Showing posts with label jmri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jmri. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

DigiTrains 3.2 available on Play

Show the status of next signal

If you use multi-color signals which are able to show the status of next signal, you can use them in DigiTrains. To enable the use of this function first enable it in Dispatcher settings menu which can be opened on the top right menu bar.



Enable the “Enable to add start and end signals for routes in layout editor” setting.



After that, create a new route or edit one (as it is written above in Dispatcher game section). Now after the step where you select your route press save button and you will be asked to select the start signal for the route. After that you will be asked to select the end signal for the route. Then press save to submit your settings. During the process you can quit by pressing the back button above the layout. For start signal only multi-color signal can be chosen.
During dispatcher game DigiTrains will set start signals automatically based on the status of end signals:
·         if you change the status of a signal, which the end signal of an active route, then the start signal will be changed automatically based on the value of end signal (end signal address+0 and address+1 will be set to start signal address+2 and address+3)
·         if you select a route, then the selected route start signal value will be changed based on the end signal (end signal address+0 and address+1 will be set to start signal address+2 and address+3)


For Start signal you need to configure a multi-color signal. A multi-color signal reserves 4 addresses. The base address + 3. Be aware of this when add other accessories, not to use these virtual addresses.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

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.

Friday, August 14, 2015

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.

Monday, December 15, 2014

DigiTrains 2.2 on Play

Several new functions in DigiTrains latest version. It is available now on Google Play.


Release notes:

-Train control screen will return to the same train from the quick-list if you navigate to another window.

-Control your locomotive with volume buttons in train control menu. No need to watch the screen.


-12 new function icon for your locomotives:





-New In-App Product: Loco Sounds: 
If you do not have sound decoder for a locomotive, with this solution you will be able to play certain sounds on your phone or tablet speaker. More than 25 different sounds, like horns, whistles, door sounds, etc.



-If you use a black Z21, and beside the smartphones you also use Freds to control locomotives, sometimes you need to change the loco address in Freds. If you use DigiTrains you can change address in a Fred from DigiTrains Settings / Dispatch address menu.



-Optimized usage of background pictures to avoid app crash because of out of memory error on certain devices. This error usually happened on Samsung devices, where the Samsung Android OS handles the memory on a different way compared to simple Google Android OS.

-When DigiTrains used with JMRI, there was a bug in showing the locomotive pictures which have a space in their name (Roster ID). This bug has been fixed.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

DigiTrains - JMRI quick start videos

I created two videos today to show how easy is to use DigiTrains with JMRI.


 It is also useful for not JMRI users, the main difference is what you select after startup in Connections menu. Of course not JMRI users (Z21, DigiWifi) must add trains, accessories by themself and create routes and layouts as well.


Monday, November 24, 2014

DigiTrains 2.1 on Google Play

I updated today the app on Play. New features:

1. JMRI compatibility




2. New sound in Station Speaker
3. Application error report in e-mail



Monday, October 20, 2014

Double Header native support in DigiTrains

Double Header

One of the new functions in DigiTrains 1.9 is a native double header support which is currently uniqe among the apps for model railroading.




Double Header means the two locomotives are connected to a train. This can be only achived in model railroading if you have a command station which supports it (for example Lenz) or you set both locomotives to the same dcc address.  



DigiTrains provides a checkbox in Double Header menu where you can enable or disable the native double header operation. 


If you command station do not support double header, and you enable native operation, DigiTrains will send speed commands for both locomotives matched together in Double Header menu, no matter which one we control from Train control menu. The direction and functions can be still adjusted individually. This way you can connect one train to the other on the layout moving them separately, then just put a tick to enable double header and then move them in syncron. Of course the parameters of the locomotives should be set before to match the speeds at similar speedsteps. 



So from now you can even use the function even if you use Roco 10764 + MultiMuas or Z21 as command station.

How to use Double Header in DigiTrains: 
1. Select a loco in train library
2. Enter into Train settings menu (tools icon next to loco thumbnail)
3. Select Double Header menu
4. Set if you command station supports double header or not
5. Select which train to match to the current one
6. Go back to train control menu and set speed. Both locomotive will move.

To disable double header repeat steps 1-4. Touch the locomotive in the list which has a tick on its picture. That is the actually matched locomotive to the double header. This will disable double header.

Monday, July 7, 2014

DigiWifi 2.0

DigiWifi can be purchased in shops or on www.digitools.hu for 6 month now. It is used by individuals and some clubs as well. We got several feedbacks, and we made some changes based on them.

The new version is called DigiWifi 2.0 and it supports unlimited android device connections. So by purchasing one DigiWifi for the price approximately 260€ you can play with as many android handheld as many you have. So friends, kids from the neighbourhood can come and play on their phones. Knowing that one MultiMaus costs something like 140€, if you do not play alone then it worth to use DigiWifi and DigiTrains.

There are serveral new functions also in DigiTrains 1.7, for example the graphical route control module, called dispatcher.

Friday, May 30, 2014

DigiTrains used by Hungarian Model Railroad Clubs

In spring I played on several exhibitions with one of the Hungarian model railroad clubs called "Tram no. 1 Club". They have a Z21 command station, so we used the Z21 and DigiTrains application in parallel. Some of the visitors could also try it walking around the huge layout with their phone in their hands.

Since the Z21 command station has an XPressNet interface, we are able to connect the DigiWifi to it, just like connecting a MultiMaus. The two smartphone application (DigiTrains and Z21) can work at the same time without any problems, so everyone can decide which one to use. Several club members decided to use DigiTrains, since it has an additional functionality for Hungarian users, and this is the station speaker announcment. With this they can play announcments edited by them, choosing signals, track numbers, train types and so on. I am looking forward to make this module also for other langauges if somebody can provide me sound files and help to do it. If you can, please contact me.

Some picture and video from the exhibition:




Friday, December 6, 2013

DigiTrains can be downloaded from Google Play

Now the DigiWifi is in stores in Hungary in shops Vasútmodell-centrum and Modell & Hobby. DigiTrains can be downloaded from Google Play.


DigiTrains

Thursday, November 7, 2013

TEMOFESZT - the first serious test on an exhibition

After 6 month of development we have the first test release of the application, called DigiTrains.

Locomotive library:

Accessories:
Locomotive control:


Furthermore the XPressNet - WiFi adapter is also ready, called DigiWifi. I think it has a nice and professional housing.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

DigiTools

In February, 2014 Tamás from Digitools contacted me. He liked the application and we decided to work together. Digitools is a Hungarian company developing and manufacturing electronics for model railroading.

The plans was to enhance the functionality of the app and to change the design a bit using colors of Digitools. Furthermore instead of using the PIC 32 Starter kit we made a more complicated circuit with WiFi module and XPressNet communication. So there is no need to use a WiFi router if you use DigiWifi, it creates its own WiFi network. Also with the XPressNet connector it is compatible with the most command stations already used by modelers.



Monday, January 7, 2013

Command Station

Of course I needed a circuit which communicated with the TrainDcc application running on the android devices and generated the dcc signals for the booster. I used a PIC 32 Starter kit (from Microchip) and I wrote a program which generated the dcc signals based on the commands get from LAN. The router made my LAN connection to wireless and the android devices were connected to it.

Here is a shematic how it worked.



Monday, December 17, 2012

TrainsDcc

TrainsDcc...that's how it started. I decided to write an android application to my Sasmsung Galaxy Ace phone to be able control my modell railroad layout. This happened in autumn, 2012.

This time I was already finished my first dcc decoder and house-made booster. I also made a handheld, similar to a MultiMaus. It was made from a counter machine, actually. To be honest, I did not like to control the layout using the lot of buttons and the small 2 row LCD display. It was hard to switch the turnouts, and control 2-3 locomotives at the same time. It took too much time to change always the addresses of locos and accessories to control them. I also tried a MultiMaus after that, but actually I felt the same. Also the CV programming was quite complicated. So I decided to create to myself an easy-to-use user friendly application to my touchscreen phone.

I did not want to use a PC for that, because a PC is more expensive than a phone, it consumes much more power and usually it is noisy. Also I work on a PC every day, and I do not want to use one when I play. Other thing compared to a PC is that with my phone I can control the layout by moving around it and using the WiFi of my device to communicate with the command station.

So I bought a book about Android and JAVA programming. After 3 month I had the first release of my application with the following functions: locomotive library, locomotive control (throttle) and CV programming. It looked like this:

Locomotive control screen:


I know it is not the most beautiful one, but it worked. Locomotive library (pictures made by the camera of the device from the application):