Battery Power, Radio Control: ProMiniAir Transmitter Integrated with a WiFi-equipped EX‑CommandStation (PMA Tx/WCS)

Engineer Hat

New_PMA_Tx_WCS_CNV_Annotated

Figure 322 The components of the ProMiniAir Tx/WCS

The open-source availability and flexibility of the EX‑CommandStation makes it easy to adapt it for battery power, radio control (bprc or “Dead Rail”) of DCC-equipped locomotives and DCC accessories. A WiFi-equipped ESP32-WROOM, hosting a slightly-modified version of EX‑CommandStation, is integrated with an 869/915 MHz ProMiniAir “Dead Rail” Transmitter to:

  1. Receive control and programming commands from multiple sources:

    • Apps transmitting WiThrottle or native DCC-EX commands via WiFi

    • JMRI or other PC-based throttle applications sending WiThrottle or native DCC-EX commands via USB

    • Optionally: DCC Track Right/Left from a standard DCC throttle

  2. Wirelessly transmit DCC control and programming commands from the EX‑CommandStation to onboard radio receivers

The ProMiniAir Transmitter is integrated with a WiFi-equipped ESP32-WROOM hosting a slightly modified version of EX‑CommandStation firmware, which is available, along with additional libraries, at this GitHub site. Instead of a motor shield, the DCC commands from the EX‑CommandStation are sent to the ProMiniAir Transmitter that wirelessly transmits the DCC to compatible onboard radio receivers with their integrated amplifiers that “reconstitute” DCC Track Right/Left for onboard DCC decoders.

The ProMiniAir Transmitter can be reconfigured (e.g., transmit channel number and transmit power) by changing its Configuration Variables at DCC address 9900 using DCC-EX “Programming On Main” commands (e.g., <w 9900 255 channel_number> and <w 9900 254 power_level>).

You can find more detailed information on the PMA Tx/CNV at this website.

The “plug and play” PMA Tx/WCS includes the following:

  • A WiFi-equipped ESP32-WROOM hosting modified EX‑CommandStation firmware,

  • An 869/915 MHz ProMiniAir “Dead Rail” Transmitter,

  • A “DCC Converter” that accepts DCC Track Right/Left from “traditional” DCC throttles and converts it to 3.3 V DCC that is input to the EX‑CommandStation and interwoven with the EX‑CommandStation’s DCC output,

  • Two OLEDs to display status information from the EX‑CommandStation and the ProMiniAir Transmitter,

  • All components are mounted on a PCB in a protective box,

  • Power comes from either a USB cable and USB power converter (provided) or from the Track Right/Left of a DCC throttle,

  • A detailed ProMiniAir Users Manual and detailed online setup instructions for the PMA Tx/WCS are available.

The ProMiniAir Tx/WCS can be found on eBay at this link or by using the “ProMiniAir” search string.

Connections

Figure 323 Connections of the ProMiniAir Tx/WCS with other components for battery power, radio control (Dead Rail)