DCS Remote, App or both??

Stick with the proven remote. I just bought the wifi system and have had endless, serious issues. Every time I get a momentary lapse in the wifi connection, the train will disengage from control and coast away. Other times, the voltage will randomly surge to 20 volts, causing crashes. In DCS mode, trains will often wrongly  start in conventional. The WIU constantly looses its connection with phones and tablets. Conventional voltage control, on the rare occasions that it works is very coarse with a small number of speed steps with irritating voltage fluctuations and flickering. This system is an experiment gone awry, which needs a lot more work. 

I can't speak to feature differences, if there are any? I do believe the Premium app is supposed to have all the features of the remote and if there is anything still missing I imagine it will be added soon as they are planning to discontinue the remotes in the next year or two.

However, I still prefer the remote, still just seems easier for me to operate the remote. It's kind of a personal thing as far as the user interface and what one is used to using I suppose. Seems like some here still prefer the remote while others are really enjoying the app and no longer plan to use the remote ever again.

Your question will engender many responses, but the bottom line is which you prefer for running your layout.  Being a gadget lover, my layout has 2 WIUs and I have the premium app.  When I want to run trains and not tinker, I use a remote.

Go with the Wifi.    You will love it.  Like anything else, keep up with the DCS and WIU upgrades when they are available.  I have been an MTH Beta tester from day one and enjoy the system.

The guy above needs to get his WIFI fixed  ..... never had any of issues he speaks of ... yea you do need a reliable WiFi single

rickb posted:

The guy above needs to get his WIFI fixed  ..... never had any of issues he speaks of ... yea you do need a reliable WiFi single

MTH needs to revisit their design approach.  Sure, Wi-Fi is super trendy. But, the fact is that Wi-Fi relies on the crowded, unlicensed 2.4 GHz spectrum. I don't need to have my trains surging, stalling or tweaking out every time some clown turns on their microwave oven, baby monitor, router, or one of a hundred other things. It's nonsense. Everyone knows Wi-Fi connections are tentative,  unstable and unreliable.  

At least the Lionel Legacy system allowed me to stay above the fray by selecting channel 8 or 9, which corresponds to center  frequencies that lie just above the range of 2.4 GHz Wi-FI frequencies used in the United States. Picking channel 9 on the Legacy system got rid of all these types of issues for me. No choice like that is available with the MTH WIU.

It surprises me that they are discontinuing the remote and leaving only an unstable system for control of DCS.

I do not have the WiFi issues others have, so my DCS WiFi works with few problems. 

For me, the biggest drawback using the app, like many others, is the need to look at the phone/ tablet ever time I change engine speed. I also got good at hitting the handheld's whistle and bell buttons without looking, something I can't do on the phone.

The upside of the app is better/easier speed control than using the thumb wheel.

GregR posted:

rickb posted:

The guy above needs to get his WIFI fixed  ..... never had any of issues he speaks of ... yea you do need a reliable WiFi single

MTH needs to revisit their design approach.  Sure, Wi-Fi is super trendy. But, the fact is that Wi-Fi relies on the crowded, unlicensed 2.4 GHz spectrum. I don't need to have my trains surging, stalling or tweaking out every time some clown turns on their microwave oven, baby monitor, router, or one of a hundred other things. It's nonsense. Everyone knows Wi-Fi connections are tentative,  unstable and unreliable.  

At least the Lionel Legacy system allowed me to stay above the fray by selecting channel 8 or 9, which corresponds to center  frequencies that lie just above the range of 2.4 GHz Wi-FI frequencies used in the United States. Picking channel 9 on the Legacy system got rid of all these types of issues for me. No choice like that is available with the MTH WIU.

It surprises me that they are discontinuing the remote and leaving only an unstable system for control of DCS.

I routinely use 2.4ghz to run the PA system in a 300 seat theater, full of people on phones - no issues.

Reliability can be improved by using a dual band router (and tablet that supports it) - but even so - the situation at 2.4ghz isn't quite as bad as your make it out.

But - I'd agree - not being able to select what channel you use is not great.

I have both MTH and Lionel wifi installed.  Both are independent and do not share the home wifi.  I have had zero problems despite having a house full of toys that use wifi.

I read in another post that MTH may be considering dropping the DCS controller in favor of the app.  For me the  app works well but I think scrolling pages on a phone may be a little awkward in an emergency.  One thought, MTH needs to address software upgrade via wifi instead of cables and holding down the remote button for, what seems like, forever.

Dan,

One thought, MTH needs to address software upgrade via wifi instead of cables and holding down the remote button for, what seems like, forever.

The DCS App and the WIU are both upgradeable over the air using WiFi. The WIU only needs any web broowser on any PC, while the app needs nothing but an Internet connection.

This and a whole lot more about DCS WiFi is all in MTH’s “The DCS WiFi Companion 1st Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Thanks, Barry.

Sorry, I was not really clear, I was thinking about locomotive sound files and DCS system upgrades, such as Ver 6 to Ver x.  It would be easier to load using wifi rather than dragging my laptop to the layout and plugging it into the TIU.

Dan,

I was thinking about locomotive sound files and DCS system upgrades, such as Ver 6 to Ver x.  It would be easier to load using wifi rather than dragging my laptop to the layout and plugging it into the TIU.

I agree that that would be a great improvement.

Further, now that the TIU has WiFi capability, it may be possible for TIU and remote upgrades to be done over the air. However, this could require some software changes inside the WIU and inside the TIU, and would most also require some work inside the Loader Program.

Regarding sound file transfers, that would also require some work and an additional issue would be holding the transfer together for a lord longer than 6 minute for a remote upgrade. The integrity of the layouts wiring and track topology also becomes a factor.

These feature improvements would need to be prioritized along with everything else that DCS users want out of the app, and there is always a limited amount of time, money and other resources available.

Sorry guys, I lost track of this post. Thank you all for the input. I decided to order a remote which was just delivered yesterday. I'm still going to use Wifi so the remote may not get a lot of use but I still want to learn how to use it. The WIU and an AIU are next on the list of purchases. Just a side note, I updated the TIU and the remote last night. Very simple and easy to do. Before I attempted it I read all the instructions, threads on the forum, and I also purchased Barry's DCS Companion which is excellent and I recommend to everyone using DCS. Im hoping to begin layout construction in November and I'm sure I'll have more questions. 

Personally, I'd suggest getting the layout built and the DCS working as you want it before adding the wifi.  Simplifies any needed debugging, and gives you a chance to decide shat settings you prefer.

I agree with RJR above. Full DCS system with remote, get that up and running well, then add the wifi. Personally, I still like having the remote!!