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.

DigiTrains 1.9 on Play

Today I updated DigiTrains app on Google Play. Release notes:

-Roco Z21 compatibility
-Loconet compatibility with Uhlenbrock 63840 Maus-Adapter
-Emergency stop only the controlled locomotive
-Block occupancy feedback display on layout for dispatchers
-Security logic for dispatcher game
-Bug fix in station speaker announcements
-Double Header - control of two locomotives with one command even if the command station do not support it

Before any update I always test a lot. Not only the functions, but I also test the app on different screen sizes and android versions. If you experience any issue when using the app please let me know on this e-mail: digitrains@digitools.hu . This way I can fix the problems if any.

If you already downloaded the app please rate it on Google Play. Thanks.

TEMOFESZT 2014 Model Railroad Exhibition

Last weekend we were on the biggest Central-European model railroad exhibition in Hungary, the TEMOFESZT 2014. Digitools exhibited a big digital layout controlled by DigiTrains.

There were 2 stations controlled by two dispatchers with 2 10" tablet running DigiTrains android application on it:
- showing occupied blocks
- route control
- security logic: no route crossings, no route to occupied blocks
- station speake announcements

The block occupancy feedback works currently with Roco Z21 command station and Roco 10787 feedback module OR with Digitools's DigiWifi and DigiSense boards.

The new DigiTrains 1.9 will be availabe soon for download from Google Play. Follow us here on the blog or on our Facebook or Google+ page. You can find more pictures about the exhibition on on Facebook and Google+.

Track occupancy feedback short demo

The next big step in the DigiTrains development is the track occupancy feedback. This new feautre can be used for those who bought the Dispatcher game In-App product in DigiTrains and use the layout editor menu.

So far in this editor you could create your unique layout and set routes between start- and endpoints. With the two-touch route selection you are able to change group of accessories with one command and see the green path on your layout which is given to your train.

On the below picture you can see that platfrom 3 and 4 is occupied (red). I gave route from the right side to platform 5 (green). At this point all 5 turnouts and one light signal is switched automatically.

With this new development you will be able to see the occupied blocks in red color. The testing of the program is still underway and will debut on the biggest Hungarian exhibition 2 weeks later on TEMOFESZT. In the next weeks I will share more video on how it is working and how you can create layouts to use this feature. Now you can check this short demo video showing this new feature on a simple station: block occupancy demo video .

DigiTrains - Loconet compatibility development

I had the possibility to make test with an Intellibox recently. This command station uses Loconet protocol. As you may know DigiWifi uses XPressNet protocol, so for long time I was thinking how we can be compatible with Loconet. In the last two weeks I worked on this solution.

I decided to solve this issue with an Uhlebrock 63840 Maus-Adapter, which actually converts XPressNet siganals to Loconet.

I realized that this adapter has some differencies in the usual XPressNet protocol, so I needed to change the software in DigiWifi and also in DigiTrains. The now Loconet compatibility feautre will be available soon in DigiTrains 1.9 and in DigiWifi 2.1. With this you can use the dispatcher game even with a Loconet command station. See this short video made during my tests this weekend.

To use this feature you need to enable Loconet Maus-Adapter feautre in DigiTrains. DigiTrains will tell to DigiWifi to use Uhlenbrock 63840 Maus-Adapter compatible communication. This adapter can be used with Uhlenbrock command stations: DAISY, Intellibox, Twincenter and other Loconet command stations.
Despite the fact that this adapter supports only 3 MultiMauses, since DigiWifi behaves like only one MultiMuas you can use as many android device as many you like.

I plan to test it also on a  Fremo event in the near feature, with an addon which makes DigiTrains similar to a FRED. That means you will be only able to control one locomotive. This locomotive can be only changed with a DigiWifi adminstrator password.

Differences in DigiTrains when use it in Loconet compatibility mode:

·        -No locomotive information queries

·        -No accessory information queries

·        -CV programming not available (CV can be programmed only on Command Station)

DigiTrains 1.8 update on Play

I updated DigiTrains today on Play. You find the following new functions in it:

New accessory icons (the bottom row).

You can change the name and address of locomotives, accessories and routes.

In Profiles menu you will see the active profile. You also have the possibility to load an empty profile at any time to start from scratch.

New track elements in dispatcher game layout editor menu. Now you can make crossings.

New layout design in Train control menu for tablets. you can control two locomotives at the same time. On the right panel you can slide between the quick-list locomotives. In the middle panel you can choose what to see: accessories, routes or station speaker.

Brand new design in the whole app.

Animated video test

I saw a cool animated video yesterday evening, and I got the feeling to make one about DigiTrains. I played with it for 3 hours. Maybe I will do more in the future, since I like these kind of videos. Watch it fullscreen, it is better like that.

Click here to watch it

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.

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:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG252OBEeuI

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

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.

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.

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.

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):

Detailed information