Decoder design problem (Newbie)

[jacks]

Hi Friends

I am about to design a DCC decoder for locomotive(model railway). At first I thought it was going to be easy but now a little confused. This is what it has to do

Read packet (8 bit packet)
Check whether it corresponds to decoder address, if not discard packet
it should drive motor, so that loco can move back and forth and speeding up the loco. It should also do error check for packet

My initial thoughts was to have a circuit as high and low utilizing 5V and 0V and having LEDs. These will feed to a exclusive OR to test the validity of the packet. We are assuming we know the address of the decoder. We then go via shift registers. I don't know friends, help? Can one simulate this on a Labview or something? Thanks

Jacks

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Use a PIC to do it - it's folly to do it in hardware.

 

[blueroomelectronics]

Especially if you want it to fit in an HO gauge locomotive. Google PIC DCC lots of info.

 

[SMUGangsta]

Ive got a set, given to me by my father (no sure what guage it is) but the tracks are only about 12mm apart (its in the attic so i cant check just now) but i always thought it was way too small to build digital control into the locomotive - but that was a few years back - will need to re-visit it - what with pics being so small these days and SMT parts being redily available.

 

[jacks]

Friends

Thanks for your responses but I think I need to build it on a bread board as a prototype to demostrate that the packet is decoded appropriately, just like the ethernet packet is decoded on a computer.

Jacks

 

[EDDY99]

diydecoder

Hi have a look at this
DCC D.I.Y. Decoder
might be of interest. Built some myself and they work fine

Eddy

 

[jacks]

Hello

Thanks EDDY99, I already bought a DIY kit but the decoder cant handle packets.