Guys:
I'm coming back in to the hobby and notice that Bluetooth-equipped locomotives and accessories seem like a great option.
Are any of you aware of how far this can go?
Specifically, I'd like to know if there's a way I can have a friend operate a train on one layout with the Bluetooth technology and over the Internet — hundreds or thousands of miles away — while I stand and watch (and maybe operate my own train?)
Really interested to read your responses.
Steve
Steve SweeneyDigital Editor, Hobby
i know that there are model railroads that are operable over the internet.. speed and direction setting, changing turnouts, etc ..
whether they use bluetooth on the host end, i have no idea ?
I'm not aware of any Bluetooth to internet and then back again gateways, but there may be such a thing. BT itself is fairly low range, depending on the specific version, somewhere around 30-50 feet. For it to work over long distances, there would need to be a BT receiver and some software that would send the signal to another computer on the internet somewhere else in the world where a BT transmitter would generate the BT radio signals to the receiver in the loco.
CLosest to this is people have for years now been having remote dispatchers for operating sessions using JMRI. It's not hard to provide access to a dispatcher panel from anywhere in the world. Or for that matter, access to JMRI throttles. But without a live feed from an onboard camera it is a little difficult to drive trains from remote locations.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I agree with Randy. Bluetooth is short range. Look it up.
My hearing aids have Bluetooth with iPhone.
So do the keyboard and trackballl mouse for my PC.
You would need visual on the layout to know what you are doing with the loco. I am sure it can be done though.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Bluetooth wireless in stage one is about 30' to a maximum of 100'. Bluetooth stage 2 is around 300'.
No matter what one uses, how can you 'see' what you are doing...
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
A few are running their locos using Bluetooth. They can operate, dead rail, no wires, on DC layouts and DCC layouts.
Bachmann sells the EZ App locos and I have seen discussion in the MRH forums.
The technology is evolving. Rechargable batteries are the issue.
Ruich
If I understand the OP he wants to be able to control a layout using an Internet connection via a smartphone using an app like Engine Driver or WiiThottle.
I suppose it's possible if you have a separate monitor to see what you are doing.
Joe Staten Island West
joe323If I understand the OP he wants to be able to control a layout using an Internet connection via a smartphone using an app like Engine Driver or WiiThottle. I suppose it's possible if you have a separate monitor to see what you are doing.
Steve Sweeney... over the Internet — hundreds or thousands of miles away — while I stand and watch (and maybe operate my own train?)
it's not obvious that what you can see won't be significantly delayed and you may end up reacting to something too late.
one of the promises of 5G is low latency, < 1ms, which not only implies low delays over the air, but also over the network. while the link mentions financial trading, a more extreme example is remote medical surgery.
Not sure just because the network can provide low latency transmission that all internet links will have such performance. Seems it would require prioritization, and if so, less expensive links would pay the price of being delayed.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
About 15 years ago there was a site at a University in Stuttgart Germany I believe. I discovered it quite by accident. I think it was the engineering dept. They had two model railroad layouts set up and you could click on them and make the trains go around the layout.
I can't find it now but when I was just returning to the hobby back then I use to go and give it a click before bedtime when that part of the world would be sleeping, it was the only time I could get a turn.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Love using Bluetooth with my Legacy locomotives.
To begin, I'm not asking for precision performance for switching or prototypical ops, but enough so that you can throttle up and down and activate a few features remotely while watching via a live stream. It would be like a test drive of sorts. I don't have access to 5G, but could easily have business-quality fiber lines connecting the sites as well as Facebook or YouTube.
a starting point would be to add one or more cameras so that someone outside the home can see the layout.
a second step would be to be able to control a train via an internet/wifi connection within the room with the layout. There seem to be various ways this is done today.
the final step would be to determine the IP address for controlling the train from outside your house using the same approach used in above. There's a way to determine how your service provider assigns global addresses and make sure it's accessible (gamers do this).