EX-Toolbox

EX-Toolbox - Installing and Using

Propeller Beanie

Installing

EX‑Toolbox can be installed on your phone or tablet via the Google Play Store .

Open the Play Store app on your phone or tablet and search for “EX-Toolbox”.

Once installed, open EX‑Toolbox and it will go through the initial setup wizard where it will ask for one permission, and for which which theme you would like to use.

After you complete the setup wizard, you will be shown the ‘Connection’ Screen.


Connecting

Connecting

Figure 138 EX-Toolbox Connecting

Other than the very first time you start EX‑Toolbox, when the app opens you will be shown the ‘Connection’ screen.

On the ‘Connection’ screen there are three ways you can select a EX‑CommandStation to connect to:

  • IP Address and Port

  • Discovered Servers

  • Recent servers

Discovered Servers

This is the most common way to connect. If the server you want to connect to is in the list, simply click on it and you will be taken to the ‘CV-Programming’ screen.

If the server does not appear in the recent list try one of the other two methods. Your server not appearing in the recent list is not necessarily a problem and there can be a number of reasons why.

Recent Server List

If the server you want to connect to is in the list, simply click on it and you will be taken to the ‘CV-Programming’ screen.

A server being in this list does not necessarily mean that you will be able to connect it now. It just means that you have successfully connected to it in the past.

IP Address and Port

Type in the IP address and Port of the EX‑CommandStation and press Connect.

To find your EX-CommandStation’s IP address and Port refer you original setup or, if you have a OLED screen on your command station the details will be displayed on it.

If you only ever connect to one EX‑CommandStation you can effectively bypass this screen by setting the ‘Auto-Connect to WiThrottle Server?’ preference.


CV Programming

Connecting

Figure 139 EX-Toolbox Connecting

DCC Decoder CV programming is available:

  • on the Programming track (PROG) - Service Mode

  • on the main line (MAIN) - Operation mode / Ops Mode

By default EX‑Toolbox shows the Service Mode options. To switch to Operation Mode, select “Program on Main (Operation Mode)” on the drop down list at the top of the screen.

CV Programming (Service Mode)

Connecting

Figure 140 EX-Toolbox Connecting

Service Mode CV Programing is available form the ‘CV Programming’ screen, when ‘Programming Track (ServiceMode)’ is selected in the drop down list at the top of the screen.

Service Mode CV Programming allows you to both Read (if the decoder/loco supports it) and Write CVs.

You do not need to know the DCC Address of the decoder being changed, as all decoders/locos currently on the programming track will have the CV changed at the same time.

On this screen you can:

  • read the decoder’s DCC Address

  • write a new DCC Address to the decoder

  • read a CV value from the decoder

  • write a CV value to the decoder

  • select from a list of named, common CVs

  • issue <> commands to the EX‑CommandStation

To read the DCC Address of the decoder click the Read button on the DCC Address row.

To write a DCC Address to the decoder, enter the address and click the Write button on the DCC Address row.

To read a CV of the decoder, enter the CV number and click the Read button on the CV row.

To write a CV value to the decoder, enter the CV number, enter the value and click the Write button on the CV row.

If you select a ‘common CV value’ it will enter the CV number into the field. From there follow the instructions above for reading or writing the CV.

Note: Issuing a read or write will automatically turn the track power on.

See below for issuing DCC-EX commands.

CV Programming (Operation Mode)

CV Programming (Operation Mode)

Figure 141 EX-Toolbox CV Programming (Operation Mode)

Operation Mode CV Programing is available form the ‘CV Programming’ screen, when ‘Program on Main (Operation Mode)’ is selected in the drop down list at the top of the screen.

Operation Mode CV Programming ONLY allows you to Write CVs.

To use Operation Mode CV Programming you must know the DCC Address of the decoder/loco you want to change. Note: you should never try to change the DCC Address of the decoder/loco using Operation Mode CV Programming.

On this screen you can:

  • write a new DCC Address to the decoder

  • write a CV value to the decoder

  • select from a list of named, common CVs

  • issue <> commands to the EX‑CommandStation

To write a CV value to the decoder, enter the DCC Address of the decoder, enter the CV number, enter the value and click the Write button on the CV row.

If you select a ‘common CV value’ it will enter the CV number into the field. From there follow the instructions above for writing the CV.

Note: Issuing a read or write will automatically turn the track power on.

See below for issuing DCC-EX commands.


Issuing <> Commands to the EX-CommandStation

On several of the screens in EX‑Toolbox you can issue native DCC-EX <> commands to your EX‑CommandStation.

Enter the command you want to send, and click Send.

The command you send, and any responses from the command station will be shown below.

If you select a ‘common command value’ it will enter the command the field. From there follow the instructions above for issuing the command.

You can use the Next and Prior buttons to retrieve previously issues commands.


Track Manager

(Only available when connected to EX-CommandStation version 5.0.0 and above.)

Track Manager

Figure 142 EX-Toolbox Track Manager

To access the Track Manager either:

  • Swipe Right from the CV-Programming Screen

  • Swipe Left from the Current Status Screen

  • Select ‘Track Manager’ from the Menu

Track Manager allow you to change up to 8 channels (depending on the Motor Shield you are using)

Each channel can be one of:

  • DCC PROG - Programming Track

  • DCC MAIN - Main Track

  • DC

  • DC reversed polarity (DCX)

  • OFF

Select the value you want for the channels and click Set

Note. If you select DC or DCX you must select a DCC address for the channel before pressing Set. What ever address you select, selecting that address on your throttle (e.g. Engine Driver) will result in the DC locomotive on the track connected to that channel to respond.

Note. Only one channel can be PROG. If you select more that one, one will turned OFF.


Servo motor testing and adjustment

Servos Screen

Figure 143 EX-Toolbox Servos Screen

THe servo motor test screen will allow you to test and fine tune the settings needed for configuring servo motors attached to the EX‑CommandStation. This is intended to be temporary. To permanently configure a servo motor you will need to record the values and include the in the configuration of your EX‑CommandStation.

To access the Servo configuration screen either:

  • Swipe Right from the Sensor Screen

  • Swipe Left from the CV Programming Screen

  • Select ‘Servos’ from the Menu

On the Servo motor screen,

  • Enter the VPin of the servo motor you want adjustment

  • Enter any known starting values for Close, Mid, Throw

  • Test the Close, Mid, Throw positions by pressing the appropriate button. The servo will move to that position.

  • Fine adjust any of the three positions by using the + or - buttons
    The servo will gradually move.

  • when you are happy, record the three values

EX‑Toolbox remembers the servos that you have changed (up to 10) in this and previous sessions, and you can select one of the previous servos from the drop down list. EX‑Toolbox will restore the last settings you used for the selected servo to the main fields.


Sensor testing

Sensors Screen

Figure 144 EX-Toolbox Sensors Screen

The Sensor test screen will allow you to test any sensors configured in your EX‑CommandStation.

To access the Sensor Testing configuration screen either:

  • Swipe Right from the Current Status Screen

  • Swipe Left from the CV Servos Screen

  • Select ‘Sensors’ from the Menu

When the screen opens the first 100 sensors found will be shown. Activity on the sensors will be shown on the screen. Scroll down to if needed.

The Watch button is generally not needed, but will force EX‑Toolbox to check the available sensors on the EX‑CommandStation again.


Current Meter

(Only available when connected to EX-CommandStation version 5.0.0 and above.)

Current Meter Screen

Figure 145 EX-Toolbox Current Meter Screen

The Current Status screen will show you the current values for up to eight channels on the motor shield on your EX‑CommandStation.

To access the Current Meter screen either:

  • Swipe Right from the Track Manager Screen

  • Swipe Left from the Sensors Screen

  • Select ‘Current Status’ from the Menu

For each channel the following is shown:

  • the up-to-date value in Milliamps

  • the highest value seen recently in Milliamps

  • the maximum value able to be supplied by the moto shield in Milliamps

The readings start as soon as you open the screen and are paused as soon as you exit the screen. The readings are taken every three seconds.

You can manually stop the readings with the Stop button.

You can manually restart the readings with the Start button. This will also clear the ‘Highest’ values.


Secondary Screens

Power

Power Screen

Figure 146 EX-Toolbox Power Screen

Power menu

Figure 147 EX-Toolbox Power menu

Turning Track Power On

There are two ways to turn the Track Power on/off:

  • Power Screen - accessed from the menu

  • Power Action Bar button - needs to be enable in the preferences

The Power Screen can be accessed from the Menu ‣ Power. This will open the Power Screen where there is a simple button that to turn the power on or off. Use the Close button or Android’s Back button to return to the CV-Programming Screen.

If the Power Action Bar button is enabled, simply click on it to turn track power on or off.

Note

You can also optionally enable the Power Button on the Action bar in the preferences.

Preferences

Most configuration options are found in the Preferences which is accessed via the overflow menu which is normally three dots (⁞) or three bars (≡).

View log

Accessed from any of the main screens via Menu ‣ View Log.

This screen allows you to view the internal Engine Driver log of events. This is sometimes useful for analysing problems.

The option to Start recording to file creates a user-accessible file that can be sent to the EX‑Toolbox app developers to assist you in resolving a problem. The file will be located on your mobile phone at: Internal storage /Android/data/dcc_ex.toolbox/files
and will be named something like: logcat9999999999999.txt

Enable the preference to include the timestamp on each line of the log.

About

This screen displays

  • Information about EX‑Toolbox

  • Information about the EX‑CommandStation it is currently connected to (if any)

  • A page of basic information about EX‑CommandStation


Connecting via USB

EX‑Toolbox can’t normally connect to an EX‑CommandStation via USB, however it is possible to temporarily create a USB to IP connection on you PC using tools like socat or SerialToIPGUI (for windows).

Using socat in Linux:

socat TCP4-LISTEN:2560 /dev/ttyUSB0,b115200,raw,echo=0

or (to provide more information)

socat -d -d -d TCP4-LISTEN:2560 /dev/ttyUSB0,b115200,raw,echo=0

Note: Change ‘dev/ttyUSB0’ to the appropriate USB port that the command station is connected to.

Using socat in Microsoft Windows:

socat TCP-LISTEN:2560 /dev/ttyS11,b115200,raw,echo=0

or (to provide more information)

socat -d -d -d TCP-LISTEN:2560 /dev/ttyS11,b115200,raw,echo=0

Note: Change S11 to the appropriate USB port. Whatever ‘COM’ number appears in the Device Manager, subtract 1.
i.e. ‘COM12’ in the Windows Device Manager becomes ‘/dev/ttyS11’

Using SerialToIPGUI (For Microsoft Windows) (Recommended):

SerialToIPGUI

Figure 148 SerialToIPGUI

  • start SerialToIPGUI

  • Select the correct COM port for the command station

  • Enter the port of ‘2560’

  • Click Start

Once started…

  • Open EX‑Toolbox on your Android device

  • Enter the IP address of your PC (The one running socat or SerialToIPGUI)

  • Enter the port of ‘2560’

  • Click connect

Warning

This ‘trick’ only supports a single connection at a time. So it is important that JMRI (if you are using it), or the Arduino IDE serial monitor, or anything else that might be using the COM (USB) port are shut down first.

Downloads

Troubleshooting (Windows)

In Microsoft Windows, if you see a “command not found” error, Here is what you need to do to fix it:

  • Right click on “My Computer” -> Properties -> Advanced -> Environment Variables

  • Add a new environment variable, called CYGWIN_HOME and set its value to C:\cygwin

  • Edit the PATH environment variable and add C:\cygwin\bin to it (usually separated by a ‘;’).

  • Just click okay, exit any command prompts or bash shells (over cygwin) you may have open, and open it again - it’ll work!

Note that if you installed cgywin to a folder other than “C:\cgywin” (e.g. c:\cgywin64), use that folder name instead in the change above.