Build a Raspberry Pi powered live train station sign for your desk

Discussions
41

Yes! you can do it as well! Check this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5-r_9ggHqI&t=1492s

However your device is online? Did you think on adding the wifi-connect block on it?

42

Hey @chrispm glad youā€™re enjoying the project! Github is the best place to post issues like this, this forum isnā€™t monitored for bugs like that: Issues Ā· chrisys/train-departure-display Ā· GitHub

1 Like
43

Hi All,

Has anyone managed to get 2 screens working to simulate different platforms - I notice there are variables for it, but Iā€™m wondering how the wiring would work. Iā€™m using a PiZero 2 - but not sure that supports multiple channels

Thanks

44

Hi @leacho73 please check the Github repo and the documentation there, it details how the wiring would work for 2 screens: https://github.com/chrisys/train-departure-display/blob/main/docs/02-connecting-the-display-to-the-pi.md

If you have any issues itā€™s best to add an issue on Github too :slight_smile:

2 Likes
45

Thanks @chrisys - great link, I didnā€™t spot that when I saw the original tutorial!

46

Great Project @chrisys and canā€™t wait for the screen to arrive so that I can test! Thanks for you work.

Quick question, (to run before walking) to try resolve issues ahead of screen delivery:

  • is there a way I can see logs or data feeds to ensure all is working fine and data will be correctly shown?
  • is it possible to run 2 oled screens with 2 different train stations? Or alternatively a button to flick between 2 or more preset stations?

Thanks in advance!

47

Fab thanks for checking.
.

48

Hello everyone, new to raspberry PI, this project has made me want to experiment.

Iā€™ve had a disaster with the screens but now finally have one with the 1322 driver.

The issue I now have is the display is a mirror image also a small section of the screen is displaying nonsense. Has anyone else had this?

20240111_145156
20240111_1451561920Ɨ2560 193 KB

49

Hello @Neogeo first of all welcome to the balena community.

Could you please share the variables that you are using and the dtoverlay?

More information here train-departure-display/docs/04-configuration.md at main Ā· chrisys/train-departure-display Ā· GitHub

50

Hi thank you for your reply. I have tried to change the config for the values of screen rotation but think itā€™s a deeper issueā€¦
what is dtoverlay?

image
image717Ɨ762 45.9 KB

51

I live opposite the station in S.London, Just finished this and setting it up! Timed my sprints to the station to perfection.

I designed a slightly fatter case if like me you suck at soldering and want to finish the sign without trimming down the cables

link to the Fat Controller Case: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6438610

1 Like
52

Iā€™m in the process of setting this up for the first time, i have to figure out how to move the blob bit on the screen next, but Iā€™d ideally like this to work with Underground info.

Iā€™ve seen someone who has managed but have no idea how

As soon as I can get the screen to turn on, Iā€™ll be looking to contact them regarding their code, but if anyone here has any idea, it would also be greatly appreciated.

53

@kingkongballs itā€™d be a reasonable amount of coding work to implement Underground support in this project - youā€™d essentially need to implement another interface to the TFL API instead of the existing one, and then create another layout/arrangement for the information thatā€™s very different to the existing one. I would love to see it in the project but itā€™s not something I have capacity to add at the moment - PRs definitely welcome!

54

I followed this tutorial to a successful completion (although I didnā€™t do the physical case). However, I have now used this (and some of the code and principles) as inspiration to create a broadband speed monitor application (see picture).

So many thanks for a brilliant article and the inspiration!

IMG_20240418_162033
IMG_20240418_1620331920Ɨ1440 253 KB

2 Likes
55

Hey @jerrypursall first of all welcome to the balena community!

This looks superb! Good job!

1 Like
56

Love it @jerrypursall ! Glad the project was of some use either way!

1 Like
57

Thanks to all who helped making this project. I was able to make the program work (I see in my dashboard that my device is live) but for some reason, I canā€™t get my display working. I suspect it was due to my poor soldering skills. It was my first time and I kept trying but I guess the display is now defective. I have now bought another set of raspberry pi, display and wires, this time all with headers - hopefully that one will work.

I have a question though. In the tutorial it wasnā€™t clear where it gets the power. It uses a spare usb cable and I was not sure where it was connected. I wonder why not just plug a micro-usb to usb-a?

Thanks again!

58

Curious if anyone has tried using the 3.12ā€™ā€™ displays for this, they look identical, I am going to order one to see if it works

59

You can solder the two power wires directly onto the Pi board, check board documentation for the correct ports

1 Like
60

The reason for this in the guide is that doing so adds a very bulky connector sticking right out the side of the device and makes it impossible to fit it into such a compact case. If youā€™re not using the same case, or using a different case or stand, you can definitely just use a micro USB cable. :slight_smile:

1 Like