This will be a great addition to your product line up. With this you are covering almost all model train need. I will be more than happy to try it out when it is released. I will hold my plan to purchase DCC booster for my new layout.
Yes, I’m excited. My 1st thought is to keep the DCC power supply separate and at the layout where I can connect a 3 amp power supply and connect to it through loconet. Since you need to use the chip on the yellow hat with the IOTT stick then yes, have the DCC++ integrated as a yellow-hat/DCC++EX to eventually replace the yellow hat altogether. This way if users already have something like the Digikeijs DR 5033 booster, then they don’t require a booster that’s built into your Redhat++. Also the new yellow hat / red hat could all be built into a mimic panel.
I would think that should be possible, but you would have to implement a translation function from the MQTT topic structure of the IoTT Stick to the one of the Train Controller. You should be able to do that e.g. in Node-RED or similar tools.
Game changer! This is certainly pushing the boundary of DCC functionality. I must admit that I am intrigued by the concept. I’d like to try it out. Could actually think about changing my NCE PowerHouse Pro to an IoTT Red Hat++. All the benefits of the IoTT hats and LocoNet buss with DCC command station. Just need a booster.
The Tinkerface shield is made to provide an interface to do your own developments. If you want to make DCC-EX an Arduino command station, use a RedHat along with AUX shield and IoTT Stick.
Yes, the Loconet B outlet has full Loconet capability, including railsync so you can connect external boosters. The two Loconet T connectors have 12V DC and permanently on so that the throttles do not turn off if you shut down the track power.
Brilliant, this is genius! Alas, I am a novice at this so may I ask this question... What is replaced by the PowerShield? I guess it is the IBT-2 H Bridge Driver? Any variance in the wiring arrangement of which I need be aware?
Thanks. Yes, the IBT-2 is used instead of the power shield. However, in the meantime I have finished the RedHat++ Shield, which sits on top of the power shield and turns EDD++EX into a Loconet command station with WiThrottle Server, Loconet, main and prog track and more. Watch Video #99 ua-cam.com/video/3kW_IT8mMVg/v-deo.html to learn more.
Thank you. Of course, thanks to the DCC-EX code it was not too difficult to do ;-) More to come. I just finished the first layout of the PCB for it today.
Here a suggestion, add an lcc port. Even if you don’t do the code now there’s hardware will be there for the future. I guess that one of the only major protocol you never implemented.
LCC won't likely work with DCC++EX anytime soon. It's not in the roadmap and there is no long term support strategy for LCC on the AVR platform (8-bit).
Did you watch video#45? And you are correct, with the modular concept I could build an LCC command station as the Stick can handle the LCC communication. So, there are non-technical reasons I am not doing it - for now ;-)
This will be a great addition to your product line up. With this you are covering almost all model train need. I will be more than happy to try it out when it is released. I will hold my plan to purchase DCC booster for my new layout.
Thanks. Yes, one of the ideas I am looking into is to design the board in a way it can be used either as command station OR booster.
Yes, I’m excited. My 1st thought is to keep the DCC power supply separate and at the layout where I can connect a 3 amp power supply and connect to it through loconet. Since you need to use the chip on the yellow hat with the IOTT stick then yes, have the DCC++ integrated as a yellow-hat/DCC++EX to eventually replace the yellow hat altogether. This way if users already have something like the Digikeijs DR 5033 booster, then they don’t require a booster that’s built into your Redhat++.
Also the new yellow hat / red hat could all be built into a mimic panel.
Thanks. Yes, power supply will independent and RedHat will work as booster as well.
Maybe I can use this set up to get MQTT to talk with TrainCintroller software??
I would think that should be possible, but you would have to implement a translation function from the MQTT topic structure of the IoTT Stick to the one of the Train Controller. You should be able to do that e.g. in Node-RED or similar tools.
IoTT hmm. It how is the question for an beginner like me
A very interesting concept Hans, and a fairly condensed module that can save space and provide many functionalities.
Thanks for sharing.
Many thanks!
Game changer! This is certainly pushing the boundary of DCC functionality. I must admit that I am intrigued by the concept. I’d like to try it out. Could actually think about changing my NCE PowerHouse Pro to an IoTT Red Hat++. All the benefits of the IoTT hats and LocoNet buss with DCC command station. Just need a booster.
Correct, with the RedHat, it is now possible to build a complete DCC system.
Does your Tinkersheild for Loconet work with DCC-EX and how do the messages connect to DCC-EX. Mike Ors
The Tinkerface shield is made to provide an interface to do your own developments. If you want to make DCC-EX an Arduino command station, use a RedHat along with AUX shield and IoTT Stick.
Thanks Hans, I just connected my DCC++ with Raspberry Pi. And the RedHat++ to create the ultimate loconet system.
Cool. I think there is great potential in connecting various systems and do distributed processing. Lots of possibilities ;-)
Does this module drive the Railsync pins of the loconet ports?
Yes, the Loconet B outlet has full Loconet capability, including railsync so you can connect external boosters. The two Loconet T connectors have 12V DC and permanently on so that the throttles do not turn off if you shut down the track power.
Brilliant, this is genius! Alas, I am a novice at this so may I ask this question... What is replaced by the PowerShield? I guess it is the IBT-2 H Bridge Driver? Any variance in the wiring arrangement of which I need be aware?
Thanks. Yes, the IBT-2 is used instead of the power shield. However, in the meantime I have finished the RedHat++ Shield, which sits on top of the power shield and turns EDD++EX into a Loconet command station with WiThrottle Server, Loconet, main and prog track and more. Watch Video #99 ua-cam.com/video/3kW_IT8mMVg/v-deo.html to learn more.
I just wanted to give you another support post here Hans. Another well implemented idea! - Fred
Thank you. Of course, thanks to the DCC-EX code it was not too difficult to do ;-)
More to come. I just finished the first layout of the PCB for it today.
Why are you calling it Iott stick and not M5Stack StickC?
Because it comes preloaded with the IoTT software, Grove cable and mounting bracket.
I’d like to see you support Z21 wifi throttle.
I have to look into that. No idea right now how it works.
Here a suggestion, add an lcc port. Even if you don’t do the code now there’s hardware will be there for the future. I guess that one of the only major protocol you never implemented.
LCC won't likely work with DCC++EX anytime soon. It's not in the roadmap and there is no long term support strategy for LCC on the AVR platform (8-bit).
Did you watch video#45? And you are correct, with the modular concept I could build an LCC command station as the Stick can handle the LCC communication. So, there are non-technical reasons I am not doing it - for now ;-)