Acquiring Systems for Wifi iPhone Throttle

[IVRW]

I just went to the annual OT&W train show, and this time, we had a DCC system running. A cool aspect of it though was that he had JMRI on his computer, and our phones could link via wifi to the system, and thus run the trains through a free app. I already have a Digitrax Zephyr system, and I want to know how I can link my computer to the layout to do this. I know from him that all my computer needs is JMRI installed on it, but I didn't hear the explanation of how the computer would link to the layout when I already have a DCC system. So, what equipment would I use to connect the computer to the Digitrax system to use iPhone throttles and where would I buy it?

[stilson4283]

you need to connect Loconet to your computer through something like the following:

Locobuffer from rr-cirkits:

http://www.rr-cirkits.com/

PR3 (this is what I use):

http://www.digitrax.com/prd_compint_pr3.php

or other info from JMRI here:

http://jmri.sourceforge.net/help/en/html/hardware/loconet/Digitrax.shtml

I use the PR3 because I can also program sound locomotives off of that system. 

Any of these devices will allow JMRI to talk to your layout.  Once that happens you can control and program locomotive via the computer. 

The last step is installing the WiThrottle (Apple) or Engine Driver (Android) on your phone to connect over the local WiFi network.

Just as a cool side note apparently at the NTS they previewed a devise that does direct WiFi to loconet communication for use with an Ipad app, the video is here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxh2ex5Iyqc

Chris

 

 

[Renegade1c]

There are several options you can use to link your layout to the computer. There are several third party vendors and Digitrax all made interfaces. I use RR-Cirkits Locobuffer USB. It is opto-isolated (meaning that there are no possible ground loop issues to fry anything). There is also Digitrax's PR3. You can check out Tony's Train Exchange comparison of the two here. 

Hope this info Helps!