Monday, September 29, 2014

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 .


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

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)