Re: JMRI Loconet control of DCS240+
#digitrax
We noticed that the original dcs240 (no plus) didnt like the power going on and off quickly, or shorts on the loconet lines.
Our dcs240+ and pr4 have been rock solid since either running them thru a usb 2.1 port,? or hub that forces usb2.1 mode or a device that does the same thing, like an opto isolator.
Steve G.
?
?
|
Re: JMRI Loconet control of DCS240+
#digitrax
On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 12:53 PM, billybob experimenter wrote:
(If not using a recent-enough JMRI, _why not_?)
His system is the first line in the original post Environment is a Raspberry Pi 3B with bookworm, Java 17, JMRI 5.10 -- Peter Ulvestad Linux Mint 22.1, JMRI 5.11.4plus, Java 21.0.6 JMRI Users Group Moderator ( /g/jmriusers ) JMRI Developers Group Moderator ( ) Tam Valley Group Moderator ( ) Sprog-DCC Group Moderator ( ) Edmonton Model Railroad Association ( )
|
Re: JMRI Loconet control of DCS240+
#digitrax
The problem is the USB implementation used on Microchip CPUs. I believe the CPU used in the Digitrax family is a PIC24 series microprocessor from Microchip. I have had problems with the USB CDC implementation as used in the Microchip libraries. I'm not sure if the Microchip code is the problem, or if there is an underlying problem in the design of the CDC (Communications port) USB specification.
As I said above I have had problems with both Linux and Windows communicating with Microchip based devices using the Microchip libraries for their USB processors, with random lockups after a period of time. I have access to some MERG USB-CAN interfaces, some of which use a PIC microprocessor that has built in USB interface, and these periodically lock up even though there is no active message passing, but other devices that use an FTDI chip to do the USB interface to a serial port on the Microchip processor will run for ages without a spot of bother.
The quick solution is to use a Locobuffer type device rather than the USB port.
Dale,
?
When our club replaced the DCS200 several years ago with a DCS210 (not the 210+ or the 240+) there was a lot of chatter on the /g/Digitrax-Users group messages about the built in USB locking up.?? ?
That same issue cropped up and stopped our layout several times within the first hour of operation.
?
We surmised that the command station internal CPU and/or internal memory were not sized correctly for simultaneous bursts of message traffic, at least for controlling a large layout with PanelPro.??
?
The same LocoBuffer-USB we had been using on the DCS200 continues to served us well.?
?
As a strange aside, the DCS210 we us at our workbench for DecoderPro and usually with only one locomotive at a time, works well with the internal USB.??
?
Maybe Digitrax still uses the same or similar hardware on the DCS240+ but that is for others to comment on.
?
Cliff in Baja SoCal
?
|
Re: JMRI Loconet control of DCS240+
#digitrax
On 3/31/2025 10:36 AM, Dale Gloer via groups.io wrote: My question is now that I have the DCS240+ in place what selection do I make for the Command station? Assuming that you are using a recent-enough JMRI version, select: - the "System Connection" of "LocoBuffer-USB", and - the "Command station type" of "DCS240+ (Advanced Command Station)". That has worked for me for more than a year. If that does not work for you, does it make a difference if you also plug a throttle in to LocoNet "as close as possible" to the LocoBuffer-USB? (If not using a recent-enough JMRI, _why not_?)
|
Re: JMRI Loconet control of DCS240+
#digitrax
I am one of those who reported the DCS240 locking up.? I upgraded from a DCS210 with a PR4 USB connection to a DCS240 using its USB connection.? It locked up so much that I had to purchase the LocoBuffer-USB, and now I don't have any issues at all.
|
Re: JMRI Loconet control of DCS240+
#digitrax
Dale, ? Hi!? Here is what I use for the DCS 240 on my workbench and it works fine.? ??(FYI since I added a USB isolator for the DCS240 following a lightning strike that took out USB peripherals on another computer here there haven’t been any lockups. ? ? Robin ? Robin Becker N3IX Engineering LLC San Diego CA
? ? ? 
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dale Gloer via groups.io
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2025 7:33 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [jmriusers] JMRI control DCS240+ via Loconet? I recently replaced our club DCS200 (it died) with a DCS240+.? There has long been a Pi3 running JMRI controlling the layout via Loconet.? For that, in the connections panel I had selected DCS200 as the command station and Loconet-USB as the connection type.? My question is now that I have the DCS240+ in place what selection do I make for the Command station? I still use Loconet-USB for the connection type.? Selecting DCS240+ as the command station results in no Loconet activity from JMRI. Dale Gloer
Jack of all trades at home and Southern Alberta Model Railway
|
Re: JMRI Loconet control of DCS240+
#digitrax
Dale,
?
When our club replaced the DCS200 several years ago with a DCS210 (not the 210+ or the 240+) there was a lot of chatter on the /g/Digitrax-Users group messages about the built in USB locking up.?? ?
That same issue cropped up and stopped our layout several times within the first hour of operation.
?
We surmised that the command station internal CPU and/or internal memory were not sized correctly for simultaneous bursts of message traffic, at least for controlling a large layout with PanelPro.??
?
The same LocoBuffer-USB we had been using on the DCS200 continues to served us well.?
?
As a strange aside, the DCS210 we us at our workbench for DecoderPro and usually with only one locomotive at a time, works well with the internal USB.??
?
Maybe Digitrax still uses the same or similar hardware on the DCS240+ but that is for others to comment on.
?
Cliff in Baja SoCal
?
|
Re: two scripts using one sensor
Canadian Locomotive Logistics (for lack of better info),
?
You have provided an open ended question, so the responses are going be like shotgun scatter guessing.
?
On Sun, Mar 30, 2025 at 06:59 PM, Canadian Locomotive Logistics wrote:
Can two scripts use the same sensor?
?
Sometimes, but circumstances and context are needed to make that decision.
?
?
Sure i can include then in one script, but just asking.
?
What is the reason behind this ask.? What are you intending to do and why??
?
Are you asking about Internal Sensors or DCC Hardware Sensors?
?
?
I have one scripted finished controlling signals.
?
Does this mean that there is a specific need for some sensor related to the control of your signals during the operation of trains that in turn controls the dynamic state of one or all of your signals?? ?
Or does it mean that some sensor is dedicated to recognizing the startup condition and the state is changed to indicate when the initialization has been completed??
?
Or perhaps some other condition or status that we are not likely to surmise???
?
?
The other script I want to control the room lights, the sensor with trigger and API to turn on the room lights.
?
What is the relationship between controlling signals and controlling room lights?? ?
Is there some timing constraint involved for the completion of one task before the initialization of some other task or am I missing the point altogether?
?
Or is there some need to limit the number of sensors of a particular type?? Back to internal vs hardware question.??
?
Also, since I am acronym adverse, double checking that API means "Application Programing Interface " in this context.??
?
Any clarification or other context details will be helpful for further replies.
?
Cliff in Baja SoCal
?
|
But when you program the saved file into the decoder then it programs in CV19 as well, so the compare will show as all correctly programmed.
All,
?
Good point about the command station. Something to check out.
?
But about CV 19, would that not be caught in the CVs tab Compare??
?
Regards
|
On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 10:55 AM, Don Shroyer wrote:
But about CV 19, would that not be caught in the CVs tab Compare??
Certainly does catch it on a diitrax decoder, I wouldnt have thought any other decoder would be different.
Steve G
|
All,
?
Good point about the command station. Something to check out.
?
But about CV 19, would that not be caught in the CVs tab Compare??
?
Regards
|
Re: JMRI Loconet control of DCS240+
#digitrax
Are you connecting with a LocoBuffer-USB, or directly via the DCS240+? A couple people have reported the direct connection in the DCS240+ locking up. The workaround is to _completely_ power it off by removing its main power connection _and_ unplug the USB connection, then reconned them power first, then USB and start JMRI. Bob On Mar 31, 2025, at 10:33?AM, Dale Gloer via groups.io <dale.gloer@...> wrote:
I recently replaced our club DCS200 (it died) with a DCS240+. There has long been a Pi3 running JMRI controlling the layout via Loconet. For that, in the connections panel I had selected DCS200 as the command station and Loconet-USB as the connection type.
My question is now that I have the DCS240+ in place what selection do I make for the Command station? I still use Loconet-USB for the connection type. Selecting DCS240+ as the command station results in no Loconet activity from JMRI.
--
Dale Gloer
Jack of all trades at home and Southern Alberta Model Railway
— Bob Jacobsen rgj1927@...
|
Environment is a Raspberry Pi 3B with bookworm, Java 17, JMRI 5.10
?
I recently replaced our club DCS200 (it died) with a DCS240+. ?There has long been a Pi3 running JMRI controlling the layout via Loconet. ?For that, in the connections panel I had selected DCS200 as the command station and Loconet-USB as the connection type.?
?
My question is now that I have the DCS240+ in place what selection do I make for the Command station? I still use Loconet-USB for the connection type. ?Selecting DCS240+ as the command station results in no Loconet activity from JMRI.
--
Dale Gloer
Jack of all trades at home and Southern Alberta Model Railway
|
Re: convert Layout Editor panel to control panel editor panel
that's exactly what I'm looking to accomplish Ken, thanks for the insight and I'm sure ill be back with more questions! John
On Sun, Mar 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM, Ken Cameron <kcameron@...> wrote: John, ? If you are meaning, can you display things on both panels that are also displayed on the other panel, then yes. Like you could have a turnout on the LE pane and a toggle switch on the CPE pane for the exact same layout turnout. Same for sensors and other objects. ? For example, I used a LE panel to describe a layout and generate the signal logic. I then built a CPE panel to be the CTC control for that layout. They work together very well. ? Let me know if you have more questions about multiple panels. Just remember, they all are contained in a single file. That’s why sometimes when I’m explaining I use the word pane instead of panel. A single ‘panel files’ can contains many window panes of different tools, views, LE or CPE, etc… ? -Ken Cameron, Member JMRI Dev Team
? ?
--
Sent from my gosh darn droid!
Please excuse the fat finger mistakes...
John
|
Steve,
I am just going by what I have seen with those symptoms before, Somehow a hiccup in the decoder, a spike on the track, someone miss typing while setting up a consist and the loco may have been consisted and the way to check that is to read CV 19, the consit address if it is 0 then that is not the problem so look elsewhere.
If CV 19 has any other number then it is in consist and will only respond to movement commands on that number.
Changing CV 19 to 0 will take it out of consist and allow it to run on it's normal number.
It only takes a few seconds to read one CV to find if that is the problem.
Tony
|
Re: Chaining transits with a different locomotive
#dispatcher
Ken: "Duplicate" transit and then edit.
Jean 48 hrs should get it in the nightly Development build. In changes " " should show up on the first build its included in.
Steve G.
?
|
Don
While you are looking at the SlotMonitor, sort by address (click on the header) and check to see if the loco is in 2 slots, it does happen.
Steve G.
|
Peter.
?
Once a car is assigned to a built train, the car can't be used by another.? You should only build, then print out your four trains.? Only terminate them when they actually finish their runs.
?
?
Dan
|
Re: two scripts using one sensor
I use one to many connections for logic and scripts.
The only caveat is when you want multiple block connections.
For one to many block connections, I need to create more sensors and set those sensor states from the source with Logix or LogixNG.
--
Ken NYNH&H, Old Colony Division, Cape Cod Branch (1949-1959) Loconet * JMRI 5.11.4 * OSX,Win10,Ubuntu
Blog: ?
Youtube:
|
Re: Chaining transits with a different locomotive
#dispatcher
I never ran into this problem because I define a unique traininfo file for a specific locomotive and move.
I do that because I run (mostly) to safe sections which are usually depots and use load traininfo to continue that particular train.
It is also useful to reverse a train, again, by continuing that train with a new traininfo file and transit.
Copying a traininfo file and modifying the locomotive is easy.
I use one to one correspondence for trainfinfo to transit and I customize transits for locomotive characteristics.
My only lament is that there is no easy way to copy transits for modifications.
--
Ken NYNH&H, Old Colony Division, Cape Cod Branch (1949-1959) Loconet * JMRI 5.11.4 * OSX,Win10,Ubuntu
Blog: ?
Youtube:
|
Peter Ulvestad
Bob Jacobsen
Dale Gloer
John Barone
Ken Heywood