Glossary of Terms¶
These are common terms used throughout our documentation.
If you wish to see where a term is used, click the term name to search for it.
Access Point (AP) Mode¶
In Access Point (AP) mode, the tiny ESP-WiFi chip acts as a very basic WiFi server and provides a small IP network for your throttle or for your computer running JMRI with the WiThrottle Server enabled. It acts much like your router does to let things connect directly to it (currently up to four connections). Using the EX-CommandStation in AP mode allows you to have a separate network so you can keep your layout network separate from your home network.
Base Station, Command Station, DCC Command Station, DCC Base Station¶
See https://dccwiki.com/Command_Station
Consist2, Multiple Unit3, Multiple Unit Train, MU¶
Multiple locos hauling a single train. See https://dccwiki.com/Multiple_Unit_Consisting
DCC++ Commands, <DCC++>, DCC++ Protocol, DCC++ API¶
Old name for the DCC-EX Serial Command / DCC-EX Native Commands / DCC-EX Native Protocol. Some references to this still remain for backward compatibility. i.e. JMRI still refers to DCC++.
DCC-EX Serial Commands, DCC-EX Native Commands, DCC-EX Native Protocol, DCC-EX Native API¶
New name for the DCC++ Commands/Protocol/API. Refer to DCC-EX Serial Command List for details.
MAIN mode/track(s) vs PROG mode/track¶
MAIN = Main Track / Operations Mode / Ops Mode output.
PROG = Programming Track / Service Mode output.
In normal DCC operation, running locos happens on a MAIN track (your layout) and programming takes place on a separate piece of track (typically just long enough for your loco) called a PROG track.
Your loco will not respond to throttles if it is on the PROG track, and the command station will not send programming commands to the MAIN track.
Motor Driver / Motor Shield / Motor Board / Motor Controller¶
A motor driver (also know as a ‘motor controller’, ‘motor shield’ or ‘motor board’) is just a high voltage, high current switch. While initially designed to power electric motors, we use it to create the DCC signal to the track in a clever misapplication of technology. Normally, a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal would be applied to a motor with the PWM pin to control speed and the direction pin would switch the voltage from positive to negative to control the motor spin direction. Instead, we send full DC track voltage to the PWM pin and switch the direction pin at the DCC frequency (around 8000 times a second) to generate the bi-polar square wave. In this way, we use the 5V DC (or 3.3V) microcontroller output to switch the voltage from separate 12-16v DC power supply 1 connected to the Motor Driver, and create a pulse train signal of 1’s and 0’s that a mobile decoder can interpret as commands.
Pullup¶
The term pullup within the context of DCC-EX is commonly used when discussing inputs or sensors along with other topics such as I2C cabling. This is an electronics focused term, typically referring to the use of a resistor to ensure an input/sensor or I2C line is pulled up or held to a specific voltage (typically 3.3V or 5V).
Pulldown¶
The term pulldown within the context of DCC-EX is commonly used when discussing inputs or sensors along with other topics such as I2C cabling. This is an electronics focused term, typically referring to the use of a resistor to ensure an input/sensor or I2C line is pulled down or held to ground or 0V.
You will also see search results for using a pulldown menu, but that is a different context!
Railroad2 / Railway3¶
Railroad: The dominant term in the United States and Canada.
Railway: The preferred term across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India, and by the International Union of Railways
Roster¶
A roster is a list of locomotives that are known in advance by the EX-CommandStation so that DCC addresses, name, and functions can be used by throttles to configure buttons etc.
SSID¶
An SSID (Service Set Identifier) is the technical term for your WiFi network's name. It is the identifier your router broadcasts so nearby devices (like phones and laptops) can find and connect to the right network.
Station (STA) Mode¶
Station Mode allows you to connect the EX-CommandStation to your existing home network. The EX-CommandStation becomes a Station or Client rather than an Access Point. That means instead of being a host that manages the IP of the smartphone that runs your Throttle, it becomes a station that connects to your existing network just like any of the other computers or devices connected to your network. The Throttle then connects to the EX-CommandStation by finding its IP address on the network.
Turnout2 / Point3 / Switch¶
In a prototypical railway, a turnout/point allows a train to diverge from one track to another. In DCC-EX terms, this term also denotes a software object that can control a physical turnout/point on your layout. A turnout/point can also be referred to as a point or a switch.
Depending on your region, turnouts/points are also commonly referred to as points or switches.
VPIN¶
A VPIN is an Arduino pin number that has been extended to include pins on external devices or expanders. Once the mapping of VPIN numbers to devices has been done, the commands that set or test pins do not have to care how the electronics works.
WiThrottle¶
- Trademark owned by Brett Hoffman
- Proprietary iOS app developed by Brett Hoffman.
WiThrottle Protocol¶
A proprietary protocol developed by Brett Hoffman
WiThrottle Server¶
A piece of software that listens and acts on WiThrottle commands EX‑CommandStation contains a WiThrottle Server, as does JMRI
-
The voltage you need for the Motor Driver depends on the scale/gauge of the layout you are using. Bigger is not always better. Too high a voltage can damage your locos. See the power supplies page for more information. ↩
-
Term used in most of the English speaking world other than North America. (British/United Kingdom origin) ↩↩↩