What is DCC Plus Plus BaseStation

#What is DCC++ BaseStation#

DCC++ BASE STATION is a C++ program written by Gregg E. Berman for the Arduino Uno and Arduino Mega using the Arduino IDE 1.6.6 or higher.

It allows a standard Arduino Uno or Arduino Mega with an Arduino motor shield (as well as others) to be used as a fully-functioning digital command and control (DCC) base station for controlling model train layouts that conform to current National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) DCC standards.

The newest version of DCC++ BASE STATION supports:

• 2-byte and 4-byte locomotive addressing
• Simultaneous control of multiple locomotives
• 128-step speed throttling
• Cab functions F0-F28
• Activate/de-activate accessory functions using 512 addresses, each with 4 sub-addresses
  • includes optional functionality to monitor and store of the direction of any connected turnouts
• Programming on the Main Operations Track
  • write configuration variable bytes
  • set/clear specific configuration variable bits
• Programming on the Programming Track
  • write configuration variable bytes
  • set/clear specific configuration variable bits
  • read configuration variable bytes

DCC++ BASE STATION is controlled with simple text commands received via the Arduino's serial interface, or one of the other supported interfaces. Users can type these commands directly into the Arduino IDE Serial Monitor, or can send such commands from another device or computer program.

When compiled for the Arduino Mega, an Arduino Ethernet Shield can be used for network communications instead of using serial communications.

DCC++ Controller, available separately under a similar open-source license, is a Java program written using the Processing library and Processing IDE that provides a complete and configurable graphic interface to control model train layouts via the DCC++ Base Station.

With the exception of a standard 15Vdc power supply that can be purchased in any electronics store, no additional hardware is required.

Neither DCC++ Base Station nor DCC++ Controller use any known proprietary or commercial hardware, software, interfaces, specifications, or methods related to the control of model trains using NMRA DCC Standards. Both programs are original, developed by Gregg E. Berman, and are not derived from any known commercial, free, or open-source model railroad control packages by any other parties.

However, DCC++ Base Station and DCC++ Controller do heavily rely on the IDEs and embedded libraries associated with Arduino IDE and Processing IDE. Tremendous thanks to those responsible for these terrific open-source initiatives that enable programs like DCC++ to be developed and distributed in the same fashion.