DigiTrains 3.0 on Play

This release has a new feature for Hungarian users, the Station announcements. With this you can play station announcements used in Hungary on railway stations. You can select the words or phrases from drop down lists and play certain announcements based on your train movement, type, platform, etc.

I would be happy to provide this feature in other languages, especially in english and german, but for this I would need help from local people to provide the logic (proper word order) and the sounds. Please let me know if you can help: digitrains.app@gmail.com

DigiTrains 2.9 on Play: Domino Dispatcher design

Dispatcher game: Domino


New design is available for dispatcher game: Domino.

You can choose from more design in dispatcher game. Select the menu icon in the top right corner to change design:

On tablets:                         

On phones: 

In Domino design the use of Common accessory button and Unlock route button is different. You do not have to hold the buttons for 2 hand accessory change.

Use of the buttons if Adv. (Advanced security logic) is off:

· Unlock Route button releases all routes (KO)
· Common accessory button is not functional


Use of the buttons if Adv. is On:
· Unlock routes button releases routes by double touch
· Press Unlock routes button first. You can see it is on, because it lits. Then press the endpoint of an active route. The route will be released. Unlock routes button goes off.
· Accessories can be changed only if the Common accessory button is touched and set on (it lits). Then touch an accessory, it will change. The common accessory button will go off automatically.

Block occupancy release

Occupied blocks get only free after 2 seconds of unoccupied state.

Z21 Locomotive options bug fix

For Z21 users Locomotive options menu crashed in DigiTrains 2.8. Now this bug is fixed.

DigiTrains 2.8 on Play

New features:

1. You are able to enable/disable automatic speed set to zero when direction button is pressed in Traincontrol Options menu with a checkbox. This setting will apply to all locomotives. This setting has no effect when locomotive is controlled from virtual cab or with gamepad, since these control modes are to provide realistic train control. This setting can be useful for magnetic decouplers.

2. Layouts are saved automatically in Dispatcher game after leaving layout editor menu.

3. DigiTrains 2.8 was tested with latest JMRI 4.0 Production version. JMRI functions bug fix: functions are displayed in Train Control screen.

DigiTrains on Windows - BlueStacks

You can use DigiTrains on Windows PC or tablet by using BlueStacks android emulator.

You can download BlueStacks from here: http://www.bluestacks.com/

This emulator is about 2 GB. After installation the program turns your PC or phone into an android tablet. It can run in a window or fullscreen. Registrate your gmail account and download DigiTrains from Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hu.digitools.digitrains

The emulated android system will use the network of your PC or tablet. So you need to connect it to the same network where Z21, JMRI or DigiWifi is connected. In case of JMRI it can run also on the same PC of course.

By using this solution you enjoy easy-to-use user friendly DigiTrains android application on your Windows PC or tablet, and control your digital layout. I used this device to Play on my layout:

https://www.asus.com/Tablets/ASUS_VivoTab/

Important notice: you cannot install BlueStacks on a Windows Phone currently. In the near future DigiTrains will be available on Windows and IOS, too.

Automatic signal change depending on occupancy feedback

dispatcher game: automatic signal change depending on occupancy feedback

In layout editor after you select the block for red and press save, the highlighted track will go back to white.

At this point you can select signals to change automatically when this block is occupied. Touch the signal to select it with red rectangle. Long-touch the signal to change its status. This status represents how to set it when the block is occupied. If you ready with the selections, press the save button again. After that you can set the address and input of the bock.

During the game when the block becomes occupied, the signals will be set automatically. This way a signal can be set to red when a train passes it (using the next block after the signal).

Important notice: this automatic change happens only on the layout loaded currently. If you have a big layout and it is made in more layouts in DigiTrains and you want the automatic signal change to happen on all layouts in the current profile, then you need to set this option by pressing the top right “block” icon  in the header (highlighted with red rectangle).

If you enable the checkbox, then Digitrains will set signals belonging to occupied blocks on all of your layout in the current profile.

During thegame you can navigate to other menus. You can drive a train, Digitrains will take care of the signals in the background. 

Control your locomotives with Gamepad

Gamepad

You can control your locomotives with android compatible bluetooth gamepad as well. 

Connect your gamepad via Bluetooth to your device. Select a train in locomotive library and you are ready to use the gamepad for train control. Meanwhile you can also navigate to other menus to change turnouts or routes. If you press the driving wheel icon in Train Control menu you will get a special virtual driving cab similar to the one already available in Digitrains without the gamepad. There you will have all function buttons, direction knob, emergency stop button and speed display in km/h or mph. The program recognizes automatically if you have a gamepad connected or not and opens the proper virtual driving cab on the screen.

1.  Direction buttons:

a.    UP: increase speed with one speedstep

b.    DOWN: decrease speed with on speedstep

c.    RIGHT: forward

d.    LEFT: backward

2.  Left joystick: not used

3.  Right joystick

a.    Forward: accelerate

b.    Backward: decelerate

c.    Right: forward

d.    Left: backward

4.  F0

5.  F1

6.  F2

7.  F3

8.  F4

9.  not used

10. not used

11. F5

Other functions are available on the screen.

The gamepad you use must be a Bluetooth HID gamepad compatible with android. I use the MOGA PRO and MOGA HERO gamepads. It can be purchased on amazon.com. It also provides a universal phone holder and tablet holder. The PRO version is able to charge your phone while playing.

Video:

DigiTrains 2.7 on Play

DigiTrains 2.7 release notes

dispatcher game: automatic accessory change based on occupancy

There is a new function in dispatcher game. If a block becomes occupied specified accessories (signals) can be changed automatically by DigiTrains. This useful for example to change a signal to STOP if a train goes by. 

Locomotive control with gamepad

Locomotives can be controlled with android compatible bluetooth gamepads.

Dispatcher game advanced logic: protective turnout

Protective turnouts belonging to an active route cannot be changed until the route is released. 

New locomotive picture

This is a bug fix. When you created a new picture for a locomotive its old picture was caches in some menus and did not change until program restart. Now it will be refreshed immediately.

DigiTrains on JMRI webpage

I am proud to tell you, that DigiTrains is now presented also on JMRI webpage due to the lots of users who uses DigiTrains with JMRI to control their digital model railway layout.

www.jmri.org

Dispatcher game: how to use the layout editor video

DigiTrains 2.6 on Play

New features in DigiTrains 2.6:

Driving Cab

The Driving Cab can be opened by pressing the driving wheel button in Train Control menu.

If we have more than 6 functions, we can reach them by pressing F+.

The settings of the Driving Cab can be opened by pressing the DigiTrains icon.

You can select from 3-3 different accelerate and decelerate dynamic. These moving dynamic parameters can be different for each locomotive, depending on how fast it can accelerate or decelerate. Try out the different settings to find the one you like the most. The moving dynamic is affected by the CV3 and CV4 settings in the locomotive decoder. Settings them to 8 will be fine in most cases, but you can use them with different values, too. If you have sound decoder you may also want to set a startup delay, so the speed display will be in syncron with the locomotive movement. The speed display can be customized by touching the speed in Train Control menu (speed customization is not available from Driving Cab screen). See details in Speed Display section.

JMRI user names

JMRI user names are used instead of system names (if available).

Longer names available in lists

Longer locomotive and accessory names are displayed in lists.

New loco sounds

7 new US locomotive horn and 2 railroad crossing sound. Below video shows how to use the loco sounds:

The latest documentation on DigiTrains is always available on this link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By2pZ2n1CiqmYmF2MmRWTDJqX1E/view?usp=sharing

New feature in DigiTrains 2.6: Driving Cab

The biggest new feature in DigiTrains 2.6 is the virtual Driving Cab In-App Product. The graphics are based on a modern Stadler Flirt train. Check out the video here:

You can try it for free on your phones using JMRI, Z21 or DigiWifi with your model railroad layout.

You can open the Driving Cab by touching the "Driving wheel" icon on Train control screen:

Short description on how to use the driving cab:

To change accelerate and decelerate dynamic touch the DigiTrains icon:

Detailed description and Tips are available in the latest DigiTrains documentation:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By2pZ2n1CiqmYmF2MmRWTDJqX1E/view?usp=sharing

DigiTrains 2.5 available on Play

DigiTrains 2.5 release notes

Suggested steps to create your layout

1.    Put tracks and turnouts onto the gridview

2.    Add all your accessories in Accessory menu (turnouts, lights)

3.    Compare the turnout states in Accessories menu to the real layout. When your turnout is closed on your layout it must be also closed in DigiTrains. If not, long-touch the turnout and enable “Reverse accessory status” option.

4.    Match your accessories in the layout editor. Long-touch the grids where you have an accessory and select the desired accessory from the pupup menu.

5.    Now switch to command mode with the pencil icon (it must be white). Disable “Adv.” button (Advanced security logic). Touch the turnouts on the screen and compare them to the real layout. They must show the same. (For this the dispatcher game in-app product must be purchased)

6.    If any of the turnouts shows the opposite compared to the real state: long-touch the turnout in editor mode and select “Show cross part of turnout as  straight on layout”.

7.    When all of your turnouts are OK you can start to add routes. When you select a route in command mode, and not all of the turnouts are changing please check try to increase the switch delay parameter in Accessories menu for your turnouts. Long-touch the accessory in Accessories menu and type in 600 for “Switch delay”.

8.    When all of your routes are working fine, you can add block for occupancy feedback.

dispatcher game: new turnout configuration option

In layout editor the straight (Closed) state of a turnout is always the horizontal or vertical line of the turnout. Default the line in 45 degree is the curved (throwed) state. On the screenshot below you can see turnouts marked with red, where this logic is not good. On the real layout the straight state of the turnout must be shown with the 45 degree line, not the horizontal or vertical.

In this case the following must be done to achieve proper visual feedback of a turnout in layout editor and in Accessories menu as well:

Long-touch the turnout in layout editor to edit it and select “Show cross part of turnout as straight in layout”

Speed display: use current conversation bug fix

Bug fix for speed dislay when Use current is activated. Now you can change speedsteps even after selecting current speed and conversation is done automatically by DigiTrains.

Dispatcher game: adjustable grid size

Adjustable grid size in dispatcher game. 3 different size can be used depending on which is more comfortable to you. This way you can use it on your phone, tablet or even FullHD android miniPC.

Big grid:

Medium grid:

Small grid:

dispatcher game: optimized block occupancy feedback screen refresh

DigiTrains 2.4 available on Play

Version 2.4 release notes

Optimized tablet view in train control menu

Optimized resource management on tablets. Station speaker deprecated in tablet train control menu, which is more responsive now.

Modified protective turnout logic for routes in dispatcher game

Modified logic in dispatcher game when protective turnouts used in routes: route can be set now if a protective turnout of that route is occupied or selected for another parallel route but has the same status.

Video: how to use the real loco sounds in DigiTrains

Video: speed display (in km/h or mph) configuration

DigiTrains 2.3 available for download

DigiTrains 2.3 new features:

-Speed display in km/h or mph
-Search option in Train list, Accessories and Routes
-Locomotives can be assigned to groups
-New route building logic in dispatcher game

Details:

SPEED DISPLAY IN KM/H OR MPH

The speed of a train can be displayed in speedsteps, in km/h or in mph. To configure the speed display press the speed on Train control menu.

You have four possible choices:

1.   Show speedstep:No speed conversation. Just show the actual speed step.

2.   Automatic: Using a default conversation from speed steps which fits for most of the models. For more accurate speed display please select one of the other options.

3.   Use current speed: start your locomotive and increase the speed until you estimate it goes with 40 km/h (or 25 mph). Then come into this menu and press the tick to match 40 km/h (or 25 mph) for your current speed step. For more accurate speed display please select one of the other options.

4.   Calculate: Measure and select one meter (100cm) on your track (1 meter equals 1.1 yard, which is 1 yard and 1 span approx.). Accelerate your train outside of the selected block to 50% of the speed (to speed 7 in 14 speedstep mode, to speed 14 in 28 speedstep mode, to speed 63 in 128 speedstep mode). Keep this speed and with a stopper measure how much time (in seconds) it takes for the train to go along the 1 meter selected track. Type in the measured time into the editbox below. For more accurate speed display please select longer track. For example you can select 5 meters and measure the time on this longer block. At the end please devide the outcome with 5 (if you used 5 meters). You may also measure the time several times and count average.

Furthermore you can choose the unit of the speed: km/h or mph. These parameters can be set individually for each locomotive. The above mentioned speed display works properly in case of using linear speed settings in locomotive CVs. 

SEARCH OPTION IN LISTS

There is a search icon in bottom of the Train list, Accessories and Routes menu. You can filter the list for names or address based on the sort type.

Type in the address or name what you search for. The program will search for names or addresses contains your string. In case of Train list you can filter for groups or moving locomotives, too.

It shows the filtered list in case of any result.

NEW ROUTE BUILDING LOGIC IN DISPATCHER GAME

1.    Turnouts are changed first.

2.   Route path is colored to green on layout editor screen.

3.    Signal belonging to route change to green (free to go).

LOCOMOTIVE GROUPS:

You can assign your locomotives to groups. With this you can filter the train list. In case of adding a new locomotive or changing it there is a button “Add to group”. By pressing this button you can add it to an existing or new group. If you do not select a group it will be assigned automatically to group “All”.

The locomotives downloaded from JMRI will be assigned to the JMRI group if exists. In DigiTrains one train can only belong to one group, so if it is assigned to more groups in JMRI in DigiTrains it will be only showed in the first group.

Module layout for testing DigiTrains

In the last year I not only developed DigiTrains but also created a modular layout to play and for test DigiTrains. The modules are stored in the basement and put together in my living-room for a day in every month. The assemble and disassemble time is approximately 90-90 minutes. 6 person can play at the same time, 2 dispatchers using tablets and 4 engine drivers. Of course we play with DigiTrains, so I can also test the new features.

Full album can be viewed here...