In a previous post Simon1966 posted a link(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxh2ex5Iyqc) that showed a Digitrax development of an iPad app via a WiFi connection to Loconet. I was wondering if that WiFI connection might be an entry into a Decoder Pro version that would allow for wireless programming on the program track. I know that you already can do POM via the DT series throttles. It would be nice to eliminate the USB connection that is currently required for Decoder Pro programming on the program track . Am I all wet or is this a possibility?
Joe
Depends on exactly how the wifi interface they are working on will hook up. It's certainly POSSIBLE it will allow a conenction to Loconet - there are Bluetooth versions of the Locobuffer that wirelessly connect with the computer. The primary purpose of the Digitrax WiFi is to interface a smartphone app to act as a throttle. Honestly, kind of pointless unless you just absolutely refuse to use a computer, since you can do that TODAY with JMRI. The Digitrax will be a computer in a box (appliance) that does the interface standalone, but likely will not use the same protocol as the WiThrottle interface in JMRI. However, if it acts like a throttle, then surely it could eb used to program as well as run trains. And Digitrax is pretty openw itht heir designs, so if it's possible, it WILL be supported in JMRI.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks for the explanation Randy. I still prefer to do my programming via my laptop but it would be nice to be able to just open it and go without having to hook up the USB/Loconet connection. Just lazy I guess.
I hope that isn't the only application. I want to use a computer to control my layout - the computer I already own that is in my home office that is too far away to connect via USB. My interest in this product is to allow me to avoid buying yet another computer just for my train room. I hope to be able to run Railroad & Co TrainController on the remote computer and then control the whole works from an iPad or a SmartHand Controller (classic).
My expectation was that this product is no different than some of the Ethernet interfaces out there, just in this case wireless Ethernet. I hope I'm not dissapointed because otherwise I will be buying it immediately upon release. Its a lot cheaper (and cleaner) to buy this and use one of the the computers I already have than buy yet another computer just to run TC or JMRI.
Keit
I wonder what is going on with this? The reports from last year mention a Fall 2011 release. nothing else has been posted since?
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
Hi,Any news about Digitrax WiFi interface and Tower Control app? It has been a year since they announced it. I replaced my Prodigy Advance with Digitrax set for it :- )
Maybe they will have some info at the NTS. Anyone there that can report back?
I still think it was a silly idea for them to even waste time and money on, you can ALREADY do this, and could for at least 2 years now, with JMRI - and it works on ANY supported DCC system (so still good you ditched the MRC). And it's not like that's ALL it does - once you have JMRI connected you have DecoderPro to make programming decoders way easier - especially sound decoders and speed tables, you have PanelPro to make control panels, you have computer throttles, and you have the wifi throttles from iOS and Android devices of all sorts. Oh and no country specific issues like the dedicate dradios - if you can buy a wireless router in your country you cna use this. The exact tech of the wireless system does not matter, so long as your handheld can see your computer.
Dear Joe & Friends
Simon may have linked to it, but your mention of this is the first I've seen.
I'm so new to all of this, but I'm not new to computers and iOS devices. I have the Zephyr Xtra and find it prehistoric compared to what should be available.
The timetables mentioned in the video were great.
I'm guessing the interviewee represents a company that's been hired by Digitrax. Maybe they were unable to agree on terms of licensing, money, and other business particulars.
Thanks so much for the link. I downloaded the video so I can view it as often as I like without an internet connection.
--Jaddie
rrinker Maybe they will have some info at the NTS. Anyone there that can report back? I still think it was a silly idea for them to even waste time and money on, you can ALREADY do this, and could for at least 2 years now, with JMRI - and it works on ANY supported DCC system (so still good you ditched the MRC). And it's not like that's ALL it does - once you have JMRI connected you have DecoderPro to make programming decoders way easier - especially sound decoders and speed tables, you have PanelPro to make control panels, you have computer throttles, and you have the wifi throttles from iOS and Android devices of all sorts. Oh and no country specific issues like the dedicate dradios - if you can buy a wireless router in your country you cna use this. The exact tech of the wireless system does not matter, so long as your handheld can see your computer. --Randy
From what I understood about the Digitrax product, it was to be a wireless dongle that attached directly to the LocoNet, and the iThing app to access it - In other words, no computer needed.
That of course is different than JMRI, which requires a computer to run on AND a connection to the LocoNet AND a wireless card/AP/router for your iThing or Android device to connect to.
That's not to knock JMRI, I've used it since at least early 2003 and absolutely love it, just to point out a major difference in the design objectives of the two products.
In a conversation with AJ from Digitrax on Friday, he said that Overlook Labs is no longer working on the software. He said that the hardware's ready to go, just not the all-important software.
This was a small part of a long conversation, so I don't recall exactly whether he said they had found a new developer, or were looking for one.
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org