CommandStation-EX/Release_Notes/release_notes_v4.0.0.md

Version 4.0 Release Notes

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The DCC-EX Team is pleased to release CommandStation-EX-v4.0.0 as a Production Release. Release v4.0.0 is a Major release that adds significant new product design & Automation features and bug fixes. The team continues improving the architecture of DCC++EX to make it more flexible and optimizing the code so as to get more performance from the Arduino (and other) microprocessors. This release includes all of the Point Releases from v3.2.0 to v3.2.13.

Downloads (zip and tar.gz) below. These are named without version number in the folder name to make the Arduino IDE happy.

CommandStation-EX.zip CommandStation-EX.tar.gz

Known Issues

• Wi-Fi - Requires sending commands from a serial monitor if you want to switch between AP mode and STA station mode after initial setup
• Pololu Motor Shield - is supported with this release, but the user may have to adjust timings to enable programming mode due to limitation in its current sensing circuitry

All New Major DCC++EX 4.0.0 features

• New HAL Hardware Abstract Layer API that automatically detects and greatly simplifies interfacing to many predefined accessory boards for servos, signals & sensors and added I/O (digital and analog inputs and outputs, servos etc).
• HAL Support for;
  • MCP23008, MCP23017 and PCF9584 I2C GPIO Extender modules.
  • PCA9685 PWM (servo & signal) control modules.
  • Analogue inputs on Arduino pins and on ADS111x I2C modules.
  • MP3 sound playback via DFPlayer module.
  • HC-SR04 Ultrasonic range sensor module.
  • VL53L0X Laser range sensor module (Time-Of-Flight). and a new <D HAL SHOW> command to list the HAL devices attached to the command station

New Command Station Broadcast throttle logic

• Synchronizes multiple WiThrottles and PC based JMRI Throttles for direction, speed and F-key updates

New ‘Discovered Servers’ on WiFi Throttles

• WiThrottles now detect and display both DCC++EX Command Station name and JMRI WiThrottle Server Profile name in the WiFi Throttle Apps.

• Sample Engine Driver App Discovered Servers “DCC++EX” {Direct connect to the Command Station} “My JMRI Railroad” {JMRI connected via WiThrottle Server}

• Our New multicast Dynamic Network Server (mDNS) enhancement allows us to display the available WiFi server connections to a DCC++EX Command Station. Choosing one allows your WiThrottle App to connect to and load Server Rosters and function keys to your throttle from Either the DCC++EX Command Station Server Roster, Or from JMRI Engine Roster list.

New DCC++EX 4.0.0 with EX-RAIL Extended Railroad Automation Instruction Language

• Awesome, cleverly powerful yet simple user friendly scripting language for user built Automation & Routing scripts. You can control Engines, Sensors, Turnouts, Signals, Outputs and Accessories that are uploaded into the DCC++EX Command Station.

• EX-RAIL scripts are automatically displayed as Automation {Handoff} and Route {Set} buttons on supported WiFi Throttle Apps.

New EX-RAIL ‘Roster’ Feature

• List and store user defined engine roster & function keys inside the command station and automatically load them in WiFi Throttle Apps.
• When choosing “DCC++EX” from discovered servers an Engine Driver or WiThrottle is directly connected to the Command Station. The EX-RAIL ’ROSTER’ command allows all the engine numbers, names and function keys you’ve listed in your myAutomation.h file to automatically upload the Command Station's ‘Server Roster’ into your Engine Driver and WiThrottle Apps.

New JMRI 4.99.2 and above specific DCC++EX 4.0 features

• Enhanced JMRI DCC++ Tools Base Station pane for building and maintaining Sensor, Turnout and Output devices which can be manually entered into JMRI, or can automatically be populated from the DCC++EX Command Stations mySetup.h file into JMRI.

• JMRI may now have multiple serial connected DCC++EX Command Stations, and display and track separate "Send DCC++ Command" and "DCC++ Trafic" Monitors for each Command Station at the same time. This allows multiple simultaneous Command Stations running on one Instance of JMRI software. For example: Use an Uno DCC++EX DecodePro Programming Station {DCC++Prg} on a desktop programming track and a second Mega DCC++EX EX-RAIL Command Station for Operations {DCC++Ops} on the layout with an additional <JOINED> programming spur or siding track for acquiring an engine and ‘Drive Away’ onto the mainline (see the DriveAway feature for more information).

DCC++EX 4.0.0 additional product enhancements

• Additional Motor Shields and Motor Board {boosters) supported
• Additional Accessory boards supported for GPIO expansion, Sensors, Servos & Signals
• Additional diagnostic commands like ‘D ACK RETRY’ and ‘D EXRAIL ON’ events and ‘D HAL SHOW’ devices and ‘D SERVO’ positions and the ‘D RESET’ the command station while maintaining the serial connection with JMRI
• New EX-RAIL ’/’ slash command allows JMRI to directly communicate with EX-RAIL scripts
• Turnout class revised to expand turnout capabilities and allow turnout names/descriptors to display in WiThrottle Apps.
• Build turnouts through either or both mySetup.h and myAutomation.h files and have them automatically passed to and populate JMRI Turnout Tables
• Turnout names display in Engine Driver & WiThrottles
• Output class now allows ID > 255.
• Configuration options to globally flip polarity of DCC Accessory states when driven from command and <T> command.
• Increased use of display for showing loco decoder programming information.
• Can disable EEPROM memory code to allow room for DCC++EX 4.0 to fit on a Uno Command Station
• Can define border between long and short addresses
• Turnout and accessory states (thrown/closed = 0/1 or 1/0) can be set to match RCN-213
• Native non-blocking I2C drivers for AVR and Nano architectures (fallback to blocking Wire library for other platforms).
• EEPROM layout change - deletes EEPROM contents on first start following upgrade.

Bug Fixes

• One-off error in CIPSEND drop
• Compiles on Nano Every
• Diagnostic display of ack pulses >32ku
• Current read from wrong ADC during interrupt
• AT(+) Command Pass Through
• CiDAP WiFi Drop out and the WiThrottle F-key looping error corrected
• Common Fault Pin Error
• Uno Memory Utilization optimized

Summary of key features and/or bug fixes by Point Release

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.16

• Ignore CV1 bit 7 read if rejected by a non NMRA compliant decoder when identifying loco id

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.15

• Send function commands just once instead of repeating them 4 times

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.14

• Add feature to tolerate decoders that incorrectly have gaps in their ACK pulse
• Provide proper track power management when joining and unjoining tracks with <1 JOIN>

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.13

• Fix for CAB Functions greater than 127

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.12

• Fixed clear screen issue for nanoEvery and nanoWifi

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.11

• Reorganized files for support of 128 speed steps

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.10

• Added Support for the Teensy 3.2, 3.5, 3.6, 4.0 and 4.1 MCUs
• No functional change just changes to avoid complier warnings for Teensy/nanoEvery

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.9

• Rearranges serial newlines for the benefit of JMRI
• Major update for efficiencies in displays (LCD, OLED)
• Add I2C Support functions

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.8

• Wraps <* *> around DIAGS for the benefit of JMRI

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.7

• Implemented support for older 28 apeed step decoders - Option to turn on 28 step speed decoders in addition to 128. If set, all locos will use 28 steps.
• Improved overload messages with raw values (relative to offset)

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.6

• Prevent compiler warning about deprecated B constants
• Fix Bug that did not let us transmit 5 byte sized packets - 5 Byte commands like PoM (programming on main) were not being sent correctly
• Support for Huge function numbers (DCC BinaryStateControl) - Support Functions beyond F28
• <!> ESTOP all - New command to emergency stop all locos on the main track
• <- [cab]> estop and forget cab/all cabs - Stop and remove loco from the CS. Stops the repeating throttle messages
• <D RESET> command to reboot Arduino
• Automatic sensor offset detect
• Improved startup msgs from Motor Drivers (accuracy and auto sense factors)
• Drop post-write verify - No need to double check CV writes. Writes are now even faster.
• Allow current sense pin set to UNUSED_PIN - No need to ground an unused analog current pin. Produce startup warning and callback -2 for prog track cmds.

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.5

• Fix Fn Key startup with loco ID and fix state change for F16-28
• Removed ethernet mac config and made it automatic
• Show wifi ip and port on lcd
• Auto load config.example.h with warning
• Dropped example .ino files
• Corrected .ino comments
• Add Pololu fault pin handling
• Waveform speed/simplicity improvements
• Improved pin speed in waveform
• Portability to nanoEvery and UnoWifiRev2 CPUs
• Analog read speed improvements
• Drop need for DIO2 library
• Improved current check code
• Linear command
• Removed need for ArduinoTimers files
• Removed option to choose different timer
• Added EX-RAIL hooks for automation in future version
• Fixed Turnout list
• Allow command keywords in mixed case
• Dropped unused memstream
• PWM pin accuracy if requirements met

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.4

• "Drive-Away" Feature - added so that throttles like Engine Driver can allow a loco to be programmed on a usable, electrically isolated programming track and then drive off onto the main track
• WiFi Startup Fixes

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.3

• Command to write loco address and clear consist
• Command will allow for consist address
• Startup commands implemented

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.2:

• Create new output for current in mA for <c> command - New current response outputs current in mA, overlimit current, and maximum board capable current
• Simultaneously update JMRI to handle new current meter

Summary of the key new features added to CommandStation-EX V3.0.1:

• Add back fix for jitter
• Add Turnouts, Outputs and Sensors to <s> command output

CommandStation-EX V3.0.0:

Release v3.0.0 was a major rewrite if earlier versions of DCC++. The code base was re-architeced and core changes were made to the Waveform generator to reduce overhead and make better use of Arduino. Summary of the key new features added in Release v3.0.0 include:

• New USB Browser Based Throttle - WebThrottle-EX is a full front-end to controller to control the CS to run trains.
• WiFi Support - AP and station modes supported. Auto-detection of an ESP8266 WiFi module with AT firmware on a Mega's serial port. Connection to JMRI and WiThrottle clients.
• Withrottle Integrations - Act as a host for up to four WiThrottle clients concurrently.
• Add LCD/OLED support - OLED supported on Mega only
• Improved CV programming routines - checks for length of CV pulse, and breaks out of the wait state once it has received an ACK, now reading one CV per second.
• Improved current sensing - rewrote current sensing routines for safer operation. Current thresholds based on milliamps, not magic numbers
• Individual track power control - Ability to toggle power on either or both tracks, and to "JOIN" the tracks and make them output the same waveform for multiple power districts.
• Single or Dual-Pin PWM output - Allows control of H-bridges with PH/EN or dual PWM inputs
• New, simpler function command - <F> command allows setting functions based on their number, not based on a code as in <f>
• Function reminders - Function reminders are sent in addition to speed reminders
• Functions to F28 - All NMRA functions are now supported
• Filters and user functions - Ability to filter commands in the parser and execute custom code based on them. (ex: Redirect Turnout commands via NRF24)
• Diagnostic <D> commands - See documentation for a full list of new diagnostic commands
• Rewrote DCC++ Parser - more efficient operation, accepts multi-char input and uses less RAM
• Rewritten waveform generator - capable of using any pin for DCC waveform out, eliminating the need for jumpers
• Rewritten packet generator - Simplify and make smaller, remove idea of "registers" from original code
• Add free RAM messages - Free RAM messages are now printed whenever there is a decerase in available RAM
• Fix EEPROM bugs
• Number of locos discovery command - <#> command
• Support for more locomotives - 20 locomotives on an UNO and 50 an a Mega.
• Automatic slot management - slot variable in throttle/function commands are ignored and slot management is taken care of automatically. <-> and <- CAB> commands added to release locos from memory and stop packets to the track.

Key Contributors

Project Lead

• Fred Decker - Holly Springs, North Carolina, USA (FlightRisk)

CommandStation-EX Developers

• Chris Harlow - Bournemouth, UK (UKBloke)
• Harald Barth - Stockholm, Sweden (Haba)
• Neil McKechnie - Worcestershire, UK (NeilMck)
• Fred Decker - Holly Springs, North Carolina, USA (FlightRisk)
• Dave Cutting - Logan, Utah, USA (Dave Cutting/ David Cutting)
• M Steve Todd -
• Scott Catalano - Pennsylvania
• Gregor Baues - Île-de-France, France (grbba)

Engine Driver and JMRI Interface

• M Steve Todd

exInstaller Software

• Anthony W - Dayton, Ohio, USA (Dex, Dex++)

Website and Documentation

• Mani Kumar - Bangalor, India (Mani / Mani Kumar)
• Fred Decker - Holly Springs, North Carolina, USA (FlightRisk)
• Dave Cutting - Logan, Utah, USA (Dave Cutting/ David Cutting)
• Roger Beschizza - Dorset, UK (Roger Beschizza)
• Keith Ledbetter - Chicago, Illinois, USA (Keith Ledbetter)
• Kevin Smith - Rochester Hills, Michigan USA (KC Smith)

WebThrotle-EX

• Fred Decker - Holly Springs, NC (FlightRisk/FrightRisk)
• Mani Kumar - Bangalor, India (Mani /Mani Kumar)
• Matt H - Somewhere in Europe

Beta Testing / Release Management / Support

• Larry Dribin - Release Management
• Kevin Smith - Rochester Hills, Michigan USA (KC Smith)
• Keith Ledbetter
• Brad Van der Elst
• Andrew Pye
• Mike Bowers
• Randy McKenzie
• Roberto Bravin
• Sam Brigden
• Alan Lautenslager
• Martin Bafver
• Mário André Silva
• Anthony Kochevar
• Gajanatha Kobbekaduwe
• Sumner Patterson
• Paul - Virginia, USA

Downloads (zip and tar.gz) below. These are named without version number in the folder name to make the Arduino IDE happy.

CommandStation-EX.zip CommandStation-EX.tar.gz