Dinamousers | 360° rotation with DTX/DTC in iTrain

360° rotation with DTX/DTC in iTrain - solved

Posted by Morykonte on 2021-03-22 17:25

Dear Leon

I am new in this forum, so please apologize mistakes to current rules, as I am completely unfamiliar with this forum. I am writing in English as I do not speak Netherlands and I am afraid that a contribution in my mother language German will not be understood. (I got a remark on the forum page that obviously available translation plug-ins are deactivated?)

I am using the DTX software in Version V2.010 which last year was installed still by Frans Staal personally. Frans knows my model railway system very well.
I am using iTrain pro currently in the actual version 5.10.

The below described problem exists since DTX version 1 already and also since iTrain version 4.

I am referring both to DTX as well as DTC, as according to Frans Staal there is no difference to DTC regarding the interface with iTrain.
On the other hand this was denied by Xander Berkhout from iTrain, who states that my problem did not occur with DTC.
I simultaneously addressed the problem as well in the iTrain Forum

What is happening:

A locomotive leaves the turntable from a certain exit. If i am trying to route back this engine over the same exit of the turntable, despite the fact that the stage (?) has already the correct position(!) an unnecessary 360 degree rotation is performed by the turntable before the engine is moving onto the stage and finishes further routing.

On the other hand If any engine will be routed over the turntable from another entrance position as the current, the turntable as expected rotates correctly to the needed entrance using the shortest way to this track and routing is performed correct.

This problem was addressed already more than half a year ago both to Frans Staal as well as to Xander Berkhout, but no solution could be found so far. Since then I am sitting between chairs, as it is not clear even where is the the source of the problem located neither having a problem solution in hand.

Recently an additional observation was made in the so called "simulation mode" of iTrain, where you can simulate routing without having connected the interfaces to any digital control center.

This fails completely with respect that a reservation of the needed blocks including the turntable stage are reserved by iTrain. Only the stage is moved to the correct position (no 360 degree turn!). After this only the position counter is running endless but the engine does not move over the switchboard.

Hopefully I could initiate with this post a dialogue between both developer teams.

Please give an advice if certain further information is needed.

Thx a lot

kind regards
Heinz

Simulation Routing_klein.jpg (51.69 Kb)

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Posted by Leon van Perlo on 2021-04-07 16:02 Netherlands

Hello Heinz,

Yes, it is a "known bug".

As far as I know, it can be circumvented by disabling "always set accessories" in iTrain. According to Frans, you have rejected this (temporary) solution, but another solution is not expected on short term. The problem is that many sourcecode was "lost" by PiCommIT/Ferrotronics and therefore many code will have to be developed from scratch. And to be honest, DTx is one of the most complex and, given the number of users, not the first priority at the moment.

Best regards,
Leon

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Posted by Morykonte on 2021-04-07 16:47

Hello Leon

thank you for your answer. Since minimum the last year when I addressed the problem for the first time both to Frans as well as to Xander it was very calm about this topic. I learned a lot only in the last two or thee weeks, even that this is an already known bug in the software which was not communicated to me so far. I am completely aware that this is a special version of the software unfortunately not very popular and therefore without high priority for seeking solutions.

Perhaps due to the fact- that by chance - a problem with a 360° turn also occurred in iTrain with a completely different turntable software which has nothing in common with DTX, the problem was given a little bit more attraction at least from iTrain point of view.

Xander presumed already a bug in the DTX, as the used DTC interface, which is used also for the DTX, works perfect with iTrain. This is now confirmed.

The "bypass" or temporary solution - as you called it - was only presented to me for the first time by Xander Berkhout in the iTrain forum two weeks ago. It functionally now works for me with iTrain in normal practice mode, the simulation mode still does not work. Fortunately I am not using this mode very often.

So I can only hope that the DTX will not be a dead end and will be developed and supported further - even as a niche product only.

best regards
Heinz

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Posted by Leon van Perlo on 2021-04-08 22:13 Netherlands

Heinz,

Thank you for your understanding. The DTx should not be a dead-end, I just can not give a timeline yet.

Best regards, Leon

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Posted by Morykonte on 2021-10-07 18:29

Dear Leon

I have just been made aware by an iTrain colleague that a new DTC config Software have been made available (DTCnewConfig Beta 1.1).
As I do not expect that this software would also be applicable to my DTX, I am asking whether there have been some activities on DTX in the meantime, esp.to resolve the 180° bug.

thx a lot
kind regards
Heinz

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Posted by Leon van Perlo on 2021-10-19 16:24 Netherlands

Heinz,

You may try DTx-v2.1 Build 11 firmware in File Galleries > DinaSys > Software

I cannot reproduce the original problem with the test-turntable I have. But in the above mentioned firmware there is an additional check that prevents the bridge to start if the position is already at target.

I don't know if you can install it. It is the full version inclusing CAN. Apparently there are some modules with bootloader that refuse to install the full version. I cannot reproduce that problem either. I think it has something to do with wrong CPU settings in the bootloader. If you have a version without bootloader you cannot install it anyway.
Give it a try.

Leon

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Posted by Morykonte on 2021-11-28 16:23

Dear Leon

thx for your hint to the firmware update.

In the meantime as a first step i tried to ask Frans Staal who so far installed and updated all of my system up to his retirement which type of board/processor I have installed: with or without bootloader. Unfortunately i did not get any answer from him.

I then tried to identify with the help of your WIKI which processor i have (https://dinamousers.net/Firmware-Update_nl#Hoe_weet_ik_welke_firmware_ik_heb_) but I was unable to identify any of those. So I am attaching a photo of my board so perhaps you may charge if I have a processor with bootloader.

Next step which all the time Frans Staal did for me is how to perform the update itself step by step. Is there any Manual or advice available perhaps somewhere as a link to the Wiki?

Thx for your help
kind regards
Heinz

20211128_144355_klein.jpg (153.88 Kb)

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Posted by Morykonte on 2021-12-19 12:14

Dear Leon

in the meantime I tried to peform the firmware update following your advices with my board.
Unfortunately I always got stuck in the bootloader procedure in step "connect". I cannot get a connection. According to my records I used button S201 for reset as Frans told me before as well as also after starting the connect Step with the bootloader procedure.

Probably it is a board without bootloader function? I remember that Frans for updates sometimes used a PICkit device?

I have still a strong interest to overcome the problem with a final solution. This might be available with the cited firmware update and a board that will be able to perform fimware updates with an integrated bootloader function

So what can I do? Is it possible to upgrade /exchange the Board? How can I come into contact with you to discuss a solution for my indivual problem not flooding further this forum?

I have found a Manual (even in german) for a DTCv3, where a new board is described together with a DTX connection. Would this be feasable?

In the meantime I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Regards Heinz

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Posted by Morykonte on 2021-11-28 17:28

Dear Leon
regarding my second point (manuel for firmware update) I have found on your homepage in the support section a DinaSys DTCv3 Handleiding even as german translation. I am aware that DTC is not DTX, but on the last page (p.24) there is an advice how to perfom a firmware update with DTC
http://www.vpeb.nl/files/documents/dinasys/Anleitung%20DTCv3%20(de).pdf
(DTCv3 Anleitung)
May I use this procedure as well as for the installation of the recommended DTx-v2.1 Build 11 firmware update?

thx for your support

kind regards
Heinz

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Posted by Morykonte on 2022-01-04 11:40

Remark: Probably my last contribution has been read over, because it was written as an answer to an older contribution. Therefore I attach it once more, so that it is listed as last contribution to the thread:
---------
Dear Leon

Probably it is a board without bootloader function? I remember that Frans for updates sometimes used a PICkit device?

So what can I do? Is it possible to upgrade /exchange the Board? How can I come into contact with you to discuss a solution for my indivual problem not flooding further this forum?

I have found a Manual (even in german) for a DTCv3, where a new board is described together with a DTX connection. Would this be feasable?

Would be willing to buy this new board if it will be the way to finally overcome my DTX problems

Regards Heinz

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Posted by Morykonte on 2022-01-14 10:14

Dear Leon

thx a lot for your kind support to perform the firmware update of my board.
As my board did not yet contained a bootloader function I was unable to peform the firmware update on my own.

This was the key to resolve all the existing problems!

The turntable now works perfect in the combination with iTrain and performs only the minimum needed rotation for the routing or remains if the position is already in the requested direction.

Furthermore, as my board initally did not contain a bootloader, you performed a further update so that the board now includes the bootloader functionality, so that I will be able to perform future firmware updates.

This was a perfect service. biggrin
Thank you so much Leon

kind regards
Heinz

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