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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : High speed pulse trains
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phil99 Guru  Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 3156 |
The HC595 example was just to show how the 44.1kHz carrier can be removed from PLAY LOAD SOUND which would be generating the DCC data. As there is a H-bridge driver between it and the track it is isolated from glitches coming back. The DCC data is also the power source for the motors and lights etc. Edit. From what I have read reading from the locomotives is usually only done as part of programming them. Programming is normally done on short piece of track connected to a programmer, so could be a separate project. The recent Silicon Chip DCC Base Station is an all-in-one unit. The DCC Base Station software package .zip file is 6.2MB so it would appear DCC can be quite complex. Edited 2026-03-20 21:58 by phil99 |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3742 |
Thanks for the PIO code and other suggestions. Given my limited skill set in this category, having a second PicoMite doing the actual transmissions using DEVICE BITSTREAM sounds like the easier path. PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on FOTS |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 5859 |
Hi lizby, Since your project core is about railroad automation, oppose of developing hardware, you might be served by using DCC++ (is on Github). This is based on Arduino hardware, with an Arduino motor shield, and proven API using USB com port (or UART at Arduino D0/D1 pins). Many model railroaders use this hardware, sometimes with additional boosters. Once your "control station" is working, you can add (as a second project) the pico based DCC controller to your project ... phase 2. Those are my 50 cents. Step by step. Volhout P.S. I am not sure device bitstream will do what you want. Yes, it will generate a bitstream, but how to manipulate adding/replacing messages to get a sensible carousel may be complex. not all message have the same length. In essence you may have the create each carousel round dynamically. Edited 2026-03-24 22:31 by Volhout PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 5859 |
lizby, how hard can it be Volhout PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8769 |
It says "Arduino". The kiss of death. At least there's a circuit diagram in the (Japanese) manual though. :) Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3742 |
Thanks for thoughts. Struggling with tools now. Gemini essentially failed for a week. I've got a local mini-PC running Claude Code headlessly from my laptop. It's done impressive analysis of the code, but I haven't yet started actually coding with it--correcting issues its analysis found. Today, I hope. PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on FOTS |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 5859 |
Mick, Fact is there is 20 years of coding available, and experienced people have squeezed the guts out of this Tiny chip. Some projects are not easily replaced by something of similar quality. And the only thing you need to do is install the toolchain, the needed libs, press compile and program. And when you succeed you have something you and I could not ever make (or would struggle with for months) Volhout PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 5859 |
Mick, Fact is there is 20 years of coding available, and experienced people have squeezed the guts out of this Tiny chip. Some projects are not easily replaced by something of similar quality. And the only thing you need to do is install the toolchain, the needed libs, press compile and program. And when you succeed you have something you and I could not ever make (or would struggle with for months) Volhout PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8769 |
Oh yeah, I'm not disagreeing. But I think my views on the Arduino IDE are pretty well known on here now. :) Little computers, particularly low power fanless ones, are not good with compilers, especially very large, clunky ones. It took me ages to finally get that IDE off my system so that I could have some drive space back. It's no joke when C:/ is less than 60MB usable and the installer gives you no choice. I only loaded it so that I could use it with an ESP32 - a task that wasn't worth the effort as it failed miserably - and an Arduino Nano that let me install the flasher but then wouldn't let me modify the sketch and load the new version, even though it compiled ok. I see now that you are supposed to get the zip version if you want the IDE on any drive other than C:/, but of course no-one tells you that. I only found out from a forum (after deleting the lot). Even then it creates directories on C:/ that it doesn't clean up properly after use. There are better things to do in life. Like watching repeats of adverts on the telly. :( Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| PhenixRising Guru Joined: 07/11/2023 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1849 |
Well if we are suggesting other processors, the Propeller simply cannot be beat for this sort of thing and no messing with interrupts. FlexBasic is like using MMBasic but compiled and the supplied IDE is super lightweight. Perfect timing with zero latency or jitter. Propeller Flip Module:  FlexBasic is part of the FlexProp suite PDF manual is in the zip file. |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 5859 |
Hi Phenix, You are not getting the point. The propeller is a super chip (so is an Interl i7), but is there a proven DCC binary for it that has been tested, is compatible with minimal 4 automation suites, and is used in practise by hundreds of people. This is not about the hardware. This is about providing lizby with a proven implementation, like a coffee machine, dish washer or automobile. Volhout PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3742 |
The proven implementation is terrific, thanks, but if I get that far, I'll probably first ask Claude if it can be implemented in MMBasic. Home port for me, as it were (I have nothing against Arduino, but if the functionality could be achieved in MMBasic, that would be preferable to me--and would further show off the amazing ability of MMBasic on the Pico2). PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on FOTS |
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| PhenixRising Guru Joined: 07/11/2023 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1849 |
Well it has only been available for 13 years But not sure of the spec. |
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