I 3D PRinted a case for the DCC++ station. Made it a lot more secure, neater and safer than just stressing the Arduino board with screws pulling it onto bare wood.. It also allowed me to put a little display on the top for troubleshooting / monitoring purposes :)
Thank you for this! I really like your videos. I really appreciate the way you don't assume people should know something already, and you present it without talking down to people. I tried building an N-scale layout several years ago, but I got in over my head and lost interest. Now I am just watching and learning, trying to build up my knowledge and skills for the time when I am ready to try it again. I'm a techie myself, so I will probably go DCC with a lot of the homebuilt and programmed solutions you discuss.
I am with you Patrick, i got in over my head and lost interest, now i decided to do a 4x4 foot N scale with just 2 running lines and concentrating more on scenery this time around. Simple sometimes is better.
This MRR One series has been very helpful and inspirational. I'm going to try something similar soon as soon as I work out the track arrangement... i will likely use either my Power Cab and a Wifitrax panel, or the 5A wifitrax system. Cheers
If you want to update any of your references to DCC++, I am happy to help. The newer DCC++ EX version no longer needs jumpers, has separate power control, works directly with our WebThrottle-EX or Engine Driver (or any WiThrottle CAB) with no need for JMRI and quite few more improvements, especially with regard to current sense and CV programming.
I'm new to the hobby and would like to built this layout. Do you have any resources that you would recommend to understand the newest/best DCC devices and software?
To weigh my track down while drying, I use the "soup train" express method. I just got to the cupboard and get a bunch of tins and lay them on their sides along the top of the track. Just don't do what I've done and realize that some of my tins are years past their "best before" date. :)
Jimmy, Excellent video, just wanted to make a comment on the DCC++ part. There is new software for DCC++ witch you can use. You can find it on place called dcc++-ex.com, the group have rewrote the software, it will work on Uno or mega, but they perfer a mega, cause you can add wi-fi so you can use your phone on tablet to run your trains. The nice thing about it, if you set up your aurdino mega with the motor board, and a Wi-Fi unit. Or just the motor module. You can loaded it with the automatic loader, it works with Windows 10 and versions of Linux. And the nice thing is you don't need jumpers. I have a basic one set up on a Arduino Mega 2560 and it works really nice. I don't have a WI-FI board. I use JMRI to connevct to the Arduino. If you have a chance take a look at it..
Looking to do simple 1950s hobby .... End up doing 2022 MIT level electronics and software .... And it's supposed to be a " relaxing " hobby. Yeeaahh....
Jimmy theres a great source for dcc approved feeder hub I did a install video on there feeder hub witch has 8 pc board mount terminal blocks for feeders plus buss wires for further expansion
Hi Jimmy! I'm starting my first N gauge layout so I'm finding this series very useful- thanks. Can you tell me please, you mentioned the feeders, which I assume bring power to different areas but how many feeders are needed and how far apart? Do I need one for each track join? How do I define a "Section"? Sorry for the complete newby questions, but that's exactly what I am ;)
Looking at this setup again and I know you use the DCC++ system you did before but they came out with DCC-EX shortly after. Are you powering the Arduino through the USB for the Raspberry Pi? Looks like the motor shield is powered by the 12V/2A power supply and the RPi by whatever came with it?
Excellent tutorial. I have to admit that I am totally confused. I guess I need to do a ton of research to get my layout started. I am going with N scale. 🧐
I have one question jimmy, are you able to control the turnouts with the phone? If it were possible i wish you would demonstrate. I already run DCC with the NCE POWER PRO, but would love to be able to control the turnouts digitally. Great video by the way. Ordering that bus now.
Everything makes sense now! Thanks! Now I’ll be able to run my n scale big boy at home! Yay! Just one question, is their a way to dual wire for DC and DCC?
Might be your best video yet. Saying a lot since you have some quality stuff for us new to the hobby. Especially nice run through on how to setup a RPi. I've gotten pretty well versed in RPi stuff for different purposes and your walkthrough is among the best for the uninitiated. I assume the JMRI details will be just as useful but I am waiting on that for now, one thing at a time.
Thank you Jimmy for this segment I just watched. Your stuff is great, you explain it very well in the 3 tutorials I have watched so far including the first segment. I will be doing DCC so learning that it's not as hard as some make it sound is a relief. It makes me want to do it like you did on the cheap end getting a better result than just buying something for like 200+$'s. I hope in the future segments moving forward from here there is on on installing a sound system and also installing DCC into the locomotives. I have new ones with DCC already installed. And I have some older 70's early 80's East Broad Top Railroad steam locomotives that I want to have DCC in. Would love to be able to talk to you sometime.
Kinda curious about your choice of which color wire to which rail. You mentioned that you may want to expand this, so is there a standard you used for this choice? Since it looks to be a table top layout, why not use T-Trak standard so you can expand it with it?
Liked the idea of a tutorial for beginners, until you got to all that dcc and pi stuff, it’s a bit much for someone who has not done any layout before. Can it be done using dc? I’ve seen switches on other videos. Wish the tutorial showed both methods, it’s too soon for me to try dcc
Great video. Shame that all linked stuff to Amazon is "currently unavailable", I know you probably link to Amazon for affiliate links but I'm sure you could team up with a reliable hobby store which would have items in stock (Amazon pricing varies a LOT and often ends up much more expensive as individuals can list their own pricing). Getting into this hobby, I'm finding that 95% of the stuff recommended on videos (including tracks) is back ordered or plainly out of stock..
@@DIYDigitalRailroad been reading a lot and trouble finding items seems rampant, every year from 2013 onwards! Even worse for Canadians... That's me, getting in obscure hobbies :p I wanna help keep it alive, your videos are contributing to that thanks! For a beginner, I'm veering towards Kato unitrack, seems that at least availability is slightly better (compared to code 80 and 55 from atlas or micro engineering).
Hey Tony! All you have to do is rather than hooking up the wires to the DCC++ Base station, you run them to the digitrax system. I assume its a zephyr?
@@DIYDigitalRailroad Many thanks and thanks for the video. Once this part arrives I am going to be ready to wire up my DCC which i have been afraid to till now. I need to find something similar for my Garden train as well now as I assume I can apply the same concept to a DC layout
