This link was posted on the Atlas forum by Jens Wulf
This video last 9 minutes and I found it is worth viewing to the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPx2gl94BrA
Jack W.
I am not a member of the Atlas Forum but by chance had been browsing around it today to see if it was alive as it is hosted by the same folks that run my favorite forum railroad-line.com which has been down for 2 days.
Anyway I had seen the YouTube links that he showed including this one. It looks like a very nice application. I have to say I am not sold on the icons as a means of control. The basic ones are fine, but when watching the use of the Marklin system it becomes clear that for most functions you are running blind and really don't know what is what. I think I would just as soon select a function by its function number than try and remember what I had assigned to an obscure icon.
The direct Ethernet connection to the device is very nice. The functionality obtained via the wireless network is very similar to that which can be achieved with the Wii Throttle and JMRI http://jmri.sourceforge.net/help/en/package/jmri/jmrit/withrottle/UserInterface.shtml when you have a PC interface connected to your Digitrax or NCE system http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2z6QfBqcBo
The Marklin system sort of integrates a Decoderpro type application right into the system, eliminating the need for a separate PC.
I think that these are really neat applications that can only get better.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Pro: No PC required
Con: limited to iPhone, limited to just the Marklin system
WiThrottle in JMRI works with both iPhones and Android devices, plus a Windows Phone 7 version is int he works. And it works with any DCC system supported by JMRI. Which is nice because I can use my iPhoe as a throttle on my Digitrax system and then go to a friend's house with NCE and use it there as well.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
this version of the Marklin central station (CS2) supports DCC, likewise the small starter-set mobile station (MS2). I think the main reason is that Maerklin owns the Trix brand and is selling 2rail analog and digital in both H0 and N, and here switched from SelecTrix to DCC.
PS: I posted the links to other peoples videos in the Atlas forum because somebody who had his model rail road in storage for some years asked if there was anything newer in the market re digital starter sets (and mentioned just 2 digit vs. 4 digit addressing)
cheers/jw
(jens)
Beware using WIFI devices along side duplex throttles. They intefere with each other. I experienced it a the club.
Springfield PA
Hamltnblue Beware using WIFI devices along side duplex throttles. They intefere with each other. I experienced it a the club.
This is interesting, if I may ask can you elaborate about the problems encountered?
Yes, they wouldn't work when I was standing next to someone who had the WIFI device. WIFI runs at or near the same frequency Bluetooth also runs in the same band. The 2 will tend to Jam each other.
Here's a yahoo digitrax group post on it . If you search the group you'll find several other posts on the topic.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Digitrax/message/154043
Thanks for the info Hamltnblue.
They should't - Digitrax Duplex is capable of using channels that wifi doesn't. You just have to set to soemthign other than the default. I mentioned this at the last big show I was at and was told it hops channels automatically. Not according to the Digitrax documentation. My wifi router doesn;t jump channels automatically either. There's a setting for that.
What can kill you is a microwave oven, since it's all over the 2.4GHz spectrum. That happened at the show too, we have a small microwave we set up for peopel who want to heat up water or heat up a lunch instead of paying show prices for a burger. It got turned so the side opposite the magnatron faced the UR92. Control was lost when the mcirowave was turned on - turning it sideways resolved the problem.
As for mutlipel clubs all using the radio, there are enough channels PLUS the LocoNet ID that even in a large exhibition there shouldn't be any problem - but the various groups need to communicate what channel and ID they use to each can set to something different. At least with Duplex and 2.4GHz you cna operate next to some NCE radio guys and still work.