EX-CommandStation 4.1.2 Release
The DCC-EX Team is pleased to release CommandStation-EX v4.1.2 as a Production Release for the general public. This release is a Minor release with many significant EX-RAIL enhancements and new automation features in addition to some bug fixes. The team continues improving the architecture of DCC++EX to make it more flexible and optimizing the code to get more performance from the Arduino (and other) microprocessors. This release includes all of the Point Releases from v4.0.1 to v4.1.2.
New Command Station & EX-RAIL Features
ACK defaults are now set to LIMIT 50mA, MIN 2000uS, MAX 20000uS for more compatibility with non NMRA compliant decoders
Automatically detect and run a myFilter add-on (no need to call setFilter)
New Commands for the Arduino IDE Serial Monitor and JMRI DCC++ Traffic Monitor
</RED signal_id> to turn a individual LED Signal On & Off
</AMBER signal_id> “
</GREEN signal_id> “
</KILL ALL> command to stop all tasks, and Diagnostic messages when KILL is used
< t cab> command to obtain current throttle setting
Allow WRITE CV on PROG
Updated CV read command . Equivalent to <V cv 0>. Uses the verify callback.
Allow WRITE CV on PROG <W CV VALUE)
Change callback parameters are now optional on PROG
New JA, JR, JT commands availabe for Throttle Developers to obtain Route, Roster and Turnout descriptions for communications
New EX-RAIL Functions to use in Automation(n), ROUTE(N) & SEQUENCE(N) Scripts
ATGTE & ATLT wait for analog value, (At Greater Than or Equal and At Less Than a * certain value)
FADE command now works for LEDs connected on PCA9685 Servo/Signal board Output vpins
FORGET Forgets the current loco in DCC reminder tables saving memory and wasted packets sent to the track
“IF” signal detection with IFRED(signal_id), IFAMBER(signal_id), IFGREEN(signal_id)
KILLALL command to stop all tasks, and Diagnostic messages when KILL is used
PARSE <> commands in EXRAIL allows sending of DCC-EX commands from EX-RAIL
SERVO_SIGNAL Servo signals assigned to a specific servo turnout
SIGNALH High-On signal pins (Arduino normally handles active LOW signals. This allows for active HIGH)
HIDDEN turnouts (hide a REAL turnout and create a VIRTUAL turnout to handle actions that happen BEFORE a turnout is thrown)
VIRTUAL_TURNOUT definition
EX-RAIL Updates
EXRAIL BROADCAST(“msg”) sends any message to all throttles/JMRI via serial and WiFi
EXRAIL POWERON turns on power to both tracks from EX-RAIL (the equivalent of sending the <1> command)
Other Enhancements
UNO Progmem is optimise to allow for small EXRAIL Automation scripts to run within the limited space for testing purposes.
PCA9685 Servo Signal board supports ‘Nopoweroffleds’, servo pins stay powered on after position reached, otherwise the new FADE would always turn off.
Position servo can use spare servo pin as a GPIO pin.
4.1.2 Bug Fixes
Fixed Ethernet shield W5100 support since it does not report HW or link level like the W5200 and W5500 chips.
4.1.1 Bug Fixes
Preserve the turnout format
Parse multiple commands in one buffer string correctly
Fix </> command signal status in EX-RAIL
Read long loco addresses in EX-RAIL
FIX negative route IDs in WiThrottle
See the version.h file for notes about which of the 4.1.2 features were added/changed by point release.
Known Issues
Wi-Fi - Requires sending <AT> 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 limitations in its current sensing circuitry