Is anyone running a layout via their smartphone or tablet? Trying to see if theres an easy plug and play system out there that would allow me to do this. If i can run a layout and program decoders via a wifi system that would be awesom.e
Running is easy. Set up JMRI connected to your command station and enable the WiThrottle server in it. The, for iOS us the WiThrottle app, for Android use the EngineDriver app. Digitrax also has a WiFi hub with JMRI functionality built in. Programming: no. But JMRI is still one of the best methods to program decoders. You don’t have to remember which CV does what
ah yes im looking more into this now and it looks its just throttle and switch control. Was hoping for something more all in one with a small control unit attached to the track and everything handled in the tablet/smartphone. If that digitrax LNWI could be a standalone unit that would be great. plug that into the track (not a zeyphr, etc) and go and have everything controlled via the tablet/smartphone including programming. Someone has to invent this and with a great UI in the app.
Definitely! I'm trying to expose something similar in the ESP32 CS web interface to make it a tiny bit easier for end users as well, but there are definitely limitations. It is nothing more than a bridge device between LocoNet and WiFi. It does not generate the DCC signal etc.
I haven't tried programming with it but. We are using the Digitrax LNWI and tablet to run trains at shows. It works great I have a separate dedicated DCC setup with both a Digitrax Zephyr and a NCE Power Cab + a program track & test loop for each. This allows 2 people to work on programming at the same time using whatever system they prefer. It also has a DC loop for trouble shooting and testing DC Loco's. This eliminates any chance of a programming mishap or a accidental short that would interfere with or interrupt the smooth running of the trains on the display layout at shows.
right im just saying that if there was something that small that could generate the DCC signal+ power the track and that hooks up to your track and was ready to go with a tablet that would change the game for small table top setups. Having a zeyphr+power adapter+a LNWI and its power adapter is just a bit messy. Wireless button cell battery powered switches would complement my dream setup well too.
ESP32 CS can do just that You can't get much simpler than an ESP32 paired with an Arduino Motor shield and a power supply. Plugin and go.
except thats still a DIY solution =) from just googling it. ESP32 can do DCC? i should read up more on it. This the main site for that? https://arduinorailwaycontrol.com/
Good luck finding a small self-contained command station that offers WiFi built-in... Yup, I started with using hardware timers around two years ago and have since moved over to using the RMT peripheral which offloads a lot of the work from the main CPU cores (and as a result brings the signal to very near perfect symmetry).
yes which is why i said "would change the game for small table top setups" signifying such a product does not exist.
Well, it does exist but you have discounted it as DIY... Which is fine, having a complete package built from readily available off-the-shelf components may not be suitable for everyone. And there are a few commercial products in the works, including the ESP32 CS PCB which will be released soon. ESP32-CS and at least one commercial product will support RailCom as an added bonus.
Sprog has USB DCC command stations that use your computer to run JMRI software to control your trains from phones or tablets running throttle applications. They have bundles that include the DCC command station, power supply, and computer software. Sprog also has a Pi Sprog bundle that includes a Raspberry Pi 4, Sprog Pi "hat" for the R-Pi, custom Pi box enclosure, power supplies, and JMRI software, etc. You need a USB keyboard and an HDMI monitor (or another computer/laptop with keyboard/monitor) to program decoders, but you don't need them to control trains with throttle apps on your phone or tablet. This looks like maybe the closest thing to a small, plug and play system I have seen, but there may be others. The Pi Sprog is a system I am considering for my upgrade from DC to DCC, and welcome any comments on it. Digitrax has a WiFi adapter for all of their systems, that will let you run the throttle apps on your phone or tablet.
Have you priced buying the components and using Dex's Installer on the Arduino and Steve's image file for the SD card for the Pi? Might not be a big difference in price so getting it all in one box might make a difference but you can put the same DCC++, Pi and JMRI combination together pretty darn easy now, Sumner
Its still over $200 but an MRC Prodigy Express ($160) and the WiFi module ($95) is a standalone solution that works really well.
