Once you have assembled your do-it-yourself EX‑CommandStation hardware you need to load our software onto it to make it usable. To make it as simple as possible we have created the EX‑Installer app.
We have found that there are a small number of users who can have an issue when trying to update firmware or upload EXRAIL scripts to an EX-CSB1 Command Station (or any ESP32 based device).
A word of caution on the alternate approach of using the Arduino IDE to install the software:
While it is possible install the software using the Arduino IDE, we seriouslyDO NOT RECOMMEND IT for a Conductor or Tinkerer. It is an order of magnitude more complex, much slower, and with a very high probability of getting something wrong unless you really know what you are doing.
The EX‑Installer described below will meet 100% of the needs of a Conductor or Tinkerer with considerably less effort.
Instructions for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux (including the Raspberry Pi)
Antivirus Software You may need to turn off your antivirus software before you try to install. Sometimes our software gets blocked by antivirus apps. If you see any errors on the install screen, this is usually the issue.
Find the folder in which the EX-Installer-Win64.exe or EX-Installer-Win32.exe was saved. Generally this will default to downloading to the downloads folder but your browser may be configured differently.
RunEX-Installer-Win64.exe or EX-Installer-Win32.exe or EX-Installer-Win32.exe
Note: depending on the configuration of your computer the ‘.exe’ may or may not appear. This is not of concern.
Important
EX-Installer creates a folder (<home>\ex-installer) to hold the information it needs. Do not directly modify anything in this folder as it a) will be overwritten or deleted by the installer at any time, and b) will cause the installer to fail to load.
For Apple macOS:
Open a terminal window and navigate to the that folder that you downloaded the file to. e.g.: cdDownloads
Enter the following command to tell the OS that it is an executable: chmod+xEX-Installer-macOS
Run the installer with the following command: ./EX-Installer-macOS
For Linux:
Right-click on the file, go to Properties, then the Permissions tab, and check “Allow executing file as program”
Open a terminal window and navigate to that folder
Run the installer with the following command: ./EX-Installer-Linux64
This screen allows you to install or update the Arduino Command Line Interface (CLI).
We use the Arduino Command Line Interface (CLI) to upload the DCC-EX products to your Arduino.
If you have not installed the CLI previously you must have Arduino CLI installed to proceed, simply click the Install Arduino CLI button if it is showing.
If you already have the Arduino CLI installed, it is recommended that you refresh it periodically (e.g. weekly) to ensure support for the various device details are kept up to date. To refresh the CLI, simply click the Refresh Arduino CLI button.
On this screen you will need to a) select the type of device you wish to load the EX‑CommandStation software onto, and b) the USB port you have connected the device to on your computer.
EX‑Installer will attempt to work out both of these for you, but it may need assistance.
After you have clicked on the Scan for Devices button, if you see No devices found to means that you either a) have not connected the device to the computer, or b) the device was not recognised by the computer.
If you have not connected the device, connect it now then click the Scan for Devices button again.
If the device is connected but not found refer to the Diagnosing Basic Problems page for assistance.
EX‑Installer will attempt to work out what type of microprocessor you have connected, but some cases it will not be able to do so. (This is especially common with cheap clone devices.)
Check and select the appropriate board from the drop down list.
Once you have a port and device type selected, to proceed, click the Select product to install button.
Select which version of the EX‑CommandStation software to load onto your hardware. If you are unsure, or unless you have been otherwise directed by the support team, we recommend you select LatestProduction.
Select how you wish to configure your EX‑CommandStation. Unless you are updating a previous version that you manually configured, or want to manually make advanced configuration changes, select Configureoptionsonthenextscreen
On this screen you can select some of the flexible and optional features of the EX‑CommandStation:
Motor Driver type
LCD or oLED display
WiFi
Ethernet
Set track modes
Advanced Config
Only the Motor Driver and WiFi will be covered on this page. If you have installed different hardware to that recommended, see the Using EX-Installer - Detailed Instructions page for instructions on all the available configuration options.
You must select the motor driver type that you have installed. The installer can’t detect this, so you must select the correct board or the EX‑CommandStation may not work. If you have installed the recommended Motor Driver, select STANDARD_MOTOR_SHIELD if you purchased a Standard Motor Driver, or EX8874_SHIELD if you purchased our EX-MotorShield8874.
If you have installed and optional WiFi board, or are using a microcontroller board with integrated WiFi, enable the IhaveWiFi option, which will present you with additional options.
You can configure the WiFi for EX-CommandStation two ways:
Access Point mode You can configure for EX-CommandStation to have its own, completely isolated, WiFi Network. This is referred to as Access Point Mode. (Most useful if your layout is away from the house, or you transport your layout frequently.) To enable, select UsemyEX-CommandStationasanAccessPoint
Station mode The EX-CommandStation can be setup so that it connects to your existing home WiFi Network. This is referred to as Station Mode. To enable, select ConnectmyEX-CommandStationtomyexistingwirelessnetwork
If possible, choose a channel that is unused (or least used) by other WiFi networks around your location.
There are numerous phone apps that can help you determine which channels are being used by other networks. For Android, ‘Wifi Analyzer’ is one that works. For iOS ‘Netspot’ is suitable (you don’t need to purchase WiPry device they mention).
If UsemyEX-CommandStationasanAccessPoint is selected, two additional options are presented:
WiFi Password
WiFi Channel
WiFi Password is optional. We recommend you leave this field blank. If this field is left blank the password will default to “PASS_xxxxx” where ‘xxxxx’ will be the same as the SSID name that will be automatically configured.
If you have installed and optional oLED or LED display, enable the Ihaveadisplay option, which will present you with a drop down list to select the type of display you have.
The programming track is for programming only. Make sure you are on the main track if you expect your loco to move or respond to light or sound commands.
