Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Wireless DCC throttle for most anyone - FREE! (or $10 if you want 28 functions)

7894 views
16 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bettendorf Iowa
  • 2,173 posts
Posted by Driline on Friday, December 18, 2009 8:04 AM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
Assuming I did have a DCC system,

 

Oh, its only a matter of time. I've organized a bake sale, and our local high school cheerleading squad car wash to raise money to buy AND install the DCC system of your choice.

You will be assimilated.

Modeling the Davenport Rock Island & Northwestern 1995 in HO
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 327 posts
Posted by locoworks on Friday, December 18, 2009 2:53 AM

10 bucks does seem a bargain, but you do need the PC and interface to go with the 'free' JMRI,  so if you haven't already got PC connectivity to get an ipod working as throttle would still cost a few bucks more than the 10.

gpa
  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Seattle
  • 82 posts
Posted by gpa on Friday, December 18, 2009 12:47 AM
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Christiana, TN
  • 2,134 posts
Posted by CSX Robert on Thursday, December 17, 2009 4:02 PM
locoi1sa
There goes all my minutes!!!
It doesn't use minutes for the throttle.
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,312 posts
Posted by locoi1sa on Thursday, December 17, 2009 3:56 PM

   There goes all my minutes!!! I wonder if I can video and control at the same time? How about voice recognition? Can you picture this? Engine 1234 to speed step 3 please. Then wait for acknowledgment from the decoder!!!

   And to think I must still be in the stone age. My cell phone only makes calls and the buttons are too small to text.

        Pete

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, December 17, 2009 10:02 AM

But can I browse the web on my Lenz Dispatcher's throttle?

Hmmmm, how do you know I'm not doing that right now?

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, December 17, 2009 7:59 AM

blrrfan
Is that the same or similar as the iPhone app TouchCab?

 

 Similar. Except since it works via JMRI, it works with any DCC system JMRI suppports, whereas the developer of TouchCab decided to have his app work directly with the DCC systems supported, which so far is limited to those with an ethernet port on them. He posted on one of the Yahoo groups about making it work with Digitrax, and I suggested he talk to the JMRI people and make it work that way, because then it would be ONE development effort to make it work with ALL DCC systems, but he chose not to. So TouchCab is still out there, but now we have WiThrottle that works with a wide variety of DCC systems.

 Since it works through JMRI, and you can 'capture' the throttle commands and use them in scripts, the possibilities are endless. Don't use sound, or otherwise have no need for all 29 functions? Use them to trigger scripts that do other things. Maybe indirect train control - the address inthe throttle is not the actual decoder address being controlled, but rather a surrogate that redirects via a script to control other things.

                    --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, December 17, 2009 7:50 AM

simon1966

Randy, back in the early stone-age when the PDA was the "hot" item, didn't someone come out with a throttle application that ran on a Psion or one of the other brands of market leading PDA?  The PDA, now there is a device that appeared, shone brightly for a very brief time and died a death! 

 Digitrax had the LocoPalm throttle for Palm PDAs, it was an app plus an interface unit tha tplugged into the Palm's I/O port and had a knob for the throttle. Address selection, direction, and function control was on the Palm screen.

 Problem was, every different Palm model was slightly different so there was no way to make a one size fits all device and it died. I think if you have the correct old Palm that it's actually still available. Originally it was rather expensive, about the price of a UT throttle.

                                      --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    July 2007
  • 36 posts
Posted by blrrfan on Thursday, December 17, 2009 6:49 AM
Is that the same or similar as the iPhone app TouchCab?
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Thursday, December 17, 2009 5:09 AM

Randy, back in the early stone-age when the PDA was the "hot" item, didn't someone come out with a throttle application that ran on a Psion or one of the other brands of market leading PDA?  The PDA, now there is a device that appeared, shone brightly for a very brief time and died a death! 

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

gpa
  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Seattle
  • 82 posts
Posted by gpa on Thursday, December 17, 2009 2:44 AM

I've been wondering when an application like this would come out. I don't have an IPod or IPhone, but an application like this makes it seem more appealing.

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Christiana, TN
  • 2,134 posts
Posted by CSX Robert on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 10:38 PM
I don't have or want an iPhone, but the software works just as good on an iPod, plus, with an iPod, you don't have to worry about someone calling(I don't have an iPod either, but my son does). I still think a Digitrax DT throttle feels more "natural," but for $10(for anyone who happens to already have an iPod or iPhone), this makes a heck of an extra throttle.
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 10:27 PM

Assuming I did have a DCC system, I would still need and iPhone or iPod. Two things I have no use for in this life.

My cell phone doesn't even take pictures and the text messaging is turned off at Verizon.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 9:18 PM

 Your train stops. Although the developer is considering putting in an option to turn off that behavior. My iPhone is the first phone I've had with a camera that DOESN'T take pictures of the inside of my pocket. It's pretty much impossible unless you were last using the camera feature and shove it in your pocket without locking it first. You can press and touch and slide all you want once it's asleep and it won't take a picture or call someone. ANd anticipating your next question, the throttle app keeps the phone from going into sleep mode so there's no loss of control.

                            --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • 2,751 posts
Posted by Allegheny2-6-6-6 on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 8:48 PM

 Yeah but what happens when your cell phone rings? I have a hard enough time not hanging up on people with call waiting and taking pictures of the inside of my pocket.

Just my 2 cents worth, I spent the rest on trains. If you choked a Smurf what color would he turn?
  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Poconos, PA
  • 3,948 posts
Posted by TomDiehl on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 8:14 PM

And to think that all I do with my cell phone is make and receive phone calls.

Smile, it makes people wonder what you're up to. Chief of Sanitation; Clowntown
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Wireless DCC throttle for most anyone - FREE! (or $10 if you want 28 functions)
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 7:01 PM

 Haven't seen anyoen talk about this here yet, but if you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, a wireless router in your house, and a DCC system that works with JMRI (sorry MRC users), there is a new app out called WiThrottle that turns your iPhone/iPod into a wireless throttle in conjunction with JMRI. The free version allows you to select a 2 or 4 digit loco and control speed, direction, F0, and F2 to blow the horn. The paid version (all of $10) allows you to control the loco and control F0-F28. Unlike earlier attempts to make a PDA into a throttle, this actually works WELL - mainly because of the touchscreen interface. It works with any DCC system supported by JMRI. Wirelessly switch between locos - you don't have to fiddle with the computer once JMRI is running. Range - whatever your wireless router/access point can do.

 I thought I already had some cool apps on my iPhone, but this is the coolest yet.

                                       --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!