iPad recommendations for Lionel LCS

I have an iPad that is over 10 years old running LCS. It works fine. As far as upgrading it, not much has been done in the last 5 or 6 years but it works well for controlling your layout. I don’t operate trains with it.

You can get the High Rail app that will control trains and allow you to change the operations of the sensor track without physically touching it. It works on iPad or iPhone.

The other Lionel app is icab. This should be used to operate your trains instead of LCS. It is more robust. Again not recently updated but still functional and free. Hopefully we’ll see an updated version soon.

On my layout there are two really old iPad 2's for holding when walking around. Apple has not issued an update for these since IOS 10 but they work fine. For the main control I have a 12.9" iPad Pro (with Apple Pencil) mounted in a holder to the edge of the layout.

Here is my setup.  As Tom stated my iPad stopped taking updates at iOS10.

@MartyE I would have thought High Rail would be up and running on your iPad. :-) Though the latest version of High Rail does require iOS 14+.

@Brian Coyner posted:

@MartyE I would have thought High Rail would be up and running on your iPad. :-) Though the latest version of High Rail does require iOS 14+.

I use it on my phone but for some reason I was never able to update it the last time.  I'm not sure why but I'm stuck at 3.1.  I can see the new version in the App Store but it doesn't let me upgrade.

The latest version (3.5.0) requires iOS 14+. Sounds like you may need a new iPhone and iPad. :-D

@Brian Coyner posted:

The latest version (3.5.0) requires iOS 14+. Sounds like you may need a new iPhone and iPad. :-D

Phone is a 10.  iPad not so much.  iOS14 on the iPhone.  Just no path to upgrading.

Thanks for you insights and mentoring. Your inputs have significantely have helped me "get started". For example, in all of my prior searches I had never discovered the 3rd party app - "High Rail". Additionally, I had not made the distinction between Lionels icab and LCS apps.

Your inputs have prompted the following questions. I conclude both apps (iCab and LCS) reside on the same ipad and the user selects the desired app (e.g., track slections via LCS and Engine movements via iCab). Correct????

I also have post war accessories - the classic Milk Car, Is this item controlled via iCab or LCS.

(I have a Legacy handheld remote.)

This is slightly off topic - my phone is an Android phone but my searches regarding 3rd party Lionel/Android apps has not been productive. Because of this my lack of "hits" has lead me down the iPad path. Any comments????

@Kiana posted:

Your inputs have prompted the following questions. I conclude both apps (iCab and LCS) reside on the same ipad and the user selects the desired app (e.g., track slections via LCS and Engine movements via iCab). Correct????

Yes

I also have post war accessories - the classic Milk Car, Is this item controlled via iCab or LCS.

Either

The iCab app is designed for a phone and that is where I have mine. I prefer the Cab2 for operation, not a phone but my grandson always uses a phone.

Accessories are mostly controlled by ASC2's so they are on the iPad screen in the LCS.

@Kiana posted:

Your inputs have prompted the following questions. I conclude both apps (iCab and LCS) reside on the same ipad and the user selects the desired app (e.g., track slections via LCS and Engine movements via iCab). Correct????

This is slightly off topic - my phone is an Android phone but my searches regarding 3rd party Lionel/Android apps has not been productive. Because of this my lack of "hits" has lead me down the iPad path. Any comments????

The only caveat with running both iCab and LCS on the same iPad is that iCab will require the iPad to be oriented into a portrait view and LCS wants a landscape view.  That being said they can exist on the same iPad.

There is not much out there for Android as far as Lionel goes.  I know the eTrain program could work with an Android device but I haven't seen much from them lately.

Here is Lionel's page for LCS partners.

Using iCab on the iPad is like Marty says, I found it just too inconvenient.

It is really not necessary to put iCab on an iPad, LCS has the ability to operate engines built in. Just touch the two icons in the lower right of the screen to open them.. Below is a screen shot of how it looks.

@AmFlyer posted:

Using iCab on the iPad is like Marty says, I found it just too inconvenient.

It is really not necessary to put iCab on an iPad, LCS has the ability to operate engines built in. Just touch the two icons in the lower right of the screen to open them.. Below is a screen shot of how it looks.

Just be aware that the LCS ENG control is TMCC only.  No 200 speed steps and no Legacy goodies.