I Pad control

Monk,

 

I and a few others have been beta testing the initial, free app. It does a lot more than the DCS Remote Commander but less than the DCS Remote. It is close to the final product, however, it's not yet complete.

 

It works very, very well.

When this is ready for prime time, I may jump in. Hopefully I can get the older grandsons interested.

 

Steve

 

Been using it also on my iphone and ipad. 

Is there a timeline when this will be ready?  Should I wait or should I purchase the existing MTH DCS system?  I am so reluctant to purchase yet knowing that there is a potential for something better every month with the way technology is.  

Will it work with older versions of the TIU pre USB ports, only the RS 232 port

Gary, it should not be a problem.  What we have available now is short money.  I had the good luck to go to the Pacific Northwest to visit my friend Larry Brown recently.  Larry took me to Dave Hikel and I got to view the fantastic layout Dave and his company built and controlled with the ipad.  I thought I have seen everything to see in the train world until I saw the layout Dave built. 

I do not wish to 'hijack' this thread but don't want to start another topic so here is my

question on that iPad control:

 

Is WI-FI required for this to operate?  

 

thanks,

Yes, Wi-fi is required.

Thanks, Pat.

FYI...

Will it work with older versions of the TIU pre USB ports, only the RS 232 port

Yes, it will work worth all versions of the TIU, past and future. You'll need an Ethernet or Wi-Fi connector on the current TIU's serial port.

Is there a timeline when this will be ready?

This, free app should (absolutely no guarantees!) be ready for prime tike in the next few months. The paid version of the app, which is planned to be a better remote than the DCS Remote, will be several months later.

  Should I wait or should I purchase the existing MTH DCS system?

The app is not a replacement for a complete DCS set. At best, the paid app will replace a DCS Remote. You will still require a TIU.

Is WI-FI required for this to operate?  

Yes, Wi-Fi is required, however, an Internet connection is not required.

Now isn't the fact that the iPad app does not do as much as the remote and is in fact much larger moving in the wrong direction? What I am hearing is that somebody now created a $500 remote that doesn't do as much as the one I already have and is 6 times bigger. The novelty of running trains with my iPad will soon wear off unless there is some sort of graphical interface for controlling my layout. I have done something with JMRI using TMCC that is exactly what I want giving me a track plan of my layout with turnout control. Simply tap the turnout on the track plan and viola the turnout throws. This setup is a bit complicated but it works well. What type of setup will there be for layout control other than just being able to access the turnout by its numerical address?

I thought the iPad app did more than the DCS remote. Barry said in in is last post. 

Matt,

 

Really?

Now isn't the fact that the iPad app does not do as much as the remote

The free app is less functional than the DCS Remote. The paid-for app is planned to have more functionality and flexibility than does the DCS Remote, and will cost a whole lot less.

and is in fact much larger

The iPhone, which can host the app, is smaller than the DCS Remote and the iPad Mini, which I use, is not much larger than a DCS Remote and is a  much better form factor for a remote than is the DCS Remote itself.

What I am hearing 

You should maybe get your ears tested.

is that you've now created a $500 remote that doesn't do as much as the one I already have and is 6 times bigger.

The iPad Mini is $300 and is a lot more than a $130 DCS Remote. It's barely twice the size of a DCS Remote and is so much more capable all around.

 

Also, who is the "you" of which you speak?

 

Being as I do not have an I-Pad yet, before I buy one, will this app be available for other platforms?

 

Steve

 

Steve,

 

The plan is for both apps, free and paid-for, to be available first for iOS and shortly thereafter for Android.

Thanks Barry. I have an I-phone but am not sure what type pad  device I would go for yet. I'm open to suggestions.

Steve

Forgive me if this has been discussed, the existing MTH DCS system is not compatible to be upgraded with a Apple OS only Windows based?  Now with the coming of the DCS for ipad or iphone with the TIU be upgradeable now through the apple OS???  Its one of the reasons why i haven't mad the jump yet.  I cant wait to get it though!

 

Jim,

Now with the coming of the DCS for ipad or iphone with the TIU be upgradeable now through the apple OS???

No, it will not. One thing has absolutely nothing to do with the other.

 

Regardless, you can use an Intel-based Mac to run the Loader Program if you use either Boot Camp or a 3rd party Windows virtual machine such as Parallels.

WOW, okay.  Thanks!

stupid question, and I am sorry to ask this, do I need to buy a copy of windows in order to use the bootcamp for my mac?

Sadly, yes.

Jim,

 

Check in the Utilities folder in your Applications folder. Boot Camp Assistant comes with the Mac OS, I believe.

You will also need to check to see which version of Windows is compatible with your Mac and version of OS X you are running.  Some Mac/OS X combinations don't support Boot Camp/Windows at all, while others only support XP, or only Win 7, or only Win 8.  If you can post the exact Mac and OS X version you have, I'll keep my eye open for this post and let you know which version of Windows you have to get.