Testing your installation

Propeller Beanie Engineer Hat

Using the Arduino IDE Serial Monitor

This page is a brief introduction to using the Arduino IDE Serial Monitor. For additional information see the Using a Serial Monitor page.

To test with the Arduino Serial Monitor, download the Arduino IDE from the following link and install it on your computer.

Download the Arduino IDE

To do a quick test, open the Arduino application:

Arduino IDE

Figure 89 The Arduino IDE

  • Select “Tools -> Serial Monitor” from the Arduino IDE menu

Open the Serial Monitor

Figure 90 Open the Serial Monitor from the Tools Menu

You will see the following screen:

Serial Monitor

Figure 91 Serial Monitor

  • Select “115200” as the baud rate in the dropdown in the lower right

  • Select “Both NL & CR” from the dropdown next to the baud rate

When you open the serial monitor you will see at least one line sent out as status information. If you have a WiFi board or Ethernet Shield you will see a page full of log information as it configures and connects to your network.

At the top of the serial monitor type <s> (lowercase “s”) into the command textbox and press “Send”. You should see:

<iDCC-EX V-0.2.1 / MEGA / STANDARD_MOTOR_SHIELD G-9db6d36>

This is the “status” command and reports your version, types of boards you are using, and a build number.

There are a lot of other commands you can enter here. As a matter of fact, you could use the serial monitor to test any of the DCC-EX API (application programming interface) commands. Please see the DCC-EX Wiki for a list of commands or for additional information on using the serial monitor see the Using a Serial Monitor page.

Using EX-WebThrottle

EX-WebThrottle

Figure 92 EX-WebThrottle

Click this link: EX-WebThrottle to run EX-WebThrottle hosted on our site, or visit GitHub to get the latest version to run on your computer.

Using Engine Driver (or other WiThrottle Protocol Throttle) - Requires WiFi

Engine Driver

Figure 93 Engine Driver

You will need to install Engine Driver on your mobile device and then connect to the Command Station, either directly with AP mode or through your router with Station Mode. You can then use your phone to control your trains.