discussed here. It is quite elaborate (over my head by a foot or two) and I believe costs quite a bit more, but it is a really nifty device.
I was thinking that the project in this thread may have come about from the thread link above, only as a less expensive test module? But I think, as GRJ said above this one was more for just testing at the TIU outputs and not the entire layout. At least that was my interpretation of it anyway? If I'm off a bit here, maybe Adrian or GRJ can set the record straight. I have also just been trying to follow along and keep up as best as I can.
Exactly!
An oscilloscope is the best debugging solution and shows you the DCS waveforms, voltages, distortion and noise,... and is a $500 solution. The telem train in the other thread is the $100-150 solution for those that want exact voltages and signal strength but not necessarily want to debug waveforms. This one is the $10-20 solution for those that just want to know if it's broken or not.
Speaking of the pricing, I have exactly six kits of parts with a PCB and all the parts, $15/ea shipped for the first six emails I get to my profile email address. I'm not going any farther with this, so I might as well let someone else have the fun of assembling them.
Adrian and GRJ,
Thanks for all the work you did on this project. I managed to put together a board that is similar to Adrian's initial version but also adds the self powered feature and a power indicator found in GRJ's final version. Here is a picture of the board and a quick video showing the blue led light up when I blow the whistle on one of my locomotives. The red light is just a power indicator.
I ordered the board that GRJ designed so I could put together one that looks a little more professional.
Attachments
Images (1)
Videos (1)
Your's looks great, John. I'm going to order the board John designed too. Kind of just for fun!
I have one kit left. 
gunrunnerjohn posted:I have one kit left.
I’ll take it if no one beats me to it.
The circle is closed and all the kits are gone.
Hopefully someone is ordering boards from the files I posted if anyone else wants one of these.
GRJ,
I ordered 10 from SEEED (the pretty red ones like you had ) and parts for 10 units from Digikey. Still waiting for ordered items to arrive.
If all goes well I would be willing to put together some kits or maybe even assemble a few for those that don't like soldering. If this batch goes well I might consider another batch if there is any more interest. I would not want anything extra, just enough to cover my expenses, so price be whatever the boards and parts cost me plus shipping. I have not shipped many things (I mostly just order stuff) so I would have to figure out what would be the best and least expensive method.
The only thing I haven't ordered are the alligator clips for connecting to the track or banana plugs to plug into TIU. I already have some for my own use, but I wasn't sure what anyone else might want for connections. These could also be left out and the end user could install the connection of their choice.
You're the Man, RTR!!
FWIW, I didn't so anything about the actual TIU connection as it could be several varieties. My "kits" were simply all the parts for the PCB.
GRJ, That sounds like an even better idea on the TIU connections. My thoughts exactly, what to put on there for a connection? In after thought a couple of screw terminals might be a good idea? Maybe for the next batch, if there is one?
Mark, Very kind words...thank you. 
Well, the design files are up there, when you get used to Diptrace, you can put the terminal block on.
You're welcome RTR12! I took the easy way out and got the kit. I'll decide what type leads/connector to put on when I get to building it.
GRJ, I looked at the files when sending the order to SEEED. So far I'm stalling on butchering anything. I'll make a copy first, before I try it.
Mark, good luck with your kit. The first one I tried from OSHpark, I cut a couple of alligator jumpers in half for the leads. I think Stan suggested that earlier or in another thread. I used a 9v battery holder with on/off switch for the power, trying to be nice and neat. Guess what didn't work? The darn battery holder, 9v in and 0v out the output wires, figures...
