This week started out on the Pi front (how odd!) trying to sort out the previously mentioned problem. After a number of nights trolling through the online forums I couldn't lock down an obvious answer. So Thursday night I loaded the SD card with the previous distro on it to compare the configuration files with those on the latest distro version. The only thing I could find that was different was a commented out line in the earlier version of the interfaces config file which shouldn't have really mattered. But when I replicated it on the latest version, it made the Pi broadcast its IP address automatically rather than having to manually bring the interface up. Go figure!
So happy with the draft howto document, I have uploaded it to the JMRI Yahoo forum for review and comment. I already have some replies which is great to see.
To prove that it does work, I hooked it up to Illavearf this afternoon and ran some railmotors via smartphone! I even went outside of the shed to see the distance the signal would go. About 10 meters but this was through the metal of the shed. Good for my purposes.
I also ordered some OO scale locos from the UK last night. Both fairly unique therefore they interested me. A BR Sentinel steam shunter and a stock standard BR Class 08 but black with wasp stripes which was quite rare. I've been looking for some shunters for Illavearf and these will do.
So this week I'll probably look at starting the NSWGR 73 class decoder conversions, or at least plan it as I reckon it might be a tad fiddly!
Since the last post I have been progressing through the Pi build document slower than expected as I have been running into some problems which I think are possibly to do with the latest version of the Raspbian distro but I can't be 100% positive on that just yet. The basic functionality is there. JMRI installs fine. Just a problem with the program that runs the Access Point functionality. Just researching possible causes and corrective actions and trying them out each night when I have some free time. Last night I decided that I wasn't getting to far with answers, so I might go back a distro version and do some comparisons with that one.
The Zimo sound decoder and 'cube' speaker arrived on Monday so now I can progress that little project when I get a chance.
That's it for this week. More Pi to come!
This week the Pi took a backseat due to home networking problems. Hopefully this week I can progress the finalisation of the Howto document.
So with the downtime on the Pi I started researching decoder options for the Auscision 73 class. I started with Mr Mackie's instructions, then looked at a Youtube video of a Loksound install. I then stumbled on the Zimo MX645 sound decoder out of Austria. It has the ability to operate 10 output functions along with sound. The default sound project is a number of steam profiles and one diesel, based on a German V12 diesel hydraulic engine. As the 73 was a V8 DH and there is no exact recording of the Cat D379 engine, it's probably as good as you will get without being a rivet counter (which I am not). Also the mini 8x12x8mm speaker is supposedly very good for its size. With the dimensions being slightly smaller than the Loksound decoder and standard oval speaker, I am hoping I can position it without too much internal modifications. And they are reasonably priced from Orient Express models in South Oz. So I think I will go down this path and give it a go. The mods to the light boards' SMD LEDs are supposedly a right royal mongrel due to their size, but lets give it a go!
Other than the abovem I've been thinking of how I want to proceed with the rejigging of Illavearf's control. I'll keep the points DCC controlled, but have the accessories MERG controlled. But the big decision will be whether to have two small or one big mimic panel/s for standalone operation, or utilise the Pi's JMRI install and setup PanelPro on a computer terminal. Decisions, decisions!
So this week as mentioned will be hopefully documenting the Pi install, ordering the Zimo decoder and speaker, and pondering the panel issue.
This week has been a bit of a mixed bag. At night usually for an hour before Le Tour coverage begins, I have been sanity checking my How to document against a new SD card install for the Pi and finding some improvements along the way as well as some troublesome issues. One of these being the Ethernet connection to the PC. I think I might have to try and see of via the laptop is any better or a problem with the Pi distro.
Monday I was walking past Aurora Trains in town during lunch not expecting them to be open on Monday, when they were. Stocktaking but also allowing sales. As I wasn't expecting to be in town most of the week, I purchased a couple of Bachmann 00 scale wagons for the sons to give me as birthday presents for me this weekend. I also couldn't go past a SDS Models HO scale 10000 gallon Tulloch (NSW) fuel tanker in Golden Fleece livery. 1960s era but looks really nice. I showed PK and he was impressed so much he purchased the Total fuel livery version on Friday!
The Auscision 73 class arrived on Monday as well. Now researching the various options for chipping it (motor only or sound, not sure as yet!)
Saturday was a running arvo at Mr Mackie's. Enjoyable but a few hiccups as usual.
Today was my birthday so I spent the majority of the day up at the In-laws for a BBQ lunch and drinkies. Damn my father-in-law and his very drinkable scotch whiskey (Glenlivet)! It was so very smooth! (I don't think the nip sizes were standard size!).
This week I hope to sort out the issue with the Pi so I can move along with this. More watching Le Tour and playing a little game I do called 'spot the train'. So far a high speed intercity, a regional passenger, and a freight train pulled by electric engine.
A couple of weeks ago I spent 4 days/3 nights in the hospital with my youngest son, so nothing got done that week as all my stuff was at home. Last week was a little more productive. I trudged on with my Pi Howto document and just about there. I was having a problem with it recognising the NCE SB3a and not running in 'faceless mode'. After some nights research I found the answers. Thanks to Mark Gurries' website I found out that re the SB3a, JMRI doesn't recognise it in its configuration settings, even though it is in there. Apparently you have to "lie" to JMRI and set it up as a Powercab and it works fine. As for the 'faceless mode' I had been using DecoderPro3 to set the configuration settings under this misguided notion that being '3' it must be a better version compared to just 'Pro'. If I understand the forum correctly, apparently '3' is actually a cutdown version specific for decoder settings etc, not the full shebang! So I reconfigured the settings using just DecoderPro to mainly start the WiThrottle server upon startup. Copied its configuration file to the faceless mode configuration file. Made an entry in the start up script. Disconnected the terminal. Rebooted. Waited for a couple of minutes and voila my smartphone's Engine Driver app picked up the WiThrottle address and port and was able to connect. Brilliant. So now just to update the doco and I do a run through to make sure no problems. Then I might approach one or two guys from the forums to test and provide feedback before I release to the general public. Nearly there!
I also took the plunge and ordered an Auscision NSGR 73 Class, 7309, reverse Tuscan shunter. I couldn't get the one I really wanted ('Dubbo') as it was sold out. So I will take modeller's license and say 7309 has been posted to the western line on loan from Eveleigh Yard for some reason or other!
Saturday is a running day at Mr Mackie's so that will be a good arvo.
The Tour de France has started again so that will be distracting me for the next few weeks.
Sorry I missed updating the blog last week. Busy with the Pi.
Yes I think I am just about ready to release my instructions. I will be attempting another run through of the instructions, and might even see if anyone on the forums is prepared to do a run through as well. I am pretty happy with what I have done so far. There is a bit of discussion on this topic on the JMRI forum, but I guess there is more than one solution to the problem, so maybe mine will be just another one to be considered?
On the weekend of the Queen's Birthday Long Weekend in Queensland (and most of Oz except for WA) my club, RMCQ, celebrated our 40th anniversary. Go along to www.rmcq.org.au and click on the 40th Anniversary link. I also took possession of some newzed (newly used) railmotors that my mate PK was wanting to offload. Both NSWGR. First there was the CPH/CTH railmotor in green and cream livery. The second was a 620/720 railmotor in reverse Tuscan red. Both with DCC, sound and weathered. Very good, hardly used, and the price was great!
While I have been concentrating on the Pi, my hobby desk had been progressively getting buried with junk that I had just thrown there for later filing, storing, etc. The long weekend had been mostly wet, so I took the opportunity to do a big clean up of the study/hobby room so now I can actually use the hobby desk to start modelling again. The Club Xmas Modelling Competition is on in December which isn't that far away in the scheme of things!
So this week I will concentrate on the Pi and JMRI setup howto run through and iron out any issues as I would like to finalise this sometime soon.
Well since my last written post I've been tinkering away with the Pi and getting answers from the Forums for some questions I needed sorting out. So in the last couple of weeks I've basically been able to get the Pi to a state of readiness. I had answers provided to me about the persistent device names which would come in handy for situations where more than one system may be connected to the Pi. Fairly simple once explained! Secondly I was able to get a very simple answer as to how to pass these device names to JMRI so that they would be in the drop down list in the Preferences section. And yesterday I had a afternoon pass-out from the missus and I was able to go over to Mr Mackie's for what the missus said was a 'play date'. I've been interested to see how the Pi would go connecting to a NCE 5A Command Station which by default comes with a serial interface rather than USB. Craig had a Serial to USB cable, so at least I would have connectivity but how would the Pi go with interfacing to the new device. I was thinking I might have to look for Linux drivers, etc, but as it happened, the Pi immediately recognises the connection without drivers and assigned /dev/ttyUSB0 to the device. I then fired up JMRI, re-jigged the NCE Preference to Serial connection and /dev/ttyUSB0 and voila we had layout interfacing going. I was able to control one of Craig's trains no problems. I then restarted the system with the wifi Access Point dongle connected and got JMRI's WiThrottle going. Out came the smartphone and was similarly able to connect to the layout and control an engine.
One thing I will have to investigate is with the Android Engine Driver app I had the speed up to '28' and the engine was just moving. There was another setting to do with max throttle something or other which was set to 25%. I am wondering whether this reduces the '28' setting to 25% or say '7'. Not sure so will enquire online further. One interesting thing we saw was that both the JMRI throttle and the smartphone throttle reflected each other when both were set to the same engine number. So when one's speed increased it was mirrored on the other. Amazing!
So basically the Pi is set to go if I don't want to look at further interconnectivity with say MERG. But I do, so will potter around further. However I will write up my How To, repeat the install instructions to make sure this is OK, and once satisfied will publish them. I might also offer a Pi Setup Service!
On a side not, I also installed Putty and VNC Viewer on the laptop so that I can remotely connect to the Pi and reduce the need for keyboard, mouse and monitor connectivity when in the future the Pi becomes a standalone device providing whatever interconnectivity between the various layout systems I come up with.
One of these days I'll get back to the modelling!
