Hi folks,
I sent a question to digitrax helpdesk, and haven't heard back, so I'll post it here:
Hello,
If the show has WiFi available, you can use that connection. You can controll turnouts if you have the version you have to buy. See below links. Joe
http://www.withrottle.com/html/manual.html
http://www.digitrax.com/tsd/KB1056/lnwi-security-considerations-enabling-and-customiz/
The LNWI does not connect via your home WiFi network in any case. It is it's own access point and as such will have its own SSID to connect to. You connect your phones to it rather than your home internet wifi.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
LNWI is avery straight forward and simple device that has its ownn access point and does not use any existing wifi network, as mentioned by Randy. The smart phone/tablet applications work as a wireless throttle with the exception that it can not be used for programming. Digitrax will not respond to questions associated with Engine Driver or WiThrottle is becouse they has nothing to do with those products. There is a lot inforformation on the web site for the applications that will answer all questions. One more note, any smart phone or tablet will work and it does not have to have an active phone connection. This means that if you have an old android or iphone , they can be used as a wireless throttle. By using a spare or old phone you do not have to give up your wifi connection on your active phone to run trains.
Plus if you use your old one that no longer has a phone plan on it, you won't get interrupted by a phone call when running trains.
This of course ahs always been the case, even the 'old way' of using WiThrottle with JMRI - the phone/tablet does not need a phone or data plan from the phone company to do this, old phones can function fully on wifi only even though they may only be able to make 911 calls. Browsers, email, etc. all work without paying the phone company as long as there is a wifi connection available. Pulled out my ancient iPhone 3G not too long ago - charged it up, and it still worked!
Greg,
My NTRAK club has been using two LNWI's for about 4 months now. So far there have been no glitches other than the 4 throttle limit of the LNWI. With two we can connect up to 8 devices.
The glitch is that once a device is connected, it will connect to the LNWI any time it is within range. I have gotten into the habit of turning WIFI off on my Iphone and Android tablet when they are not being used to run trains. This allows other members to connect. They have to do the same when done running trains.
Other then this the LNWI is simply plug and play. Performance has been flawless. We also have a wireless router connected to JMRI. LNWI is much easier to set up.
Martin Myers
Greetings!
Well, this has to be a first...I did a "search the community" and it actually found this related thread! Also, I surfed the internet and believe I have found my answers, but want to confirm my research.
My wife got a new iPad. I am now in possession of an iPad2. I am using a Digitrax DCS51 as my command station with a DT402 to run my trains. I do not have any computer interphase for the command station.
If I download the WiThrottle app and JMRI to the iPad, install a Digitrax LNWI, I should be able to program and run trains through the iPad?
Please confirm or deny my suspicions.
Thanks, Terry
Inspired by Addiction
See more on my YouTube Channel
It is my understanding that you can run trains but not do programming. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Joe
You cannot install JMRI on the iPad anyway. JMRI runs on Windows, Mac, or Linux. IPad, even an IPad Pro, is not Mac OSX.
Even with a computer interface, JMRI on a computer, and WiThrottle on a tablet or phone, you cannot program from the tablet. At least, no via the WiThrottle app.
So no, you would not be able to program trains through the LNWI. Run trains, yes.
Thanks for the clarification. Although the WiThrottle would be a "nice to have" on the iPad, it's not worth the expense. If they could figure out how to make the iPad (Apple) and JMRI compatible, then I would probably get the LNWI. Oh well, I'll just figure out something else.
Terry
JMRI or no JMRI, the LNWI will not do programming. You need an actual computer interface for that. What's holding you back? JMRI on the computer plus an interface gives you the same loco control features of the LNWI PLUS the programming and layout control capability of JMRI.
If you already have a wifi router in your house, you only need a computer capable of running JMRI, and an interface, either the PR4 or a Locobuffer-USB. Even a Raspberry Pi is sufficient, and you cna download 'ready to roll' configurations for the Pi so you don;t have to fiddle with linux on top of everything, but I still think setting it up on a basic (read - you can easily use a 10 year old machine) Windows computer is the easiest. You can buy refurb small form factor office machines with Windows 7 or Windows 10 for under $200 that are actually fairly beefy and only a few years old - 3-4 years old tops. Plenty of horsepower to run JMRI, or do whatever else you want, and they are more or less the footprint of an IPad Pro, just thicker. The type of machines you might find in an office, bolted right to the back of the monitor. Name brand, too, Dell or HP in most cases.
rrinker What's holding you back? --Randy
What's holding you back?
I am familiar with the LNWI and how it works. My problem is that many layout owners in our weekly operating group are afraid to let anyone use throttles other than Digitrax for fear of their system being corrupted or not working smoothly during operation sessions. Can you tell me any info that would help me persuade them that this is not true. I know of one instance where JMRI throttle server was used during an operating session and the layout owner said a smart phone user was turning the layout power off when he stopped his train and screwing things up in his system. Ever since he does not allow anything on his layout except his Digitrax throttles. Could the smart phone user have turn his system on and off? Is there a setting in JMRI to prevent this? I would like to be able to persuade all involved that there is nothing to fear if set up correctly. I would love to aquire a LNWI so I could use my ESU CAB Control II in operating session but before I spend the money I would like to assure all that I would not effect their DCC system while using it. Any info would be appreciated so I may educate my colleagues so everyone could relax and some could enjoy wifi control.
Yes, if the person hit the E-Stop button in WiThrottle it will kill the layout power (like the big red buttons in an industrial plant - shuts EVERYTHING off). That's not how you stop your train, but it is also perhaps an indication of why I don;t like touch screen throttles - the user probably was about to hit something, and couldn't slide the throttle down to stop fast enough so in a panic they hit the big red part of the screen that says STOP. And it worked.
I am not certain but I believe you can disable this in JMRI. Not sure how the LNWI handles it. There is nothing int he instruction sheet or the advanced setup instructions that mantion any option to disable track power control or define the type of E-Stop. Within WiThrottle app I think you can define it just as on the DT40x throttles, to be either loco or global. Where local stops only your selected loco, and global kills the whole layout.