TSG Multimedia did an install

TSG Multimedia did an install on their YouTube channel not too long ago.  I scanned through it fairly quickly.  The install looked much like any other decoder install.  gs

Consisting

Perhaps they have solved this, but the reports I got from a person who visited them at the KC National Train Show in August said that they did not have a method for consisting locomotives.

But it is still early days for them and they are probably worth keeping an eye on. 

LocoFi and the ProtoThrottle

If the LocoFi team is willing to openly share their protocol, an interface with the ProtoThrottle should be fairly easy, similar to how the JMRI interface works.  It wouldn't be direct communication between throttle and locomotive, though.  That would require modifications to the throttle that are out of our scope at the moment (but certainly possible as a DIY project).

Michael

ProtoThrottle Support

If the LocoFi team would simply choose to support the NMRA LCC/OpenLCB standard (which already supports train control over Wi-Fi), then this certainly can happen.  There is already an in development product that will support the ProtoThrottle on LCC based systems without ISE having to produce any new hardware or software.

Thanks,

Stuart

LocoFi has sound but no consisting yet...

I received an eMail from LocoFi right before Christmas where they said that their next software release should have consisting abilities. Their board does have sound capability. There is another WiFi locomotive control vendor (http://www.wifitrax.com/) with software that can do consisting but they don't have sound yet. Their web site says that sound will be offered soon.

The OpenLCB/LCC Wi-Fi

The OpenLCB/LCC Wi-Fi standard supports consisting.  I really hope the folks at LocoFi would consider modifying their product to support the standards.  If they are looking for help to do so, there are many talented volunteers who are willing to help for free.

Thanks,

Stuart.

In line with this question

Where are the 'traditional actors' like NCE just to quote one. 

Do they keep the 'traditional DCC' with cables and expensive Boosters & Radio DCC ?

Scanning the new generation of 'train control' the technology seems to point towards Wifi and smart phones.

But I fully agree with Mr. kfglover : "smart phone app as a throttle is an issue" and ad Tablets, PC's.

ESU throttle with knob is a step in the right direction but... who will come up with a "Smart Throttle" as for Steam as for Diesel  & Electric locos ? It doesn't need to be a Porche nor Mercedes, just a good reliable and affordable "Volksthrottle".

Just a thought.......

Advancing Technology vs. Estabilished Product Investments

Filip,

Your concerns are my greatest argument for advancing standards, both established, such as DCC, and emerging, such as LCC.  If we look at the space of existing and in currently in development products that *could* resolve this issue for LocoFi, I would consider the following:

1. NCE ProCab/ Power Cab.  This is a [subjectively] great product with great ergonomics.  It happens to use the NCE Bus protocol, but as a mechanical design, is very much reusable IP were NCE to choose to invest in supporting other protocols with it.  I don't know for sure what NCE has planned in this space, but this is a concept that NCE has at least kicked around in the past, and would likely consider investing in as time marches on.
2. ESU Mobile Control II.  This merges some tactile feedback ergonomics with the power and flexibility of the Android operating system.  Not only does this device support the ESU system with their native protocol, it also supports Engine Driver, and a number of other protocols enabled through third party apps.  There is even a beta app that supports the emerging LCC train control protocol.  ESU is very supportive of these efforts to make third party apps available.
3. TCS Throttle and Mini Throttle.  These Wi-Fi products in development support the LCC train control protocol (as well as the same protocol as WiThrottle and Engine Driver).  They are designed with ergonomics as a top concern yet use powerful future technology such as OpenLCB/LCC.
4. TCS Command Station.  This Wi-Fi product in development supports DCC, the LCC train control protocol, the ESU Mobile Control II using an LCC Android app, and an auxiliary RS-485 bus capable of supporting all existing NCE/SystemOne/Ramtraxx compatible throttles (including ProtoThrottle using the NCE protocol).  When combined with direct LCC/Wi-Fi decoders, it also extends the capability to control mixed protocol consists including consists that include DCC, Marklin, and/or direct LCC Wi-Fi decoders similar to what LocoFi offers.

The combination of products above represent a very rich ecosystem with legs into the future.  By choosing not to utilize the NMRA LCC standard, LocoFi is cutting themselves out of this ecosystem.  This is why (if they are reading this), I highly encourage them to jump on board with the LCC train control standard, which their existing hardware is fully capable of supporting.  In fact, the community developed proof of concept LCC Wi-Fi decoder uses the exact same Wi-Fi hardware that the LocoFi product uses.

Thanks,

Stuart

It isn't limited to..

When the MCU cost $10 or less, then it is possible to make a Wi-Fi throttle that will connect to the engines containing Wi-Fi controllers.

        VS   

Take a MCU, a rotary encoder or a  potentiometer , some switches and some LEDs place them in a case (maybe 3D printed) and program it. Add levers or dials and you have a throttle.

 Wi-Fi doesn't limit the throttles and the cost of the MCU with Wi-Fi opens up  creative possibilities.

Eugene

@Stuart & Eugene,

Thanks for your input and well documented explanation Stuart. Yes, I too hope that new products aim at this 'ecosystem' and choose the NMRA LCC standards. Seems we need some patience to see these new systems arrive on the market.

Eugene: I'm happy to be able to 'hard-wire' a DCC decoder in a loc but that is where most of my 'electronics' knowledge ends...It must be wonderful to understand all this and in a next life I hope to study and learn all of this. Well - that is if we will play trains !

Cheers, Filip

Wifi Control

For those of us who have not made the move to DCC (don't ask), I an really interested in seeing a path from DC to Wifi Control, without having any DCC-related requirements.  I'm Ok with dealing with the work to add boards to (some of) my Loco's, but I'm not willing to monkey with trains AND layout (electronics).  Being in the IT industry for 40 years, I'm anxious to leverage that knowledge w/o having to learn the ins & outs of DCC at this stage of my life.  Could I, certainly, but I have other things I'd rather do... and I'm unlikely to ever expand beyond my 4x8 HO layout (operational, but lots left to do in scenery and rolling stock updates).

Standards too soon

Standards are fine for couplers and track spacing, bridge and tunnel portal heights and such but otherwise they quash innovation. We have exciting new emerging control technologies. Let's not hinder them. The market should decide the de-facto standard. I know that my view is not popular here but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be advanced and considered. At the very least, standards on new control methods should be held back for awhile while "the dust settles" so to speak. I don't wish to start an argument so I've stated my view and will move on but I do feel that view needs to be heard.

 "I'm Ok with dealing with

Actually hooking up DCC to a layout is a lot easier than installing the sound/lighting decoders in the engines. Something simple like NCE or Digitrax just takes a minimal amount of time and wiring. If you try to go without DCC you miss out on the great variety of sound/lighting decoders available from numerous manufacturers....DaveB