I'm reading about WiThrottle, and I see this line in their manual:
"Bachmann has restricted their protocol, which prevents control via JMRI."
Could somebody please explain to me what this means?
It means there is no computer interface to the E Z Command system as Bachmann hasn't shared their system protocl (like Loconet on Digitrax or Expressnet on Lenz).
It took a LOT of nudging to finally get MRC to share their cab bus protocol with the JMRI developers, but eventually they did so you can use JMRI with MRC DCC systems.
--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 Randy. So to be clear, you can use WiThrottle and JMRI to control Bachmann locos (because they are just DCC, correct?). But Bachmann hasn't created any special box that allows wi-fi communication directly with WiThrottle and Engine Driver (like the MRC Prodigy)? Is that correct?
Only certain Bachmann locomotives are equipped with an EZ-App reciever.
They will not respond to DCC commands.
http://e-zapptraincontrol.com/products/
Here is a MR review of Bachmann's first EZ APP locomotive:
http://mrr.trains.com/product-reviews/staff-reviews/2016/03/bachmann-e-z-app-rs-3
There is a comment in that review which states:
Since the model doesn’t have a DCC decoder, it can’t be run with a DCC throttle. However, the locomotive can be controlled with a the variable voltage dial of a DC power pack by turning the power pack throttle all the way up and flipping the direction switch four times. There is a delay in the throttle response time, though, and I found that the locomotive ran much more reliably with E-Z App control.
Other Bachmann locomotives, Spectrum, Sound Value, etc. are DCC or they are "DCC Ready" and either have a DCC decoder or a DCC decoder can be installed in them.
Hope that helps,
Good Luck, Ed
EZ App is COMPLETELY different. They are not DCC locos.
Again - NMRA DCC specifications ensure compatibility at the TRACK level - so Bachmann DCC engines can be operated by any brand DCC system, just like you can use any brand decoders and control them with a Bachmann DCC system (Bachmann made 2 systems, the EZ Command is a basic console type system that only uses addresses 1-9, button 0 uses address 0 to run a DC loco. It was something customa made for them by Lenz. They also had the Dynamic, which is a bit more full-featured and uses an infrared wireless controller. There's some expansion. It was a stripped down version of ESU's Navigatorm whcih was fully expandable)
WiThrottle and JMRI operate on the cab bus side - there is no standard set for that. Most systems can connect to JMRI, either directly through serial ports or ethernet, or via interface devices that link the computer's USB bus to the system's cab bus. There is no such interface for the EZ Command, plus Bachmann has never released what the signals on such an interface would be even if there was one, so there is no way to make JMRI talk to it. Other vendors like NCE< Digitrax, Lenz, MRC, etc. have shared their cab bus protocols which allowed the JMRI developers to include support.
passenger1955 Thanks Randy. So to be clear, you can use WiThrottle and JMRI to control Bachmann locos (because they are just DCC, correct?). But Bachmann hasn't created any special box that allows wi-fi communication directly with WiThrottle and Engine Driver (like the MRC Prodigy)? Is that correct?
You can use WiThrottle (or Engine Driver for Android devices) and JMRI to control Bachmann or any other DCC-equipped locos as long as you're using a JMRI-supported DCC system. The full list of JMRI-supported hardware is here:
http://jmri.org/help/en/html/hardware/index.shtml
Also, if you have a Digitrax DCC system, they just introduced the LNWI. It (more or less) replaces the computer/JMRI and allows WiThrottle and/or Engine Driver to operate locos directly (but it does not replace the non-throttle abilities of JMRI such as PanelPro, OperationsPro, etc).
geomodelrailroaderBachmann and Lenz don't support JMRI you will have to program them manually. Also have you read their instructions? They are misleading since Bachmann, Lenz, and Rapido come from Europe they have higher amps then Digitrax and NCE which are American systems. MRC has given out their programming codes Bachman has not and neither has Lenz and Rapido. If you get their CV's wrong or place a locomotive that is not DCC compatible on track that is not separated into blocks you will blow up the motor and the decoder. Don't use Bachmann or Lenz systems with analog or JMRI decoders you will blow them up.
This post is wrong in a lot of ways.
JMRI supports Lenz.
Rapido makes locomotives, cars and stuff but not DCC systems. They are currently using ESU decoders which are supported by JMRI.
The rest about blowing up motors and decoders with wrong CVs etc. is totally false and misleading.
Yea, well that's his style. He parachutes into an old thread that has re-opened, tells us how bad things are, what products are the worst, and always has a "blow up" scenario, and then disappears.
He doesn't answer any questions, defend his statements or participate in the conversation.
Mike.
My You Tube
He's also confusing Rapido Trains in Canada with Arnold-Rapido (do they even still do business under that name? I see Arnold but not Arnold-Rapido). Not sure where this "Higher amp" stuff comes from, Lenz's DCC boosters are in the same range and most any other DCC brand. XpressNet is fully supported by JMRI.
I wouldn't say "parachutes in" so much as lobs a few false information grenades and ducks behind a wall never to be seen again.