LionChief Gateway Project (3-29-21 Update)

I would like a Bluetooth device I could mount in one of my Box Cars and play music, train sounds, voice or what ever comes up. That would be cool too.

i have a blue tooth speaker I temporarily mount in a car but it has to he recharged regularly. If you had something like that where track power can charge it up, I am all in

@PSU1980 Groove cube or this one would work.  You can power it with this.  

Brendan

@PSU1980, the power board @Brendan just suggested definitely seems like a good idea, however you just gave me an idea, I think I will try to whip up a soundboard that can be controlled from the universal LionChief remote. I would use the speed knob for sound track selection. You could turn the knob for a certain sound and press a button to trigger it. I would technically be simulating a train to the remote, I could probably repurpose the bell button for light control in cars with lights.

Sounds like a terrific add-on to the existing technology and hardware.  Keep us informed please.  LionChief is one the great inexpensive command control values in model railroading.

@PSU1980 I just went to microcenter and picked up components to prototype the Bluetooth box car module I had in mind. This is not going to be a simple Bluetooth speaker but a standalone mp3/mp4 file player that uses an SD card for storage. If I can figure out the code side of it it will be controlled via the LC universal remote. 

I feel like I should probably end up putting the audio module discussion in a topic of it's own soon. The dual speakers (stereo audio) plus the microcontroller, Bluetooth module, mp3 module, and power supply all fit within 1-1/4 inches of hight, 4-3/4 inches of length, and 1-3/8 inches of width. That has the option of running on a battery or a power pickup from the car (probably a light bulb wire). 

Here are some pictures of that sound package: 

There is a thread in the O27 forum about putting sounds in cars. Lots of great ideas there, for using track voltage. 

Brendan posted:

@PSU1980 Groove cube or this one would work.  You can power it with this.  

Brendan

 

Brendan,

that’s a cool find for stepping down the power. Is it a constant DC output, if the input AC varies? I power my track with a z4000. Somewhere between 18 and 22 Vac. I’m definitely not consistent. 
thanks

Marty

Marty R posted:

Brendan posted:

@PSU1980 Groove cube or this one would work.  You can power it with this.  

Brendan

 

Brendan,

that’s a cool find for stepping down the power. Is it a constant DC output, if the input AC varies? I power my track with a z4000. Somewhere between 18 and 22 Vac. I’m definitely not consistent. 
thanks

Marty

@Marty R I can answer that, The voltage you chose with the little screw potentiometer is fixed to within a few thousandths of a volt. I just tested an almost identical buck converter board on my Z1000 transformer and as long as the transformer was putting out more than 6 volts I was getting an almost perfect constant 5 volts output. That regulator can handle more than these transformers put out. Just test with a meter to make sure you have the output dialed in correctly first since these are adjustable regulators.

For several years, a number of my BlueRail Trains equipped bluetooth controlled engines included an on-board bluetooth amplifier and speaker. The BlueRail app connects with the amp and provides a wide variety of sounds. Power to the amp is regulated to 5V and is sourced from either track AC or DC.

BOB WALKER posted:

For several years, a number of my BlueRail Trains equipped bluetooth controlled engines included an on-board bluetooth amplifier and speaker. The BlueRail app connects with the amp and provides a wide variety of sounds. Power to the amp is regulated to 5V and is sourced from either track AC or DC.

Certainly a nice package there, nice to see, Even before I really got going into trains again like this I have heard of BlueRail. At this point I have a personal goal to get the official LC remote to send commands to a device of my own design and after that my plans open up a bit.

I will likely try to make a new sound board/amp package that gets triggered by the LC Universal remote(I would like to gauge the interest level in this on the forums) as an alternative to using phones. Maybe people would like the ability to keep cell phones out of the train room as a way to show kids these days that there are things that can be done without a smartphone. 

Also as I just added to my first post, my top priority end game right now is to create a gateway that allows me to add external speed limits and momentum to the LC remotes and official app. As we know the LC app's momentum and speed limit settings do not apply to the non app based remotes. You can't just set the speed limit in the app and then hand a child the LC remote with a new speed limit applied to it. Same thing with Momentum. If we want to simulate a heavily loaded LC based freight train with momentum, the only current option is to use the LC phone app. My gateway will in theory allow me to implement those options as a master setting for all remote options. That way when you want to impose a speed limit for anyone who uses any remote it will be an option. With expansion interfaces I should also be able to have my gateway allow multiple remotes on one LC engine at the same time. Maybe allow you to designate a supervisor remote that overrides all other remotes. maybe you want multiple remotes to be able to trigger the horns and bells separately. Maybe you want a horn only remote that ignores speed input that you can hand to any kid without the chance of them creating a collision situation. All this is possible now that I cracked the code of these remotes.

Sounds terrific.  I'd buy in as I have many LC and LC+ remotes and a universal remote.  I prefer dedicated remotes to smart devices.  I think the LionChief system is a great beginner's system and your plans seem to allow that to grow in features and complexity.  

And Lionel probably sells 100 to 1000 times as many LionChief equipped sets as Legacy systems each year. Just guessing.

Exactly, I mean you can literally buy several LCs for the price of one legacy anyway. plus however many Bluetooth LC engines already are out there. 

One thing I have in mind for my LC gateway is setting up an ATC or even ATO function. I in my simple two level track only layout that I setup so far, I have an issue where my LC based M7 can derail depending on the position of a track switch when coming down hill as it gains a bit too much speed for the switch to handle it seems. Well I will try and add sensors to the track that will add a temporary speed limit to the train on its way down the incline (and only when it heads down hill since I need the speed to make it up said incline) and release the limit after the switch. an option that may also allow me to run tighter turns at "full tilt". I imagine such speed zones would also be nice for those with layouts including hard to reach switches (that they may want to always run slowly over). I have had Fast Track remote switches for example that only like being run below half throttle due to a manufacturing defect in the switch.(In my case that switch has since been replaced at no charge thankfully)

Breakthrough update added to my original post. I can now connect the LC remote and app to my own interface. A critical step for my gateway. Just need yet another interface board to get a demo of the gateway up and running before 2020 hits. Let's see if I can get remote control remapping done in the next 24 hours.

I finally made a big enough breakthrough worth posting in this original thread. Watch my new update video to see the official Lionchief Remote app controlling some postwar operating accessories. https://youtu.be/ZtITYrEDdwc

Nice work.  Perhaps Lionel would be interested in contracting with you to develop this as full blown commercial project?

Landsteiner posted:

Nice work.  Perhaps Lionel would be interested in contracting with you to develop this as full blown commercial project?

Thank you, and as they say, your lips to God's ears lol. Either  that or a greenlight/LCS Partnership would be great. Though a contract would be a dream of course! I love my current job (Though not as cool as Lionel) but some contract stuff on the side would be amazing right now.

As soon as I can afford an LC+ locomotive I will be testing multi engine simultaneous controll from the app. I even have a plan to let you calibrate the speed of the locomotives.

In the meantime I will keep adding on new features to this gateway. I haven't run out of ideas yet. I would hope that the community can see this and possibly think of things they would like to do with LionChief if anything were possible. I have a feeling multi engine lash-ups are high on that list. 

Nice work Ryan...pretty cool engineering on your part!

-Russ 

I think it might be worth emailing Ryan Kunkle and/or David Olsen with links to your YouTube page and these threads.  Perhaps let them know you'd love to develop this further with their assistance/collaboration, and that perhaps they would consider providing you with a Legacy base and a couple of LionChief locos to facilitate this process.  State that you are open to anything from just their assistance to a formal developer status with Lionel, the latter with all the usual NDAs and lawyerly necessities, but that you realize it's their call.

If they are interested in the intellectual property perhaps a more formal contract and co-development arrangement (paid) could come now or down the road.  Back in the day, Lionel provided some folks who had technical skills (including a few who eventually became key Lionel employees) with early products for testing and suggestions. 

As you may know, for example, a guy named Jon Zahornacky developed TMCC receiver/command modules at the Electric Railroad Co.  He later became Lionel's chief technology officer and they bought out ERR from him.  Mike Reagan at TrainAmerica Studios, had Bob Krivacic design a similar device that was quite popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, if I remember the years correctly.  These guys were gifted as product developers/engineers with day jobs but were entirely hobbyists in this regard, at least initially. 

Mike Reagan became an important executive at Lionel for many years in a variety of capacities.  Perhaps the current management are still open to such arrangements?  Worth a try.  If they say no, you can proceed on your own, since you are initially doing this for your own amusement and for the community good.  Hopefully they won't go all MTH on you and have their lawyers tell you you cannot develop or sell such products.  Obviously they cannot stop you from playing with the equipment in any way you like, whatever their lawyers say . They have no legal basis to do that. You bought it and can do with it whatever you like as long as you don't sell it. I very much doubt they will take that course, but it's a possibility.  Would be very disappointing if they did, and they would hear about it from lots of folks who benefited from the efforts at Train America and ERR in their day, including me.

AviatorRuss posted:

Nice work Ryan...pretty cool engineering on your part!

-Russ 

Thank you for the encouragement, My day job may be in software but hardware/software integration like this is my passion. I love writing code that does real world interaction. It's also a lot of fun to add new features and mostly do things that people tell me are not possible. If you throw enough time at it, almost anything is possible. Nothing beats having an idea and putting it into action.

Landsteiner posted:

I think it might be worth emailing Ryan Kunkle and/or David Olsen with links to your YouTube page and these threads.  Perhaps let them know you'd love to develop this further with their assistance/collaboration, and that perhaps they would consider providing you with a Legacy base and a couple of LionChief locos to facilitate this process.  State that you are open to anything from just their assistance to a formal developer status with Lionel, the latter with all the usual NDAs and lawyerly necessities, but that you realize it's their call.

If they are interested in the intellectual property perhaps a more formal contract and co-development arrangement (paid) could come now or down the road.  Back in the day, Lionel provided some folks who had technical skills (including a few who eventually became key Lionel employees) with early products for testing and suggestions. 

As you may know, for example, a guy named Jon Zahornacky developed TMCC receiver/command modules at the Electric Railroad Co.  He later became Lionel's chief technology officer and they bought out ERR from him.  Mike Reagan at TrainAmerica Studios, had Bob Krivacic design a similar device that was quite popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, if I remember the years correctly.  These guys were gifted as product developers/engineers with day jobs but were entirely hobbyists in this regard, at least initially. 

Mike Reagan became an important executive at Lionel for many years in a variety of capacities.  Perhaps the current management are still open to such arrangements?  Worth a try.  If they say no, you can proceed on your own, since you are initially doing this for your own amusement and for the community good.  Hopefully they won't go all MTH on you and have their lawyers tell you you cannot develop or sell such products.  Obviously they cannot stop you from playing with the equipment in any way you like, whatever their lawyers say . They have no legal basis to do that. You bought it and can do with it whatever you like as long as you don't sell it. I very much doubt they will take that course, but it's a possibility.  Would be very disappointing if they did, and they would hear about it from lots of folks who benefited from the efforts at Train America and ERR in their day, including me.

I think I will have to build up some courage first! I only just had the breakthrough with the accessory control last night, There are a few more things I feel I must add first. I can send an email to them before hand but I know that Ryan Kunkle is going to be at Trainland in Lynbrook NY (about 45 minutes away from me) on Feb 8th. It might be a great follow up opportunity to any email I can send. I can hardly imagine being so lucky that things go as well as you have mentioned. Some official collaboration or contract would be like a dream come true for me. 

Getting my hands on a legacy base and loco would be great since I know the legacy protocol is already published online. So would be no be no big deal to interface my LC Gateway project with it. Doing things like allowing small children to run legacy engines via the LC remote (with restricted speeds) seems like a good idea to implement too.

I am starting to think everyone might have something to gain from a project like this.

Those are some inspiring stories. I wonder if anyone has ever said, "The best jobs start as hobbies", if not I want to coin that one lol. 

Completely getting shot down by Lionel would definitely suck, I don't even want to imagine that right now. Like you said, worst case I keep doing cool things on my side and showing people what is actually possible. I am thankful to have you on my side here, your comments are really getting me thinking about things I really couldn't have imagined with regards to all this going official stuff you mentioned here. Your getting me daydreaming here.

I really enjoyed the accessory and switch control video. It is amazing what you have been able to do with the app interface limited to the engine control buttons and slider.  I think you’re on the brink of opening up a very useful expansion of the Bluetooth app.

I’ve often thought that lionchief app control of accessories and switches would be great - such as a lionchief Bluetooth gantry crane controlled by the LC app.  Updated app interface pages for accessory control would be a plus too, similar to the LCS interface for command control accessories.

I’m not sure if each accessory should have Bluetooth receiver or if there should be a central gateway module that switches electric current on/off to each accessory. I like the idea of only needing power wires to the accessory for simplicity and easy set up, and it’s my understanding that Bluetooth receivers are relatively cheap.  The flip side would be the central gateway module with wired control to each accessory which would work with 120 years worth of accessories.  

All of this is similar to the current TMCC accessories controlled through the LCS WiFi app and conventional accessories controlled via an ASC2.  Bluetooth control has a big advantage though - fewer wires, less hardware, more flexibility through software and the app, cheaper and easier implementation.

I hope you do email them and you can work out some type of development agreement. Even if they don’t now, if you continue to develop your ideas and become a pesky competitor in layout control, they may want to partner or buy out down the road.

JD2035RR posted:

I really enjoyed the accessory and switch control video. It is amazing what you have been able to do with the app interface limited to the engine control buttons and slider.  I think you’re on the brink of opening up a very useful expansion of the Bluetooth app.

I’ve often thought that lionchief app control of accessories and switches would be great - such as a lionchief Bluetooth gantry crane controlled by the LC app.  Updated app interface pages for accessory control would be a plus too, similar to the LCS interface for command control accessories.

I’m not sure if each accessory should have Bluetooth receiver or if there should be a central gateway module that switches electric current on/off to each accessory. I like the idea of only needing power wires to the accessory for simplicity and easy set up, and it’s my understanding that Bluetooth receivers are relatively cheap.  The flip side would be the central gateway module with wired control to each accessory which would work with 120 years worth of accessories.  

All of this is similar to the current TMCC accessories controlled through the LCS WiFi app and conventional accessories controlled via an ASC2.  Bluetooth control has a big advantage though - fewer wires, less hardware, more flexibility through software and the app, cheaper and easier implementation.

I hope you do email them and you can work out some type of development agreement. Even if they don’t now, if you continue to develop your ideas and become a pesky competitor in layout control, they may want to partner or buy out down the road.

 

Thanks I am glad to hear you like it, this is first project that I am doing like this and it has been a great and fun experience so far. Community feedback like yours is great, I just got started and I was not aware of any limitations on the existing control systems. Besides hearing people say you can't do anything fancy with LionChief (a fact that I am clearly changing here and now). I am glad my efforts are impressing anyone at all. 

Getting a postwar Gantry Crane has been on my list of accessories to buy, as soon as I have one I can add Bluetooth to it for a demonstration. Maybe I will program a loading and unloading routine using it's electromagnet and my LC Gateway to trigger the routine. In fact I think I'll save the routines to a micro sd card for editing on a computer(as an option). A main goal of mine is to avoid using a full power desktop computer in any of this. Everything should be able to run off a few very low-cost modules.

I lean towards plug and play with a hundred and twenty years of accessories lol. Keep in mind the central method will definitely be way cheaper from a control hardware perspective. In many accessories you only adding one extra wire to the mix. I can still develop an accessory Bluetooth upgrade board. The crane would make sense to add a module to for the sake of not adding too many extra wires.

One of the next features on my list is saved macros that you can program and run from the LionChief remote.

I definitely will end up contacting them, fingers crossed on the outcome. Still need to prepare my boards further first. I like the way you think there lol. I have developed Android apps before and this would not be very much of a challenge to make a custom app for. For now I will keep hoping for endorsement at least of my integration with the LC system. For me, Legacy was too big of a leap for me to blindly make when I started with trains a few months ago. I couldn't know for sure if I was going to love the hobby as much as I do now. I feel like the current isolation of the two systems especially hurts the new guys like me. That's what really got me going with this gateway project in the first place. I want to add room to grow within LionChief. Also thanks to the introduction of LC+2.0 I really do have a path towards a full legacy system. I just have no plans on leaving my first train behind in the process. Wish me luck and thanks for your support.

Finally had a big breakthrough with the LC Remote. It is now talking to my Gateway board. https://youtu.be/YQC4aA-btDA

Now things are getting exciting!

Next up I will add the remote code to my main program and I will post a new postwar accessory video being controlled from the real remote and not just the app. 

Next up I also am going to test a limited way to choose announcements on regular LionChief locos. It won't quite be legacy level of control but it might be better than default.

As promised here is the demo video showing the lionchief remote controlling not only the current generation of LionChief locomotives but also some post-war stuff. https://youtu.be/Ie4wmCQ8vOg

I am also working on hardware to convert postwar locos to LionChief.  I have two methods of attack for this problem. One is to regulate the track power via lionchief, and have a helper board to do electro coupler control,lights and sound. And the other is to make a module that does it all on the locomotive side.

All sounds very inviting, but I'm not sure what the game plan is here.

BOB WALKER posted:

All sounds very inviting, but I'm not sure what the game plan is here.

I think the best way for me to sum it up is by stating my broad goal.

To expand what is possible with the LionChief remote/app.

And as a side project for those who want it I'm also going to look into adding TMCC / Legacy control of LionChief trains..

Brilliant stuff. Well done. Keep us posted please.

Ryaninspiron posted:

And as a side project for those who want it I'm also going to look into adding TMCC / Legacy control of LionChief trains..

When LionChief came out, the biggest issue people had is that they could not control LC trains with a TMCC/Legacy controller.  Lionchief Plus 2.0 fixes that issue as they are essentially TMCC engines with Bluetooth, but there are number of years worth of LC and LC+ that can not be controlled by the manufacturer's top of the line control system.  They are still producing LC that can not be controlled by Legacy/TMCC.  There is an opportunity to create a Legacy/TMCC to LC bridge.

Now as people use and enjoy Bluetooth control from their phone, all new locomotives come standard with a bluetooth receiver.  Isn't it great that everyone visiting your layout now has a controller in their pocket?  There is certainly an opportunity to expand upon the capabilities of the LC app and remote.  This includes the speed control that you have demonstrated, but would also include controlling Legacy features that normally can only be tapped into via the Legacy controller.  

You have also demonstrated bluetooth control of accessories and switches - which I think is a really cool.  I know this is out of your control, but I think if the app could be updated to include more appropriate interfaces for switches and specific to each accessory, it would really enhance the usability.

Lastly, similar to the ERR and the BlueRail retrofit boards, I believe there is a market for LC boards to be installed in non-command locomotives.  

In summary, I think the following would be useful in the hobby:

1. TMCC/Legacy to LC bridge

2. Expand LC App/remote control capabilities (set speed minimums, sound only remote, etc that you have demonstrated) for LC trains

3. Expand LC App/Remote capabilities to control Legacy features directly in Bluetooth legacy engines

4. LC App/remote bridge to Legacy control unit to control pre-Bluetooth legacy/tmcc equipment.  

5. LC App/remote control of accessories/switches

6. LC App/remote control retrofit boards (or track power control) to control non-command engines.  BlueRail has a nice solution in this space, however I believe it is designed for can motors and could not be used to control postwar Pullmor motors.  @BOB WALKER , please correct me if I am wrong here.

Id like to see TMCC/Legacy to DCC control.

Landsteiner posted:

Brilliant stuff. Well done. Keep us posted please.

Thanks, you bet. I depend on you and the others here for feedback. Keep letting me know what you'd like to see and I will hopefully make it all a reality. I still want to try out the Bluetooth module options you asked about in my other thread https://ogrforum.com/...eway-project-updates . I have some test hardware to experiment with a simple sound file playing module that I can control with my gateway code. This will would let you trigger your own set of recordings from any car you'd like using The LC Remote or App. The tricky part for me is implementing the proportional throttle sounds, I would have to experiment to see if I can get the sounds to transition from one file to another seamlessly. I will definitely keep you posted. 

JD2035RR posted:

Ryaninspiron posted:

And as a side project for those who want it I'm also going to look into adding TMCC / Legacy control of LionChief trains..

When LionChief came out, the biggest issue people had is that they could not control LC trains with a TMCC/Legacy controller.  Lionchief Plus 2.0 fixes that issue as they are essentially TMCC engines with Bluetooth, but there are number of years worth of LC and LC+ that can not be controlled by the manufacturer's top of the line control system.  They are still producing LC that can not be controlled by Legacy/TMCC.  There is an opportunity to create a Legacy/TMCC to LC bridge.

Now as people use and enjoy Bluetooth control from their phone, all new locomotives come standard with a bluetooth receiver.  Isn't it great that everyone visiting your layout now has a controller in their pocket?  There is certainly an opportunity to expand upon the capabilities of the LC app and remote.  This includes the speed control that you have demonstrated, but would also include controlling Legacy features that normally can only be tapped into via the Legacy controller.  

You have also demonstrated bluetooth control of accessories and switches - which I think is a really cool.  I know this is out of your control, but I think if the app could be updated to include more appropriate interfaces for switches and specific to each accessory, it would really enhance the usability.

Lastly, similar to the ERR and the BlueRail retrofit boards, I believe there is a market for LC boards to be installed in non-command locomotives.  

In summary, I think the following would be useful in the hobby:

1. TMCC/Legacy to LC bridge

2. Expand LC App/remote control capabilities (set speed minimums, sound only remote, etc that you have demonstrated) for LC trains

3. Expand LC App/Remote capabilities to control Legacy features directly in Bluetooth legacy engines

4. LC App/remote bridge to Legacy control unit to control pre-Bluetooth legacy/tmcc equipment.  

5. LC App/remote control of accessories/switches

6. LC App/remote control retrofit boards (or track power control) to control non-command engines.  BlueRail has a nice solution in this space, however I believe it is designed for can motors and could not be used to control postwar Pullmor motors.  @BOB WALKER , please correct me if I am wrong here.

 

Posts like this are awesome. Thanks for laying it all out for me here, I am grateful for the level  of detail you went into.

On the note of everyone having a controller in their pocket. I thought of an idea that would probably be more for club or public layouts, A time sharing system that allows multiple drivers to connect at once. They get put on a line with other users who want to drive the same locomotive, then the system will allow each person to have a time limited turn driving. The whole time a predefined speed limit will be in place and certain features like couplers would be locked out. Even driving in reverse could be blocked. Hard coded momentum could be used as well. I could even set it up so that the same user can be blocked from going again and again if needed for public layouts. a turn limit maybe. 

Of course having the app better adapted would be great. I think its good to at least be able to use the throttle for now in the mean time though. You just gave me an idea though. In case you need to stop the train while using this accessory mode, I should set it up so that disconnecting the app or turning off the remote stops the train. 

As for your other points:

1. This is soon to be a work in progress. If I had the hardware myself it would be done already.

2. Good to go pretty much.

3. Which legacy features did you have in mind? one thing I was thinking of adding was a trick to let you select the sound that plays like in legacy.(I would create the requirements for each sound for example I would trigger a brief movement in order to pull up the moving sounds).

4. Should be very easy once I have my hands on a legacy base and loco.

5. Progressing well so far as demoed.

6. I have thought of a way to go as far as supporting force detecting couplers and motor encoders in Pullmor locos. In the mean time a simple LC conversion module is a current work in progress item (may have a demo ready this weekend). LC remote/app Track power control should be the easier of the two methods but eventually I would like to design my own Pullmor control module.

Thanks again, keep me in the loop for anything else that would be nice to see.

Bruk posted:

Id like to see TMCC/Legacy to DCC control.

This should be possible if I used some of the open source projects out there like DCC++ as an interface to the DCC locomotives. I would first need to have access to both a legacy system and a DCC locomotive first though. I can add something like this to my list.

"Here is my broad goal: To expand what is possible with the LionChief remote/app.

Within that there are few projects I have going on:

1. A LionChief Gateway that interprets commands sent by the LC remote and adds things like new drive modes and accessory control as seen here: https://youtu.be/Ie4wmCQ8vOg

2. I'm also going to work on adding TMCC / Legacy control of LionChief trains. (still don't have access to TMCC or Legacy to test though.

3. A conversion board to add LC control to older Locos including postwar Pullmor motors.

4. An external sound board with a link to the LC remote or app via my LC Gateway project.

Probably more to come."

That... is awesome.   Amen and thank you. Looking forward to your future updates.

If I may add a request. I would love to be able to control multiple trains simultaneously (I believe you can only control 1 train at a time with the Lionel App), switches, and accessories in an app on an iPad as these guys do with the Lego trains (this is from 3 yrs ago)

Control Lego Trains and layout/switches on iPad

Thank you again

Larry DiG

Casey_Jones posted:

"Here is my broad goal: To expand what is possible with the LionChief remote/app.

Within that there are few projects I have going on:

1. A LionChief Gateway that interprets commands sent by the LC remote and adds things like new drive modes and accessory control as seen here: https://youtu.be/Ie4wmCQ8vOg

2. I'm also going to work on adding TMCC / Legacy control of LionChief trains. (still don't have access to TMCC or Legacy to test though.

3. A conversion board to add LC control to older Locos including postwar Pullmor motors.

4. An external sound board with a link to the LC remote or app via my LC Gateway project.

Probably more to come."

 

That... is awesome.   Amen and thank you. Looking forward to your future updates.

If I may add a request. I would love to be able to control multiple trains simultaneously (I believe you can only control 1 train at a time with the Lionel App), switches, and accessories in an app on an iPad as these guys do with the Lego trains (this is from 3 yrs ago)

Control Lego Trains and layout/switches on iPad

Thank you again

 

Larry DiG

Thanks for the feedback and Yes you actually reminded me about that priority of mine. My board will definitely let you run multiple locos at once. I even plan on allowing the calibration of different speed steps to sync them up as much as possible.

I just need to get a second LionChief loco to try it out with. As soon as I have one, I can test my plans out (my credit card begs me to wait until this coming Tuesday the 28th). This will work with both the LC app and Remote. It would not be too crazy difficult for me to program an app like in the video, but for now I would prefer to stay within the LionChief environment.

So I just got back from the Amherst Show, Besides getting some new (used) toys like Lionel's the scrambler accessory (childhood favorite ride), I also ran into Ryan Kunkle at the Lionel Booth! I was wearing my LC Gateway board with a battery all mounted to a lanyard. I took out a LionChief Remote and gave him a quick demo in person. I was pretty nervous but I did allude to a desire to collaborate in some capacity.(as @Landsteiner suggested, not as in depth as that though.) Ryan said he would reach out to David with this. I'm still sure I should probably send a better formatted email but at least he has seen it in person now and he appeared to show some interest from what I can tell. I also gave him a (diy) business card with some contact info including my OGR username.

Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.

Well hey, my friend that.......is awesome news!  

I hope they will review your work and something can be worked out.   Congrats!

This could be a huge breakthrough for our hobby,  please keep us posted

Larry DiG

Ryaninspiron posted:

I was wearing my LC Gateway board with a battery all mounted to a lanyard.

That alone must have alerted his curiosity Can you elaborate or do you have any pictures of your LC Gateway Board fixed to your lanyard?

Congrats, nice to hear positive news!

Casey_Jones posted:

Well hey, my friend that.......is awesome news!  

I hope they will review your work and something can be worked out.   Congrats!

This could be a huge breakthrough for our hobby,  please keep us posted

 

Larry DiG

Thanks, and I hope so too. It was a very exciting day.

We can only hope, I will certainly post any news as it comes.

Tomorrow I plan to pickup a LionChief Plus NW2 Switcher from TrainLand. That same night I hope to get a demo of multi locomotive control from the LionChief App.

If I have time I will also do a virtual consist with the LC remote. My LionChief M7 doesn't have couplers on it so this will be a good test of speed sync if possible. I have no idea if they will be capable of moving the exact same speed. Time will tell. My gateway is of course limited in some ways by the capability of the loco itself.