I am awaiting delivery of 2 decoder and an iProbe
My question really is what is the best way to reprogram the decoder to change loco number and other CVs , thinking of lights and possible other functions.
I am guessing some additional code would be required for the functions to work.
I have put together a decoder based on the original circuit with a Raspi Pico board as the processor. Obviously this is easy to reprogram via the USB , I did manage to change the loco number (CV1) using JMRI. although this did produce an error as there is no provision on the hardware to acknowledge the programmer.
So back to the main question:
to change CVs do I change the CV.h file and recompile and download the new soft/firmware to the decoder or is there a cleverer way to do it?
any comments or recommendations welcomed
Colin
reprogram DCC decoder v2
Re: reprogram DCC decoder v2
Hi Colin,
Changing CV's can easily be done through JMRI. You need to have a motor connected to the decoder though as this is used in the circuitry generating feedback from the decoder. If no motor is connected you will get the error that you see.
You do not need to reflash the unit just for programming CV's.
But if you want to change the default setting for a particular CV you need to change the value in CV.h and recompile the firmware. This will ensure that the new value is loaded into the CV file when a DCC reset is performed by writing 8 to CV 8.
Changing CV's can easily be done through JMRI. You need to have a motor connected to the decoder though as this is used in the circuitry generating feedback from the decoder. If no motor is connected you will get the error that you see.
You do not need to reflash the unit just for programming CV's.
But if you want to change the default setting for a particular CV you need to change the value in CV.h and recompile the firmware. This will ensure that the new value is loaded into the CV file when a DCC reset is performed by writing 8 to CV 8.
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colin.christian
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Fri Nov 29, 2024 2:34 am
Re: reprogram DCC decoder v2
Hi
thanks for the info.
decoders just arrived so will start to experiment soon
regards
Colin
Ps
Just got it hooked up to a little can motor - works a treat, managed to change loco address so far
have now read all CVs and can write back new ones
really impressed with this nice little machine
I hadn't released how the decoder responded to requests etc - i was confused with Xpressnet which I have been playing with
my aim is to set up a bluetooth control something like hornby that is why I have been playing with raspy pico-w with the ble addition
Anyway all good fun and much intriguing
thanks for the info.
decoders just arrived so will start to experiment soon
regards
Colin
Ps
Just got it hooked up to a little can motor - works a treat, managed to change loco address so far
have now read all CVs and can write back new ones
really impressed with this nice little machine
I hadn't released how the decoder responded to requests etc - i was confused with Xpressnet which I have been playing with
my aim is to set up a bluetooth control something like hornby that is why I have been playing with raspy pico-w with the ble addition
Anyway all good fun and much intriguing
Re: reprogram DCC decoder v2
Hi Collin,
I agree that these decoders are great to use, if you are interested with pico w, I have some ble demo using this board as function decoder, I strip the source code for my own purpose and make it easier for me to understand. Youtube link below for the function decoder demo and also link for my other ble dcc demo. Hope this helps. I have used the version 1 of this decoder for several of my trains and they work excellent. Most of my youtube demo has the source code in the description. I also on order version 2 of this board. Hope this helps.
youtube function decoder demo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MvgJCYxS-U
my youtube channel lots of dcc demos https://www.youtube.com/@sonnybalut
github https://github.com/sonnny?tab=repositories
source codes https://pinoysa.us/codes/
Sonny
I agree that these decoders are great to use, if you are interested with pico w, I have some ble demo using this board as function decoder, I strip the source code for my own purpose and make it easier for me to understand. Youtube link below for the function decoder demo and also link for my other ble dcc demo. Hope this helps. I have used the version 1 of this decoder for several of my trains and they work excellent. Most of my youtube demo has the source code in the description. I also on order version 2 of this board. Hope this helps.
youtube function decoder demo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MvgJCYxS-U
my youtube channel lots of dcc demos https://www.youtube.com/@sonnybalut
github https://github.com/sonnny?tab=repositories
source codes https://pinoysa.us/codes/
Sonny
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colin.christian
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Fri Nov 29, 2024 2:34 am
Re: reprogram DCC decoder v2
Hi Sonny
thanks for the info - I do think Ble is the way to go so will investigate
By the way do you know which is the latest code for the decoder V2
I am using the code from: https://github.com/PontusO/RP2040-Decoder
just wondering if that is correct
best regards
Colin
thanks for the info - I do think Ble is the way to go so will investigate
By the way do you know which is the latest code for the decoder V2
I am using the code from: https://github.com/PontusO/RP2040-Decoder
just wondering if that is correct
best regards
Colin
Re: reprogram DCC decoder v2
Hi, yes that is the correct repo (I am PontusO =).
With regards to a BLE DCC decoder I am playing around with this in our lab.
It is an ESP32C3 based decoder with an external I/O processor for handling lighting and effects. We have prototypes available if anyone is interested in taking a stab at it.
With regards to a BLE DCC decoder I am playing around with this in our lab.
It is an ESP32C3 based decoder with an external I/O processor for handling lighting and effects. We have prototypes available if anyone is interested in taking a stab at it.
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colin.christian
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Fri Nov 29, 2024 2:34 am
Re: reprogram DCC decoder v2
Hi PontusO
Thanks for confirming that - I am feeling brave and soon to play around modifications and reprogramming so wish me luck
I have found the decoder to be really good and even works with some very old open frame motors which a lot of decoders will not do
The Ble does look interesting and I would be keen to try one out when ready
I do have a Ble transmitter and receiver pair working based on Pico boards. So I have a throttle and motor driver working. It doesn't hook into DCC, but just uses DCC as a power source - seems to work ok, but yours would be much cleverer as it uses the DCC as well
once again thanks for info
regards
Colin
Thanks for confirming that - I am feeling brave and soon to play around modifications and reprogramming so wish me luck
I have found the decoder to be really good and even works with some very old open frame motors which a lot of decoders will not do
The Ble does look interesting and I would be keen to try one out when ready
I do have a Ble transmitter and receiver pair working based on Pico boards. So I have a throttle and motor driver working. It doesn't hook into DCC, but just uses DCC as a power source - seems to work ok, but yours would be much cleverer as it uses the DCC as well
once again thanks for info
regards
Colin