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We had a chance to demo the High Rail App, a Lionel LCS Partner, at the LUG meeting.  The demo release of the App that was sent for the LUG meeting got me pretty stoked!  What does it do?  Well you know all those sensor tracks you didn't buy because you couldn't do anything without pushing either the PGM or Record buttons so you settled for one by the front of the layout?  Well you can now.

 

Like I said I got to play with it for a few days before the LUG meeting and if you watched the video you can see that now from your Apple device you can assign an ID to the track, identify it, name it, and change the action all from your Apple device.  And you can also initiate the Record function and while recording get an idea how much time is left in the recording.  I took some screen shots now that I bought the released version.

 

It connects via the LCS WiFi module and can access it in either Access Point mode or Network mode.  I took screen captures as I tried it out.  I connected easily making sure my iPad was connected to my network.  I tapped the High Rail logo to connect.  Found my network and all the LCS devices.  I had the LUG demo board hooked up as well so you can see all the LCS components.  Pressing the Sensor track listing on the left brings up the list of ST on my layout and their IDs.  It also shows the name of the RR as well as the network.  You can change the name of the base by pushing the gear and editing the name!  You can also give the WiFi module a name and see some basic info by pushing the WiFi "radiant" button.

 

For now you can get basic info on any module connected and in some case name them but this function is limited.  I can't wait to see what's in store for those.  But onto the main reason for the first version App!

 

 

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Select a sensor track from the list.  You will get the screen below.  Not sure which track you've selected?  Go to the Identify Tab and tap and hold the screen and the green LED lights up on the selected track.  Pretty cool when you have multiple tracks!

 

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  From the module screen you can see the current action as well as the ID.  You can also name the Sensor Track to give it more of a layout based ID.  I left mine at the default for now.

 

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   Push the ID and you can...wait for it...change the ID from the that screen.  Without touching the sensor track!

 

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 The info screen gives you some basic info about the module and how it's connected!

 

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Back to the Module screen and push the bar with the current action and you get the drop down list of all available actions including the user recording!

 

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Select one and push SET!

 

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The App will go back to the module screen with the new action being displayed.  And again, no buttons to push on the track itself!  All from the App.  Now Sensor Tracks can be put anywhere on the layout and their action changed!  Finally!  We all wanted it and this App delivers!

 

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Now another biggie!  Go to the record tab.  The RED Button comes up.  Well you just have to push it!

 

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The Recording Armed screen comes up waiting for the engine to cross the selected sensor track.  Again not touching the sensor track. It shows 3 dark "lights".  Green, Yellow, and Red.

 

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When the engine rolls across the track the App displays Recording and the green light lights!  This tells you you have a lot of recording time.  Using the CAB2 operate the actions you want in the recording as you would normally do.

 

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But how much recording space is left?  The yellow light engages with about 2/3 of a recording done!  A cool feature!

 

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The red light illuminates with about 10-20 commands left.  Wrap it up by pushing the record button again or just finish off the commands!  Great feature as I alway run out of record time before I want to finish up.

 

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The ST will automatically set itself to go into playback and when the engine crosses it again will begin the playback.  You can stop it by pushing the red button.  Just remember next time around, unless you've changed the action, the playback will go again.

 

Well I am going to continue to play with the app.  When I showed this at the LUG meeting I was pretty excited but now with having multiple sensor tracks and more on the way I no longer have to worry about whether I can reach them or what action needs assigned.  I can do it all on the fly.  When Lionel released the track I was disappointed that you had to physically touch it and wasn't planing on buying too many. Folks at the LUG meetings pretty much had the same concern.  Now I pretty much figure that I'll be loading the layout up with them.  The app looks to have more coming.  The price was about $10 through the regular Apple store and yes currently an Apple App only.  When I consider that the ST is over $100 and now I have a way to control it...a bargain.  And as I said there seems to be more in the works with the other modules listed.

 

I don't know why anyone with ST wouldn't want this!  I've been playing with it for about a day.  I'll try to answer any questions. The more I play and find how to do things I'll add to the thread. BTW I've changed actions from upstairs.  Can't get any further away from that physical button than that...well you could but you get the point.

 

 

 

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Last edited by MartyE
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Thanks for sharing that detailed review, Marty. I agree with your assessment--High Rail is a grey companion to SensorTrack, especially if (as is the case on our test layout), some SensorTracks are more than an arm's-length from the layout edge. I also find the reporting feature very helpful. Viewing the connected modules on the iPad is way more convenient than tracing the cables under the layout!

 

Rudy Trubitt

Lionel, LLC

I hope to get some video shot of how this works.  In my opinion Lionel should start getting ready for a bump in Sensor Track sales.  I spent about another half hour goofing around with the App while running trains last evening.  It is so much easier to change what the track does on the fly.

 

I still can't tell you how nice it is to do a recording and know when it's time to finish up because of you know when you are coming to the limit.  I always like to reset the speed so when the engine goes over the ST it's at the same speed when the recording was started.  Makes for a nice accurately timed playback.  With the App, when it goes from yellow to red I make the next command the return to speed.

I downloaded this yesterday and have played with it quite a bit.  Works great and like MartyE said, the sales in sensor tracks should increase because you can place them anywhere and not have to worry about programming them via the buttons located on the sensor track anymore.  I see a few more sensor tracks going onto my layout very soon.

Finally got to doing some quick videos of the High Rail App.

 

Just as a disclaimer, other than the LUG Demo and a little testing afterwards I have no affiliation with the High Rail App developer.  I just really feel that this is a big deal when it comes to controlling the Sensor Track and hopefully other LCS components.

 

Here is Part 1

 

 

And Part 2

 



Last edited by MartyE

Ive gotta Android phone, as do millions of others... quote

 

"Google chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt points out that there are four times more Android phones than iPhones and, with 1.3 million activations per day, the company will have activated one billion mobile devices within a year."

So, when is Lionel gonna offer an Android APP to control Lionel trains?

Or, have they already?  I haven't seen one yet.

Explain?  Not sure what your talking about.
 
Originally Posted by Railrunnin:

Nice to watch this technology develop. However I hope there is a way to disable the blinking light effect on the high rail track.

 

Paul

 

This is a 3rd party partner app. I would imagine if there is enough interest it could be expanded to other platforms. There is a 3rd party app called Bluetrain that is for Android.  Check out all the LCS Partners here
 
 
 
 
Originally Posted by riki:

Ive gotta Android phone, as do millions of others... quote

 

"Google chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt points out that there are four times more Android phones than iPhones and, with 1.3 million activations per day, the company will have activated one billion mobile devices within a year."

So, when is Lionel gonna offer an Android APP to control Lionel trains?

Or, have they already?  I haven't seen one yet.

 

Originally Posted by riki:

Ive gotta Android phone, as do millions of others... quote

 

"Google chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt points out that there are four times more Android phones than iPhones and, with 1.3 million activations per day, the company will have activated one billion mobile devices within a year."

So, when is Lionel gonna offer an Android APP to control Lionel trains?

Or, have they already?  I haven't seen one yet.

Sure there are more handsets for Android out there, but they are not all the same.  So you can't just write one app and get all of those phones.  But with Apple, one app will get most of those phones.  I know this because I have to deal with this with the devices in just my family.  One app will give a function I want on all my iOS devices, but for Android I have to use 2 or 3 different apps depending on which Android version and hardware it is.  For this reason I'm trying to get everyone moved to iOS, but it takes a while.  So for this reason it is more financially smart to start with iOS.

 

But back to the topic, for this software, it says right on the screen that you must enable the program mode on the hardware to change the ID, doesn't that require physical access to the track, and thus no different then using the Cab handheld since it leaves program mode once the ID is set?

Last edited by sinclair
I saw that too but I believe for the sensor track that is not the case. I've set mine from the app.  See if I can confirm.
 
Originally Posted by sinclair:
Originally Posted by riki:
 

But back to the topic, for this software, it says right on the screen that you must enable the program mode on the hardware to change the ID, doesn't that require physical access to the track, and thus no different then using the Cab handheld since it leaves program mode once the ID is set?

 

You can change a SensorTrack ID from High Rail without pressing the hardware program button. This is true, though, only for certain SensorTrack hardware. "Future" SensorTrack hardware will require you to press the hardware program button, which is how all other Lionel TMCC/Legacy products work. High Rail is simply telling you what you should do. 
 
I'll let Railsounds add additional comments, as appropriate. 
 
As Railsounds mentioned, you'll want to set the ID before you complete the final SensorTrack installation. 
 
 
 
Originally Posted by Railsounds:

ID setting is a one-time operation, and can also be done on the bench before the track is installed. This setting is retained even when power is removed.

 

The reason for requiring a button-press when setting the TMCC ID of a track is so that ONLY the desired SensorTrack's ID changes. 

 

Originally Posted by MartyE:

Finally got to doing some quick videos of the High Rail App.

 

Just as a disclaimer, other than the LUG Demo and a little testing afterwards I have no affiliation with the High Rail App developer.  I just really feel that this is a big deal when it comes to controlling the Sensor Track and hopefully other LCS components.

 

Here is Part 1

 

 

And Part 2

 



Marty, great videos. I have the App. It recognizes the name of my home network, but it refuses to connect. After it times out the message is "check your settings."  Not much help. Any suggestions?  Thanks,

 

Ed

Originally Posted by ToledoEd:
Originally Posted by MartyE:

Finally got to doing some quick videos of the High Rail App.

 

Just as a disclaimer, other than the LUG Demo and a little testing afterwards I have no affiliation with the High Rail App developer.  I just really feel that this is a big deal when it comes to controlling the Sensor Track and hopefully other LCS components.

 

Here is Part 1

 

 

And Part 2

 



Marty, great videos. I have the App. It recognizes the name of my home network, but it refuses to connect. After it times out the message is "check your settings."  Not much help. Any suggestions?  Thanks,

 

Ed

MaryE, I figured it out. I had to manually enter the module ID. I stumbled 9 or should I say more correctly fumbled) on this help in the App. Working fine now.


MaryE, I figured it out. I had to manually enter the module ID. I stumbled 9 or should I say more correctly fumbled) on this help in the App. Working fine now.

 

Ed... feel free to contact me directly if you have any additional questions. You can find my email address on the High Rail website (I can't post a link due to forum restrictions). Of course, you can also use the email address found on my OGR profile. 

 

Brian

I’ve been using it for years. A terrific App. Sorry to see it go. I tried to find it. No luck. Two websites associated with the app are gone or inactive. I did stumble on a link to control.lionel.com that had a section Titled “LCS Partners” that included Hi-Rail. Maybe Lionel picked it up???  Here’s the url I mentioned:

https://control.lionel.com/docs/lcs-partner-program/

Last edited by ToledoEd

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