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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2023 11:05:28 GMT -5
Nextion 5" intelligent capacitive with frame, model NX8048P050-011C-Y ; and as I wrote in a former post, beside this it is very difficult to distinguish some colours if You look at some non perpendicular angles. And maybe that the "slow" reaction is a safety feature to avoid untimely triggers ? Alll the way, it bothers me !
For now I will keep the present version, with the "interlocking" keys until they fail, but I have already assembled a "new" set of 10 switches for the "future" control system ; this will only need a modified front plate (between 100 and 110 Euros ... ) and some updates in the software.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2023 22:19:22 GMT -5
I thought (again) about the control panel ! 1) I noticed that, if I use only shades of grey on the display, they are not modified "too much" when I look at it in a non-perpendicular direction ; and green background for activated icons stays always well visible. 2) The vintage keyboard looks fine, but every changing or adding of functions needs a new keyboard (and the keys are no longer manufactured, they can only be found "NOS" ! ), rewiring, a new front plate and often a new PCB : not really cheap ... With the display there are only changes to be made in the software (which I make myself). 3) Modellers using DCC don't all the way have the choice and must use a "modern" panel ; and I remember that some "colleagues" laughed at me when I began on this forum, why I didn't wanna use DCC ! 4) OK, I must touch the display with some pressure to trigger ; but there is more pressure needed with a mechanical keyboard.
5) I wanna quickly add the "double round" function (between 6 and 8 minutes of duration) to allow the Budds passing through the town station in the front without stopping ... and lift Marilyn's dress (figurine by Trafofuchs). So, finally, where is the truth ?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2023 14:40:58 GMT -5
The new landscape on the rear of the right side (not yet finished, tidy and cleaned ...) ; this replaces the former divergent track and the (all the way too big for a village) freight depot :
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Post by cwrr on Jul 6, 2023 9:15:25 GMT -5
Wow, nice scene for sure!
Great grain elevator too!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2023 9:27:43 GMT -5
Grain elevator found in stl format on Thingiverse (there was an extra thread about it on the forum) but in N scale ; printed by a French company for 32 Euros in 72.72% size (160/220 = 8/11). Spout made with a brass rod ; platform and spout support printed in 3D at Shapeways (Ultra fine detail plastic and brass). The door at the platform was simply printed on adhesive paper, and the rails were drawn with a black marker. The "short" trucks come from Z Scale Monster and the "long" models were 3D-printed ... in Portugal, found on the Bay.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2023 23:55:49 GMT -5
Control panel : the final conclusions ... 1) I found an issue with the touch screen : if, according to some (bad) habits coming from smartphones, one touches simultaneously two icons, then one of both commands can be ignored (to bypass this, very sophisticated interrupt programming would probably be needed). So, to prevent conflicts with kids who are fanatic of this system (I can already hear some of them arguing "but this is possible on my beloved phone, Your system is crap ... " ), I will use a pushbutton panel. And to avoid some breakdowns in the future related with the interlocking mechanism, there will be two groups of "momentary" keys : one group (black) of four to select the train and one (green) for the four possible movements ; and a key in each group must be active to start the function. I wonder what will happen when these totally addicted youngsters become adults and must use a touch screen controlling a system in a factory or, worse, a nuclear plant : a new "Three Mile Island" or Tchernobyl ? BTW, I don't have any smartphone, only a "basic" cellphone . 2) About speech control : there is a German system allowing commands in French, it is rather expensive (about 150 Euros) and all the way too slow (sometimes more than 3/4 of second to respond, it is like "asleep"). There is a Chinese system, rather affordable and fast (1/10 of s), but it understands only English (and Chinese) and to start it needs a "wake up word" and sometimes, depending upon the position of the headset's microphone, one must really "shout" the word to trigger. 3) So, finally the new controller PCB will have two serial connections left for the future, when REALLY RELIABLE speech control will be available (will this ever happen ? ), and for the present time the layout will be controlled in the good old fashioned manual way !
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2023 22:18:03 GMT -5
I have already mechanically assembled the new "set" of switches, it has exactly the same dimensions as the present one and fits the front panel, it needs only a front plate with new "printings" (due to the different functions) ; but in the near future and as long as they work I will keep the "interlocking" keys (page 17), I love that feeling and the "clicks" of vintage range selectors on radio receivers of the 60's ...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2023 0:07:17 GMT -5
The right rear corner, now finished.
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Post by cwrr on Aug 5, 2023 0:33:36 GMT -5
Very nice, love the complete farm scene!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2023 20:41:07 GMT -5
I found again this article by a French modeller, who built a system like the "Danish" one to control his locos, together with an Arduino (and using DCC ). Unfortunately his recognition board (Easy VR by Fortebit) is speaker dependent ("His Master's Voice"), so it can only be used by the person who "trained" it. In fact, this allows any language, but in my case and with my sequencer whould need that the user had first to repeat the 8 keywords at least 4 times each (8 x 2 for training and, at least, 8 x 2 for verifying). I tested this board in the past, it works well and quickly, but go and explain to a youngster that he has to use this procedure first ; and if there is one failure the whole should be repeated from the beginning. The only advantage is that the data can be saved by connecting the board to a PC via an USB interface and played back, assuming that in the interval the voice did'nt change "too much" (Meanwhile I am afraid that this wouldn't work properly ... ). All the way, not to be used by kids, but only by mad hackers or computer nerds. The "less bad" system seems to be the Chinese one, despite of the fact that the user must (only once) speak louder to activate the system (and English to control the layout). But if the commands are repeated for feedback too loud (via an earphone or speaker) this can cause a kind of "recognition larsen" effect, the system enters an infinite loop ; so after a small delay the last recogniton command must be ignored and erased when the system should begin listening, because it is not possible to deactivate the recognition via software during the speaking !
Pushbuttons are, for kids, ultimately simpler and more reliable, they work straightforward and don't need any special knowledge !
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