Blue Train App

I got a response from Bob Krivacic regarding the Bluetrain app and its tabs beyond the "ENG" tab.  He states there is an issue with the Serial and Wi-Fi boxes that also affects the iPad LCS app.

If there is an issue with the iPad app will Lionel upgrade the boxes?  Is anyone with the iPad app seeing any issues with the app's use of the "TR", " SW",etc. tabs.

Here is Bob's response to my email:

"There seems to be some bug in the legacy wifi or serial unit which limits some of the commands coming in from the wifi.  The bluetrain app is sending all of the commands out, but they aren't getting forwarded.  I have heard that the IPad app also has issues with this."

He goes on to say that the Bluetrain app works in the Bluetooth communication mode.

I just got a new phone with Android Lollypop, and now the display is screwed up and I can't even press the ENG key, or any others on the top row.  This has rendered the application useless to me.

 

I have an old Motorola Droid (my phone a couple generations back) that I use with the application, and I can use the ENG, ACC, and SW tabs with no apparent issues.  I do occasionally see some oddities with both the Bluetrain and LCS iPad app. 

 

On the iPad, if I'm running in "yard" mode, and I press the shutdown key, the engine shuts the sound off, and then starts rolling silently until I move the throttle bar again. 

 

I changed my opinion, I think the BlueTrain app is really broken.  I was trying to use it on my new TMCC HHP-8, and it's very flaky.  I changed from joining the network to AP mode to see if it worked, same result.  Then, I plugged in my little BlueTooth to serial adapter I used to use with it, and it doesn't even work with that properly!

 

The interesting thing is I could ring the bell, honk the horn, do couplers, etc.  I could even use the switch option to change my TMCC Fastrack switches.  However, the throttle didn't work at all, the engine just sits there.  I can use the boost key to move it, so it's not broken.   The CAB2 runs it properly, of course.

 

John,

 

I guess it is the old adage "You get what you pay for it"......

In this case, I suspect you're right.

 

I have another issue with the Bluetrain on my new phone, the screen is screwed up on the Samsung Note 4 with Android 5.x aka Lollypop software.

 

Note the corruption on the top part of the screen and the blank space on the lower end.  None of the top row buttons work, which of course renders Bluetrain totally inert, so it's dead on this phone.  It still works, after a fashion, on my old Droid 2X phone, I kept that one around just to use as a remote, but see above issues.

 

 

 

Sounds like bluetrain needs some serious updating.  The current build is for Android 2.3.  I will let you know when I get to it, got some other projects to get off my back.  Sorry about that, hard to keep up with so many projects.

Loose-caboose,  I think I mis-interpreted the buttons not working post.  If you get a mixed up screen like shown above, that is a different issue which is NOT an LCS issue.  I thought you were having an LCS issue, which after talking to Lionel, may not be an issue.  

 

The tab issue is probably more of an Android version issue.  

 

Guys, I got hit with the same bug when my phone upgraded its Android.  I posted a fix on the yahoo bluetrain group, version 2.13.  Give it a try, and let me know if it solves your problems.

 

Bob, I'm having issues with the Yahoo group, any chance of posting the update file here?

Here you go John, enjoy.

Looks like I can access the program again!