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EX-CommandStation v5.0.0 Production Release
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@peteGSX peteGSX released this 07 Aug 21:12
· 26 commits to master since this release
v5.0.0-Prod
2db2b0e

Version 5.0.0 Release Notes

The DCC-EX Team is pleased to release CommandStation-EX v5.0.0 as a Production Release for the general public.

This is a Major new release, including some breaking changes as well as major new features.

Read on below, and also please ensure you revise our newly updated documentation at https://dcc-ex.com

NEW EX-Installer

NEW Please try our newly re-created EX-Installer!

We'll still provide the source archives with this release, but our newly created EX-Installer is all you should need to get up and running with EX-CommandStation, and it will also let you install some of our other new products such as EX-IOExpander and EX-Turntable.

EX-CommandStation features, fixes, and enhancements

  • NEW TrackManager - Run both DC and DCC trains from the same controller and switch your tracks between DC and DCC modes live
  • Beta support for new, 32 bit microcontrollers including ESP32 WROOM and some STMicroelectronics Nucleo boards
  • Extensive optimisation of HIGHMEM useage to free up PROGMEM below the 64kb and increase the useful life of the AVR Mega2560 platform
  • Add option to disable programming to allow limited platforms such as the Arduino Uno to run limited EXRAIL scripts
  • Add support for our new fast clock EX-FastClock
  • Add support for our new I/O expander EX-IOExpander
  • Add support for our new turntable controller EX-Turntable
  • Add support for duinoNodes
  • Add support for a rotary encoder
  • Add support for PCF8575 and PCA/TCA9555 GPIO devices
  • Enhanced overcurrent detection, including enhancing the behaviour to deal with inrush current issues
  • Moved startup of the HAL earlier in the boot sequence
  • Improved performance for ADC (analogue to digital) reads
  • Enhancements to I2C bus retries and timeouts
  • Support for I2C multiplexers to help with devices with static or limited address ranges
  • Support for multiple I2C displays
  • Improved handling of conflicting I2C addresses and Vpin allocations
  • Enhanced DFPlayer error handling
  • Add <JG> and <JI> for multi-track gauges to support TrackManager
  • Improved stability for the VL53L0X ToF sensor
  • Bugfix for signals being inverted (active high was actually active low and vice versa)
  • Bugfix for Ethernet allowing a static IP address to be set

Known Issues

  • We have one known issue in version 5 where DFPlayer doesn't work correctly in some circumstances, which we are investigating and will fix soon

EXRAIL enhancements

For details on these changes and new commands, refer to the documentation.

  • BREAKING CHANGE Removed implicit AUTOSTART from myAutomation.h, simply add AUTOSTART to the beginning of the file to restore this
  • Enhance SPEED command to respond to external direction changes
  • Add DCC_SIGNAL command to control DCC Accessory based signals
  • Add VIRTUAL_SIGNAL command to enable user-defined signal sequences
  • Add ONGREEN, ONAMBER, and ONRED signal event handlers to respond to signal changes
  • Add TURNOUTL command to enable using a linear DCC address for DCC Accessory turnouts
  • Add MOVETT command to enable controlling an EX-Turntable
  • Add IFRE command to test the position of a rotary encoder
  • Add ONCHANGE event handler to respond to a position change of a rotary encoder
  • Add ONCLOCKTIME and ONCLOCKMINS event handlers to respond to EX-FastClock times
  • Add IFLOCO command to test if the provided loco ID is used in the sequence
  • Add FORGET command to drop the provided loco ID from reminder tables
  • Add SET_TRACK command to configure TrackManager in sequences
  • Add SERIAL4, SERIAL5, and SERIAL6 to support newer microcontrollers with more/different interfaces
  • Add SCREEN command to display messages on multiple displays
  • Add POWERON and POWEROFF commands to control track power

Answer to the frequently asked question

We've been asked a lot about the new Arduino Uno R4 and Arduino Giga. These aren't just a "new revision" of existing platforms and are significantly different, meaning we have no immediate plans to support these.

Read our news article No support planned for the Uno R4 or Giga

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