Wi Throttle not so much fun?

[gavino200]

I tried out Wi Throttle today with the boy. We saw the local club guys use it yesterday at a train show. We did see them have a system wide catastrophic failure, but I had no idea why and didn't think anything of it.

 

So we downloaded Engine Driver for the android and wi throttle for the iphone, and turned on the JMRI wi throttle function, and started to play.

 

It was a bit fun using our phones (our DCC system isn't wireless though we do have super long cables). And the wi throttle interface is nice. The Engine driver design is horrible.

 

But....it's just not very stable and not much fun. There's a lag in response, and the locos seem to follow some kind of internal CV that tells the engine to accelerate in a realistic fashion, to replicate a real trains inertia. But it just felt sluggish, and like we had less control of our engines.

 

The other problem is that, if you give it too many commands it crashes. 

 

Overall, I give it a zero on my binary grading system.

 

Has anyone had any more positive experiences of this set up?

[inobu]

Its funny I had a conversation last week with an Engineer and he said trains are not controllable. They "start" them up and "watch" them stop. In some circumstances it will take a train 5 miles to stop so in reality all trains are potential runaway until they stop. So you are experiencing the real aspect of controlling a train.....none

 

As for the throttles.  

 

The wifi throttles are more so a convenience device that allows you freedom to control the train. The ergonomics of the screen is not good but there's only so much space on a phone's screen. Using a larger screen may provide a better layout but who wants to walk around with a Laptop in hand. I think it is a good replacement for the basic throttles. 

 

 

 

The yard control is for the small and slow switchers and has short travel.

 

 

The road controls has higher speeds and longer slide travel. 

 

JMRI 

 

The true aspect is the computer control of the trains and the animation aspect. Running scripts that operate trains on a schedule and trying to interact with that schedule. The sound control, lighting aspects and being able to control every element on the layout is what exciting in my opinion.

 

 

For me I use the basic Zephyr throttle for yard control and the wifi throttle for main line control. The Zephyr throttle has the quick response for coupling and uncoupling which cannot be done with any of the hand throttles anyway.

 

Also MRC does not work well with JMRI.

 

Inobu

[gavino200]

Its funny I had a conversation last week with an Engineer and he said trains are not controllable. They "start" them up and "watch" them stop. In some circumstances it will take a train 5 miles to stop so in reality all trains are potential runaway until they stop. So you are experiencing the real aspect of controlling a train.....none

 

As for the throttles.  

 

The wifi throttles are more so a convenience device that allows you freedom to control the train. The ergonomics of the screen is not good but there's only so much space on a phone's screen. Using a larger screen may provide a better layout but who wants to walk around with a Laptop in hand. I think it is a good replacement for the basic throttles. 

 

 

 

The yard control is for the small and slow switchers and has short travel.

 

 

The road controls has higher speeds and longer slide travel. 

 

JMRI 

 

The true aspect is the computer control of the trains and the animation aspect. Running scripts that operate trains on a schedule and trying to interact with that schedule. The sound control, lighting aspects and being able to control every element on the layout is what exciting in my opinion.

 

 

For me I use the basic Zephyr throttle for yard control and the wifi throttle for main line control. The Zephyr throttle has the quick response for coupling and uncoupling which cannot be done with any of the hand throttles anyway.

 

Also MRC does not work well with JMRI.

 

Inobu

 

 

I agree with the realism point you make. We are in a small minority, in that we are a bit closer to the "kids playing with trains" end of the spectrum. We're fairly serious about the modeling, but we're definitely playing. 

 

I also agree with the convenience. I actually think the iphone/wi throttle interface is quite good. The android/engine driver graphical interface is horrible. Difficult to use and ugly. Double whammi. Also, I couldn't get it to work at all until I turned my bluetooth off. 

 

MRC used not work with JMRI at all. It's a recent addition. I realize that MRC is not a very popular system. I got it because my son was six at the time and it seemed like the simplest system. It still seems to do everything we need it to do. JMRI does actually seem to work pretty well with the MRC. The computer based throttle also works pretty well. Better than the wi throttle, oddly enough. I expected them to function the same, but there's probably no reason they would have to.

 

I've never used any other DCC cab or system, so I've nothing to compare my experience to. Have you used JMRI on MRC and other DCC systems as well? I'm curious about what the differences were. What system do you use?

 

Honestly, I would have had more patience for the smart phone controller system, myself. But I generally run the trains with the kiddo, and he found it to be considerably less fun. So sort of a buzzkill and we're shelving it for now. Unless we can find a way to make it run more like the regular hand held cab. 

 

It was nice to be able to access the whole roster. And the consist control looked like it would be great. I love the idea of using the phones and laptop with the DCC system. 

 

I'm looking forward to trying to computerize the junction control. I'd like to set up a touch screen track control. Also, I'm planning to add a good amount of lighting to the layout in a later phase. Using computer control for lighting would also be fun for me. 

 

I like the idea of a fully integrated system, with track, trains, and lighting all controlled by computer. A duel or tripple touch screen control center would be great. Again, sort of a geek-out guilty pleasure. I'd also like to experiment in the future with an automated program to have the layout active while I'm close by but focused mainly on something else. 

 

All of these possibilities are fascinating to me and generate plenty of nerd-fun. But for now it's a bit lacking in kid-fun. I'll probably continue to experiment with JMRI/smart phone functions when I run trains by myself. I really hope something like wi-throttle comes out for the android. Engine driver is seriously lacking.

Edited January 9, 2017 by gavino200

[inobu]

Good synopsis. 

 

I've have the Digitrax, NCE and MRC systems and set them up on JMRI. When it is all said and done Digitrax comes out first. Not because of the ergonomics but based on their features sets. They have more supportive components than the other manufactures. The problem with Digitrax is the control panels are from the 80's. Once you get away from that its functionality is the best. 

 

NCE has some really good features in their components but you need to buy their top system to access them. That becomes an issue.

I've been going through each component and have posted my findings. You can search them in JNS.  A few months ago it was the signaling, I finished that and went into sound units.

I'm working on the stations announcing train arrivals and departures.

 

If you want Touch screen controls for turnouts switch to Digitrax use their loconet and get DCC Specialties Jack Wabbit controllers. They are the easiest all around.

If you are going to put things up for a while leave a section of track out for a test bed and learn python scripting. Once you get that going you will be able to do a lot of things. 

 

Anyway its nice to see your question and you guys doing a lot of different things. 

 

I think you should try to do a Ntrak module or 2 or 4. 

 

Inobu

Edited January 9, 2017 by inobu

[beakaboy]

Just read the other day that someone has produced a control board for operating your locos with DCC using Bluetooth to your phone or tablet, etc. I tried Engine driver a while back using Wi-Fi, but the signal kept getting lost in certain areas of my steel shed where the layout is stored. Bluetooth board is good for at least 60ft distance from phone, tablet. Sounds promising!