I run a LGB MTS system with the 55060 pc control unit. My roster consists of 9 locomotives and 60 pieces of rolling stock. With installing all electronics that control layout in house (for obvious climate reasons and might just do indoor layout one day and can switch over power to inside) and trains being stored in shed on other side of yard not having wirless control involved alot of walking. First system started with a lap top that was given to me for free (ran windows 95 with 90mhz chip) now you know why it was free. So I used that laptop with a 40 foot umbilical cord on the patio, cool couple mouse clicks and we are away control was great. Not being a fan of the MTS 55015 lets face it does the job but required about 27 key strokes to perform a simple operation. But I wanted wireless control. There are many options for that but at a hefty price. And to upgrade a remote I'm not a fan of with the wireless control came with a price (1 transmitter and 3 reciever units) was not an option for me. In walks a new computer another unit given to me (with bad power supply) repaired it formatted drive installed Windows XP pro. Now Windows XP pro offers what is known as "Remote Desktop" (not offered in XP home version). Remote Desktop allows you to sign in to any computer on your home wired/wireless network and control that computer as if you were sitting in front of it. See where I'm going with this? Now here is the cool part. My cell phone is a Samsung Omnia I910 running windows mobile 6.1 and also has Remote Desktop Mobile. So yes I am able to control my layout from anywhere in my yard with my cell phone or Netbook. So below is an actual screen shot from my mobile device.
Now there is no reason that this would not work with another control software as long as the computer that is a host to your layout is running Windows XP professional and also connected to your home network. And this is not limited to a mobile device. ANY laptop, notebook, netbook if it has wifi and remote desktop you will be in wireless control. Below is a screen shot of my computer running the software
I don't have any train detection so I keep a very stripped down interface on the pc control software. Here are some instructions for Remote Desktop for computer to computer.
To connect using Remote Desktop, you must have a user account with a password. If you don't yet have a password on your account, create a password by opening Control Panel, and clicking User Accounts. Click your account, click Create a password, and follow the prompts. After you have a password, follow these steps to enable Remote Desktop:1.Right-click My Computer, and click Properties.2.On the Remote tab, click the Allow users to connect remotely to this computer check box.
Close window.
Learn IP address of host computer (one with train software). To find this double click on the Network connection icon in the system tray,click the support tab. Or open your router's control panel, find the area that shows you the Attached Devices and copy down the number under IP.
Go to another computer on your network.
Go to Start/All Programs/Accessories/Remote Desktop Connection
In the computer box enter that IP address and click connect and you should know your password.
Once you have established a computer to computer connection here are some mobile device instructions.You can use any Wifi enabled pocket pc or pda. Must have Remote Desktop Mobile installed (check programs folder).
Before you can connect using a mobile device Wifi connection must be established. After that find and launch "Remote Desktop Mobile" on your mobile device.
The Desktop Remote Mobile program is very basic. It shows Status : Not Connected and 4 blank boxes. This is what I put in them to get this to work, Careful with those automatic spaces after words!Computer: The LOCAL ip address of the desktop computer you are trying to access. (Usually 192.168.#.#- the last 2 digits are specific to your computer.) To find this double click on the Network connection icon in the system tray,click the support tab. Or open your router's control panel, find the area that shows you the Attached Devices and copy down the number under IP.User name: This is the user name on your train host computer that you setup in Winxp of the user you want to access.Password: This is the password for that same user name. YOU MUST USE A PASSWORD. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE, SET ONE UP ON YOUR DESKTOP OR IT WILL NOT CONNECT.See above.Domain: Leave it blank
Click Connect.
TADA!
Now "Remote Desktop Mobile" has a 10minute timeout but if using a laptop or netbook (computer to computer) it does not. But it takes one click to bring it back up on phone.
So I was able to achive wireless control with resources that were allready in my house and in my pocket and at no extra cost. And the look on peoples faces when I take my phone out of my pocket to pull off a maneuver is priceless. This is something I never came across online. I hope I planted a seed even if you don't run the MTS software. I guess this could even be applied in any scale.
Happy Controlling
Toby
Another form of "remote control". I suppose the next thing would be to put internet cameras up and then you could run the trains while on lunch at work.
Tom Trigg
I've been doing that for years
Had some of the original KAM software on my pc, and ran the windows CE software on my old toshiba PDA's.
And there is an app for the iphone too, some guys in germany...
I have about 8-9 cameras around the house and a vpn connection to work, so I can run and watch trains, but it's a little tricky.
Regards, Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
Yes Greg....Wow
A little update if anyone cares. I purchased an "Acer aspire one" netbook with Windows7 starter. Wireless control with Wifi has been flawless have not had any issues other than operator error while enjoying a cocktail. The stupid red lgb controller only sees the light of day when I need to change a cv. And the netbook battery life is amazing 7+ hours of running and not needing to plug in.
good day
You'll laugh, but I also bought the Acer netbook, the one with the 11.6" screen, 2 gig ram, got it cheap - $280, because it had Vista on it... I put XP pro on it (they have all the drivers at Acer) and it is great, I'm surprised how well that little Atom processor works!
Seems now you can only get the netbook in the 10" screen, the 11.6 now only comes with a celeron and costs about $100 more.
Went with the 10" atom and came with 512 ram 160gig hd. $280 microcenter and $40 extra for 2 gigs of ram. Purchased in mid march though. Can't beat the size as it cradles nicely in one hand. Off topic I have a lot of XP experience and very little 7starter time with no complaints. Should I feel blessed that I never used vista or touched it? Seems to get a bad rap. And something about remote desktop in vista being stripped.
good day.
Yeah I have to admit I really scored, 11.6", 2 gig, $280, have not seen that equaled. Yes, I never went Vista, bypassed it, everything I have is XP or Win7... Vista was a mess, I manage the IT department at our company, never purchased a Vista machine, and never will.
Remote desktop is used all the time by my staff, and I believe you are right about RD.
Chopperthedog Should I feel blessed that I never used vista or touched it?
You need to pay serious homage to your protecting stars! I had it for almost a year until I could get a legal copy of 7. Every other month I had to do the old "Format C:" routine.
Just picked up a "Acer Aspire One" 10.1-inch for use as a "photo lab" on our upcoming vacation, 14-day cruise to Alaska/Canada and yes we will be riding on all trains available. The web-book will serve as a "dumping place for all the daily photo’s. I’ve been known to take a few too many pic’s while on vacation. Back in the days of "film" I fired up 39 rolls of 36-exposure 35-mm film on the Cumbres and Toltec, while my wife shot a modest 22 rolls of 24-exposure. And all of that was on Day 1; we bought up all the film in Chama that night for the return trip the next day.
It's a very sweet little machine. Enjoy your trip!
And Holy that's a lot of film.
Chopperthedog And Holy that's a lot of film. So when you went digital YOU were the one responsible for the closing of all those old "Fotomat" booths that were in miscellaneous places.
So when you went digital YOU were the one responsible for the closing of all those old "Fotomat" booths that were in miscellaneous places.
Yeap, that was my fault. Remember, I said that was day 1, I didn't tell you that was a three day trip. Day 1 was from Antinito to Chama, Day 2 was the revese trip, Day 3 was chasing BOTH trains on the ground by car. That turned out to be most of $400 in 1983 dollars (just the film processing charges.
HAH!! I should have said Holy Scrap. Bar of soap? I feel 10. But we do play with trains.
Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month