At the train show I spotted a dealer with an unopened DCS WIFI module on the table. Asked how sales of these are going, he is still waiting for someone to buy this first and only one. He was not sure what advantage people were getting over the included DCS handheld other than using a smartphone to impress someone, plus having to pay for app upgrades.
Your mileage may vary. "I have no dog in the fight" 
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Not worth a comment...
Barry,
Well EXCUUUUSE me for writing......
Interesting RRMAN. My LHS sells a lot of them. I've personally upgraded several TIUs for the version 5 when folks buy the wifi unit. Also get to do some demos.
He hasn't sold any Lionel wifi. I pretty much write that off to MTH doing a great job at advertising their wifi app and system and Lionel not do any.
I don't see any harm done in discussing it. Certainly is interesting 2 different dealers have 2 different experience on the sales.
Well EXCUUUUSE me for writing.....
If you're talking my post personally you must have a really thin skin or are looking for a fight, which was not my intention.
If you want a comment, how about this:
"There's no end to grumpy dealers who still live in the 1950's and don't understand technology. Fortunately, they're offset by the really good ones who "get it" and sponsor this forum!"
Barry Broskowitz posted:"There's no end to grumpy dealers who still live in the 1950's and don't understand technology. Fortunately, they're offset by the really good ones who "get it" and sponsor this forum!"
Barry, That was my first thought as well. That dealer is an absolute detriment to the hobby. It's one thing for him to discuss how his sales of a certain product are going. It's entirely another for him to insult those, in a passive-aggressive manner, who do buy a certain product.
I've got one of those near me, and he is always complaining about his business, yet he can't see his own over-the-top grumpiness drives people away.
I have read about them and read the MTH catalog. Until today I had not seen one in the flesh, so therefore asked the dealer about it and his comments are as originally stated. He sells alot of MTH stuff including DCS systems and bought in the WIFI box to see how it would sell, which has sat on the shelf, so thus I am sure why he commented as he did. And he is quite technology savy and "with it", but maybe low keyed selling rather than high pressure.
No thin skin Barry, but thought others might be interested in one dealers take, so reported it in FWIW department.
Howdy Guys!
Personally I'm always very skeptical of new gadgets but I also LOVE them. For me there are two distinct advantages with the new wi-fi system: #1. The screen is easy to see and in color, plus I can run it from a 10 inch tablet and my phone. #2. The younger generation loves this stuff. Since we need to get more people involved in our hobby to keep it alive ... this is a no brainer. Lets always encourage each other for the sake of TRAINS.
Until MTH releases the $25 app that can do everything the remote can do, its only real advantage in my mind is that it gets the system out of 900 Mhz land, which is a big deal if you're operating at train shows, etc... The dedicated wifi link is significantly more reliable and the range is fantastic. I wouldnt see a need to put MTH wifi on my home layout until it does more. Lionel iCab is kind of the same thing. I have it, it runs a train. The real advantage to the wifi systems is the virtual control panels and stuff like Lionel LCS.
The future upgradeability of these systems is bright, but right now, you still need a remote to do certain things.
I do repairs and upgrades for my local dealer. We upgrade all TIU's & WiFi units before sale. I have upgraded more than 50 WiFi units before sale and ~50 on WiFi day earlier this year. Obviously, my dealer has sold more than 100 WiFi units.
RRman, I would avoid that dealer like a plague and totally discount anything he says. I find it very sad that there are still too many poorly informed or just nasty dealers out there.
Additionally, I find that the single biggest advantage (so far) to using a phone & WiFi to run trains is the vastly increased communication speed. Whether adding engines or operating trains, everything is dramatically faster with WiFi.
Boilermaker1 posted:Until MTH releases the $25 app that can do everything the remote can do, its only real advantage in my mind is that it gets the system out of 900 Mhz land, which is a big deal if you're operating at train shows, etc... The dedicated wifi link is significantly more reliable and the range is fantastic. I wouldnt see a need to put MTH wifi on my home layout until it does more. Lionel iCab is kind of the same thing. I have it, it runs a train. The real advantage to the wifi systems is the virtual control panels and stuff like Lionel LCS.
The future upgradeability of these systems is bright, but right now, you still need a remote to do certain things.
Pat Marinari posted:I do repairs and upgrades for my local dealer. We upgrade all TIU's & WiFi units before sale. I have upgraded more than 50 WiFi units before sale and ~50 on WiFi day earlier this year. Obviously, my dealer has sold more than 100 WiFi units.
RRman, I would avoid that dealer like a plague and totally discount anything he says. I find it very sad that there are still too many poorly informed or just nasty dealers out there.
Additionally, I find that the single biggest advantage (so far) to using a phone & WiFi to run trains is the vastly increased communication speed. Whether adding engines or operating trains, everything is dramatically faster with WiFi.
Does either system have a full blown App yet that is as full featured or better than their respective remotes? One of the MTH drawbacks is needing 1 Wi-Fi unit for each TIU. Though as a friend said, still not as expensive as needing 16 Lionel sensor tracks for a 2 mainline layout with 4 grade crossings...
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