Bluetooth Switches?

Lionel Command Control Switch

I can certainly see the attraction to something like this, being able to run an entire layout from an ipad, for instance.  But like the 8 track player, mister coffee, and the station wagon, what do we do when the technology has moved on?  That's why I'd rather operate conventionally, and why I am shying away from anything with a circuit board.  There is no reason that the bare bones stuff won't still be running 50 years from now if properly cared for.

The Fastrack Command Control switches are reverse and forward compatible - you can still turn the lantern manually or use the included wired controller, or connect the next generation of control to the switch terminals if desired.

It's already been done.

MTH calls it DCS.

Lionel calls it TMCC/Legacy.

From what I have seen (Newbie here) FasTrack has the switch where you simply hook it up with no wires. The power from the track is enough to make the switch turn based on TMCC/Legacy. I was not sure if MTH had that functionality. The video I saw, they were using Atlas O tracks. He had it wired and used a switch. I'm hoping someone would say that Atlas does have it wireless where you just hook it up to other tracks and the TMCC would fire the switch. I'm thinking that might not be so.

Atlas switches do not support direct command control. In order to use command control on them you have to wire them to an SC-2 controller for command control in Lionel TMCC. You can change the switch motors out to DZ-2500 ones and simplify the wiring somewhat.

Ron

pr51713,

   Ron is absolutely correct about the Atlas switches not supporting Command control.

They will however work with the DCS and the hand held remote control, but you will still need to wire them to the AIU.  The DCS controlled switches do work very well via the hand held remote control.  I did make one recommendation to the MTH engineers about adding 10 buttons to the bottom of the hand held remote, for direct one step switch control, when they come out with their next hand held remote control unit. 

PCRR/Dave