iCab App Thoughts and Questions other than pricing.

Probable this fellow...  bobkrivacic@hotmail.com

I am trying to determine if the discussion between Marty and Bill R might give me a clue why my TPCs will not work with iCab.  I hooked up the WiFi and SER2 modules last week, downloaded iCab and everything works except my 3 TPCs.  My 3 TPC's IDs are ENG 1, ENG 3 and ENG 4.  Ten years ago when I first installed the TPCs they needed to use TR # IDs, should I go back to that?  I hate to since I am now using the first 8 TR IDs for lash ups.

Make sure the iCab isn't set to Legacy mode when addressing the TPCs. Just a thought. 

I've used BlueTrain in conjunction with the LCS WiFi. Works great! The screen shots posted with the app give you a good idea of what to expect in use.

 

He wanted to know about Bluetooth adapters.

The free Bluetrain app seems to work great with both my (now almost antique) Samsung Droid Charge phone and inside the BlueStacks Android App Player (a free virtual Android environment for Windows) on a Dell laptop running Windows XP. In both cases, I'm using the LCS Wifi device.  At this time, it seems unfortunately limited to basic TMCC/CAB1 functionality (commands prefixed with 0xFE in the Legacy Protocol document).  I have only tried TMCC and Legacy engines, no other accessories - on my layout, I control those with some homebrew hardware and software written in NI LabView.

 

I was very pleased with how well the whole thing worked. I had the Bluetrain app running a train on the first try, within minutes of the UPS guy handing me the package with LCS Wifi box in it.   

 

Jim

No luck on getting my TPCs to work with iCab.  I have to set the control on my CAB 2 to "CAB 1" for each of my TPCs in order to get them to work.  Is this setting replicated in the iCab app?

On the TR or ENG numeric key pad on iCab there is a TMCC/Legacy  Mode button.  Try setting that to TMCC.

 

 

Marty:

Guess I will need more hand holding as I can't get the MODE TMCC/LEG button on appear in the ENG screen.  My TR screen looks like yours.  Here is what I see:

 

 

When I get home I'll play and see what I get.

When you are connected to the base, the Roster button shows up.  Try pressing "Xpert", then PGM, the "SET" key - when held down - you will be able to switch the mode. 

 

The mode is typically read in from the base, which is why the "Roster" button replaced the mode setting control.  If you set the mode from the Cab-2 for the particular engine (or train) ID the iCab app should operate properly.

 

Marty and others,

 

I tested out a consist using the TR functionality that was already programmed in legacy.   It runs fine and responds to my commands.    However, the sounds buttons from the sound menu did not respond all.   The only way to play the sounds/dialog was to use the Legacy remote.   Has anyone had success with this when running consists?  

 

Also, is there a way to see the consist / lashups I defined in legacy from the APP?  I can do this on the legacy remote and scroll through my entire.

 

 

I just checked the commands sent on the dialog triggers for a Legacy train, the wrong command is sent.  We will correct this in an update, along with a few other minor fixes, sorry for the error.

 

Jon,

 

Thanks for looking into this issue and logging it for a fix when the app is updated.

 

Overall I am pleased with the app.  My kids and I are using the app and like the look and feel of its design.

 

 

 Jon,

 

Had an issue turning smoke off and on in a Legacy multi-steam locomotive TRain.  Was able with Cab2 but no luck with iCab.  Can you test and confirm?

 

Jon, Marty:

 

Thanks for the quick responses.  I was able to change mode as Jon described and it did not resolve my problem with the TPCs.  My problem is that all 3 of my TPCs will not work with the iCab app.  I have all TPCs set in conventional mode and "spin up" the voltage to maximum when I run Legacy/TMCC engines.

 

This is what happens when I try to use the iCab to power up a TPC.  After entering the TPC ENG ID in iCab, I swipe the slider to full power.  The addressed TPC Comm LED lights steady, but the Track LED does not light and no power is applied to the track.  The non addressed TPC's Comm LEDs all blink while the bar moves to full right. 

 

I have tried reprogramming the TPC from an ENG ID to a TR ID, no change.  I also reprogrammed the ENG ID, again no change.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Don