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Originally Posted by BillP:
What happens with Multiple TIUs and Multiple Remotes?

How do the TIU address numbers play into the protocol?

What is different between super mode and normal mode?

Bill,

 

With my program, the PC needs a wired connection to the TIU. My RTC program is only written for 1 TIU. Some enterprising person could write a program that uses 5 PC serial ports and connects to 5 TIU. Even though RTC is wired to a TIU, it must still be told what TIU number it is wired to.

 

Best to do a search on "super mode" here on the OGR Forum to get a good explanation of how that works. Since my RTC program only works with one TIU, it doesn't support super mode.

 

I need a few more alpha testers for my RTC program. A few of the guys who volunteered didn't have enough time to build the interface and test the program.

 

Is anyone else interested?

 

As I mentioned earlier, I need people who are fearless and can figure things out. People who can work in a environment of no documentation (the videos on my web page are it) and very little support. The program may be buggy. Your layout should have an emergency power off button (I use a Christmas Tree keychain remote control box). I can't be responsible for anything that happens on your layout or your electronics. I will ask to you affirm that you won't distribute RTC to anyone else during this "alpha" testing. That said, I have run the program a lot and it seems like it works.

 

The PC to TIU interface (a couple different versions suggested by the alpha testers) is described on my web page:

 

http://www.silogic.com/trains/RTC_Running.html

 

You will need some skills at wiring and assembly to build up the interface.

 

Thanks,  Mark

 

Last edited by SanDiegoMark

 If I could add a comment...

if you have several engines, this program makes selecting them a breeze. That alone, makes me grateful to have this program.

 Another great feature is You actually don't need an engine loaded into the remote. It just needs to be on powered track. The read function works fast and very well. It identifies any engine on powered track connected to that TIU. It will run it as selected. You don't need to wait for engine adds, that sometimes seem to take longer lately for me.

 I need to set up a computer now for my outside RR!

Originally Posted by Charly:

Mark,

 

Might be interested, but do not have stable internet at home and therefore unable to access the videos while working on project.  Any way to download them?

Cheryl,

 

Here are direct links to the videos:

 

"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150319_1731_13_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150322_1025_17_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150322_1244_22_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150322_190847_Layout_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150325_1906_46_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150325_1911_20_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150409_1628_01_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150409_1852_28_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150409_122911_out_800_512KB.mp4"

There should be someway to directly download these files. Let me know if

it works for you.

 

Mark

 

Originally Posted by SanDiegoMark:
Originally Posted by Charly:

Mark,

 

Might be interested, but do not have stable internet at home and therefore unable to access the videos while working on project.  Any way to download them?

Cheryl,

 

Here are direct links to the videos:

 

"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150319_1731_13_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150322_1025_17_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150322_1244_22_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150322_190847_Layout_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150325_1906_46_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150325_1911_20_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150409_1628_01_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150409_1852_28_out_800_512KB.mp4"
"http://www.silogic.com/trains/videos/20150409_122911_out_800_512KB.mp4"

There should be someway to directly download these files. Let me know if

it works for you.

 

Mark

 

Mark,

 

Thanks for the links, will have to try them tomorrow from a fast connection, here at home it takes for ever and it is not always reliable.

 Building the bread board interface was simple. I ordered too many not realizing they come in multi packs.

 As I was moving wires around the other day, I knocked the coiled phone cord wires out of it. I have my handwritten schematic right there so I pugged it back together.

I think I'll solder mine up permanently to take a bit more abuse! It comes apart a bit too easily for me.

An update to my last post, I now have the interface working properly, talking to the TIU and all is well. It turned out my problem was the wires in my handset cable are not exactly in the same order as they are in Mark's photo of his cable.  Once I figured that out all is well. The attached photo is of my version of the interface breadboard.

 

Yes Yellow and Green are switched from the schematic because they are switched in my handset cable.

 

20150805_204950

Attachments

Images (1)
  • 20150805_204950

My alpha testers now have been banging on the RTC program for a few months (everything takes longer than expected!). I fixed some bugs they found and added some features so now its time to let anyone who wants to try, to have a go at the program. This release version is v3.0. The documentation is still pretty thin. There is a pdf file in the release ZIP file that should help.

 

You will still have to build an interface but you can see what others have done on this forum topic and my web page.

 

You can download the V3.0 ZIP file here:

 

http://www.silogic.com/trains/...ng.html#RTC_Download

 

Mark

You can get some sample PC boards made pretty cheaply to have a "standard" design of the interface, this would greatly enhance the ease of folks trying this design.  Imagine how much easier this would be if you could just plug the USB into one side and the handset cable into the other side?   If you really want to get fancy, you can also include the 3.3V regulator with a bridge and a cap to power it from any AC/DC source from 6 to 18 volts.

 

Also, there is a cheaper option if you use the micro-USB connector, it's the Pololu CP2104 USB-to-Serial Adapter Carrier.  Looks to have the same function, just a different USB connector.

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

You can get some sample PC boards made pretty cheaply to have a "standard" design of the interface, this would greatly enhance the ease of folks trying this design.  Imagine how much easier this would be if you could just plug the USB into one side and the handset cable into the other side?   If you really want to get fancy, you can also include the 3.3V regulator with a bridge and a cap to power it from any AC/DC source from 6 to 18 volts.

 

Also, there is a cheaper option if you use the micro-USB connector, it's the Pololu CP2104 USB-to-Serial Adapter Carrier.  Looks to have the same function, just a different USB connector.

Slick idea.

I've finally posted my write up that discusses the protocol in detail. Some of you have already seen it but now its out there for everyone to read.

 

http://www.silogic.com/trains/...tream%20Decoding.pdf
http://www.silogic.com/trains/RTC_Running.html

For sometime now, I've had version 3.1 of the RTC Program available for download from the RTC Running web page.

http://www.silogic.com/trains/...ng.html#RTC_Download

All of my programs are covered by the GNU General Public License and the documentation is covered by the GNU Free Documentation License. They all remain (C)opyright by Mark DiVecchio.

Last edited by SanDiegoMark

I've setup a mailing list for anyone interested in the Remote Train Control [RTC] program.

I'm going to use that mailing list to send updates on the program's status and to have users field and answer questions.

Recently on that list, I announced that v3.17 was released (right on the heels of v3.16) to fix a visual problem with the Engine List.

If you would like to subscribe to that list, send an empty email to
remote-train-control+subscribe@googlegroups.com

To just visit the group to read the messages, click here:
https://groups.google.com/group/remote-train-control

The Remote Train Control program (RTC) doesn't require a serial connection any more. I've found two different radios that let the PC talk wirelessly to the TIU (or 5 TIUs) where the program can control 99 engines in each TIU or 495 engines.

The Quick Controls window lets you control 10 engines by displaying the buttons and sliders for all 10 on the monitor.

You can easily construct routes/scenes and enable or disable them with one click.

The program has a Hot Buttons feature where you define the function of up to 100 buttons to perform any function on any engine or any AIU channel with a single push.

You can record and playback operational sequences of essentially unlimited length.

All the while still using your remote when you want to.

You can use my other program, ADPCM, to edit sound files to replace or modify sounds, move sounds between sound files and even give older engines newer sounds (for example, SXS). You can also use the program to repair sound files that don't have the soft keys quite right.

Both of these programs are free and can be downloaded from my web pages. Look at the links in my signature. The web pages include many videos showing the RTC program in operation. On the web page, look at the readme.txt file which documents all of the features added along the way.

(I'm hoping to find someone who knows Java and can incorporate the RTC functionality into JMRI.)

I've created a new Playlist on YouTube with a dozen videos demonstrating version 4.0 of the RTC program. This version is a complete rewrite of the radio communications code. V4.0 also has a completely new scripting feature that lets you write a program-like script to control your trains. The scripting feature works both with and without my RFID train detection scheme. Look at my web pages for more details.

Link to version 4.0 of the RTC Program:

http://www.silogic.com/trains/...ng.html#RTC_Download

YouTube Playlist link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...NRe0k5zf-_b0hl6U_hpO

Video Episodes:
0 - Intro
1 - Layout Tour
2 - Radio Hardware
3 - Program Setup
4 - Operations Popup Menu
  - Scene 1
  - Scene 2
5 - Multiple Operations Windows
6 - Sound Controls
7 - Quick Controls
8 - Hot Buttons
9 - LashUps (Consisting)
10 - AIU Control
11 - Routes & Scenes
12 - DCS Setup
13 - Recording and Playback
14 - Program Scripts

I really like this idea!  I have the program, and have built the cable interface (seemed easier to assemble than the radio control version).  I'm not having any luck getting the software to connect to the TIU.  I can think of a couple of possible reasons, one is I built the cable interface wrong or it has bad connections.  I'll check continuity on that one.  Second, I do use super TIU mode.  I saw in a post some years old that it wouldn't support super TIU.  Is that still the case?  I have it plugged into TIU 1 of 2.

Just a note.  When it is plugged into the TIU, the DCS remote will no longer control the engines.  If I unplug it, all is good again.  I don't think that is intended, and might help troubleshoot.

Thanks for anyone's help on this!

Has anyone had any luck with the radio version of Mark's software?  I ordered the components and it took several weeks to receive them.  Now I'm trying to get everything to work, but am having no luck.  There are several steps involved, from assembling the components to updating and install Mark's software.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to in touch with Mark and am wondering if anyone might be able to the help me figure this out.  Thanks!

@Burl posted:

Has anyone had any luck with the radio version of Mark's software?  I ordered the components and it took several weeks to receive them.  Now I'm trying to get everything to work, but am having no luck.  There are several steps involved, from assembling the components to updating and install Mark's software.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to in touch with Mark and am wondering if anyone might be able to the help me figure this out.  Thanks!

I haven't used Mark's software exactly, since I don't use the RTC program with a PC.  But I've used his sub-routines to control DCS engines over the radio with an Arduino.

For hardware I recommend using the Adafruit Feather or Low Power Lab Moteino setups described on Mark's radio page, since the set-up is much simpler.

Last edited by Professor Chaos

Mark recommended I use the radio path version of his software, but I don't see a different "version" on his website.  That's one question.  He recommended I use the "arduino" from Seeduino and a specific transmitter as well.  Those are what I ordered and have.  I think reading his website, depending on which specific hardware, there are some edits that have to be made the code that is then uploaded to the arduino.  I can do a little basic programming, and understand the concepts, but the details of it all are well beyond me and I'm struggling to get it all pulled together.

I haven't used Mark's software exactly, since I don't use the RTC program with a PC.  But I've used his sub-routines to control DCS engines over the radio with an Arduino.

For hardware I recommend using the Adafruit Feather or Low Power Lab Moteino setups described on Mark's radio page, since the set-up is much simpler.

I'm curious, do you have a website or videos that show your set-up and automation?

Anthony

Mark helped me get the radio transmitter assembled, and I have his RTC program up and running.  It was well worth the effort!  It puts all of the functions I routinely use to run an engine on one screen literally at my fingertips.  No clicking buttons to get to sub-menus, then scrolling, etc.  He also added some nice shortcuts for various whistle sequences and other functions.  There is so much functionality, it would take several paragraphs to fully describe it.  I have it running on an old touchscreen laptop.  He's working on adding enhancements like control of TMCC engines and position tracking.  I highly recommend it!

Mark, thanks for all of your work on RTC, and for being so willing to share it with fellow hobbyists!

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