DCC Controller

Currently I am using the railstars CmdrArduino Arduino library (available on github), to generate the dcc signal from my arduino. To ensure that is working correctly I need to verify the signal matches the NMRA specifications for DCC (S-9.1 & S-9.2) using:

• an Oscilloscope - will be sampling out the basic arduino scopes to see if they are okay for this.
• a Logic Analyser
• a dcc monitor/decoder

Once verified, only then will I connect it to my booster (RAILbooster) and retest it before operating my dcc locomotive with it.

Shown below is my fritzing project for my test controller. (Updated the diagrams, had dcc out incorrectly connecting to ground when it should be connected to pin 10).

This controller will be updated once the lcd display and keypad arrive in the mail. 

dcc monitor/decoder

I will be using the MynaBay DCC Monitor, there is an alternative library (MRRwA) that The unknown railway has used. Currently I will use the library that comes with the DCC Monitor, as I plan to write some code on my pc to make use of that binary data such as:

• displaying it in hex
• verifying that it is valid dcc commands.
• etc... whatever else comes to mind when I have it operational.

Oscilloscope

I will be testing the basic ones out to see if they are useful enough for my purposes. If I do find one that looks okay, I will mention it sometime this weekend or next week.

The ones I will be looking at are:

• Arduino - Oscilloscope (poor man's Oscilloscope) by RuiSantos
• Arduino - Improved Poor Man's Oscilloscope by jp_boardrides
• Arduino Poor Man’s Oscilloscope by Meyers
• Arduinoscope (original version, current version) by konsumer 
• lxardoscope 
• Serial oscilloscope by Seb Madgwick

Logic Analyser

Logic Analyser by gillham and a youtube video of it in action using a frontend called Logic Sniffer.

Looks like I will start off with the logic analyser and the dcc monitor later today, once done I will start looking into the oscilloscopes.

Introduction

This blog is about my experiences in modelling an n gauge model railway. For a long time I have wanted to model British steam locomotives, and for the last two months that idea has been steadily gaining strength. And then my visit to Aurora Trains moved the idea into action, I saw two British Rail Mark 1 coaches in the crimson and cream livery and knew I must have them. From there I have expanded the coaches up to a rake of six coaches and purchased a Graham Farish n gauge A1 Tornado.

Video footage of the train in operation, this was taken after the locomotives one hour burn in for each direction.

The current idea for the layout is a country town terminating station with a freight yard and a spur/branch line to a colliery. This idea will change as I am still researching about country towns, their railways and industry.

I am already working on an Arduino for the generation of the DCC signal by using the CmdrArduino Arduino library. To continue I need to make some test equipment, such as a DCC monitor and a simple oscilloscope (plenty of Arduino oscilloscope projects), currently waiting on parts to arrive.