Issues with the Wi-Fi DCS App Ver 4.0 (Nov 2024)

Well, this is just a sample of one, but I did manage to add and operate two engines successfully.  It took two tries, the first time the second one added and started up, then I couldn't talk to it anymore.  I could still operate the first one however.  I cycled power and tried again and I was able to add and operate the two engines.  This is with the 4.0 DCS app, the WIU, and a Rev. L TIU.

I have DCS App v4.0.0 on my android, two WIU/TIU pairs.

In my case, after my android screen goes to sleep and I wake it by pressing the power button, any engines previously active become inactive.

@SanDiegoMark posted:

In my case, after my android screen goes to sleep and I wake it by pressing the power button, any engines previously active become inactive.

If you change the settings for your app to allow it to use battery in the background, your phone will not disconnect from Wi-Fi and the DCS app will be allowed to keep communicating with the WIU even though your phone is "sleeping".

Optimized is the default option assigned to all apps, changing to Unrestricted will give the app more control to keep communicating.

Will this update do anything positive for my DCS Explorer?

Thanks,

John

@Craftech posted:

Will this update do anything positive for my DCS Explorer?

Thanks,

John

No. Unless MTH makes the Standard upgrade available for the Explorer to allow more engines and access to all engine features, it will operate the same.

@H1000 posted:

No. Unless MTH makes the Standard upgrade available for the Explorer to allow more engines and access to all engine features, it will operate the same.

Thanks.

John

Thanks @gunrunnerjohn for doing some testing. I am having the same issues today (losing connection to the TIU with the "No WIU/TIU/WTIUs Found".)

I switched the WIU to the "MTH Wi-Fi Network" and the same issues persist. As I stated earlier, everything was functioning fine before I updated the DCS app to the new version 4.00.

I am using a Rev. L TIU updated to the latest V6.10 version and a WIU using the latest V1.10 version. I am running the DCS app on an iPhone that is using iOS version 17.7.

Is nobody else having this issue after updating the DCS app to version 4.0.0? Luckily, I still have an old handheld to use, or I would not be able to run trains. Hopefully this is a bug in the latest app version and an update will be released.

Well, one big difference, I have an Android phone.

I am not having any issues using the MTH Network and rev 4 of the app so far.  Two engines running.   Only difference for me is iPhone 13 with IOS 17.6.1.  

As far as I can tell, the app is set to allow background activity.

This needs to be changed from "Optimized" to "Unrestricted"

I'm afraid that battery setting does not make any difference.

There is no "unrestricted" setting but "not optimized" seems the same. After sleep and reawakening, the engines go inactive.

I hope the manufacturers continue to learn from this. Touchscreen Smartphone apps are no way to run a railroad.

@SanDiegoMark posted:

I'm afraid that battery setting does not make any difference.

There is no "unrestricted" setting but "not optimized" seems the same. After sleep and reawakening, the engines go inactive.

There is on my phone.

Here's the Android info.

My phone is older:  Samsung S9+ : One UI  2.5,  Android Version 10.

OMG....just to run a few trains! I have only run DCS sporadically in the last 12 years, it was a pain back then with Version this and that, and new design flaws, but most of the time it seemed to work.

I am hoping in a week, to hook it all back up and get it working again like it used to (I think I will need a refresher course and plenty of help from here - I can't find my copy of Barry's book, may he rest in peace) but I do NOT think I have a desire to run the system from a phone!

I have an older Iphaa---. That is an iphone with no phone number, one my son discarded and gave me, just to facetime the grandkids using the house wifi. I have Droids...no idea the version, as long as I can make and get calls - I really don't care. With the new system, I have to care evidently!

And then, the phone and the new WTIU or the old TIU/WTIU add thing, would have to connect to wifi! I get the net on DSL copper, up a 1320' drag strip I call a lane. At best, the 3 mbps allows me 2.5 for video, computer use etc. The wifi devices are starved, and have to be knocked off the system one at a time, if the system is stressed and can't connect.

Prime, Thurs football is like watching the game through a pane of glass with vasaline smeared on it - I usually quit after 3 minutes. AND....my train board is at the other end of my shop building, in a 16x28 foot room. That room is 140 feet from the router! Even putting extender at the far end of the house, it barely gets a WiFi signal out to the shop.

If my older TIU (I have a spare, new in the box) goes up, I will be running the trains conventional I guess...unless somehow HSI/FIOS happens to come up my lane....even then, the shop building will be no closer to the router. I am 77, I don't think that will happen in my lifetime!

Jeesh, I thought dealing with the TIU and PS 2 (now it is PS3) was bad back then, even with all of Barry's and other people's help. Sounds like the WiFi system is a great one, if everything works optimally...which many electronics do not do these days. Have at it guys. You guys are the future, I am still back in the 20th century.

.

The MTH (and Lionel) apps do NOT require an internet connection at all.  They can be configured to transmit their own wifi signal/network that is dedicated just to your trains.  If you have any discarded phones, they fit perfectly into this scenario.  These phones will connect to the dedicated wifi for your trains and never need to use up valuable internet speed.

The MTH android DCS app should work on just about any phone made in the last 10 years. There may be some exceptions as there are thousands of different models of phone produced during that time but the hits will be greater than the misses, especially if you stick to the major well-known brands.

@H1000 posted:

The MTH (and Lionel) apps do NOT require an internet connection at all.  They can be configured to transmit their own wifi signal/network that is dedicated just to your trains.  If you have any discarded phones, they fit perfectly into this scenario.  These phones will connect to the dedicated wifi for your trains and never need to use up valuable internet speed.

Thank you for the clarification! Good to know if I move to the new system, that I can run trains even if the shed is a mile from the house...as long as I have AC current - and the system is communicating.

It still does not explain some of the problems that led to the posting of this thread, but I am glad you cleared this up for me. I still do not think that I am the type that would like to use a phone to run my trains, but I am always open to new options....that work easily, and make things easier.   Thank you that reply and setting the record straight.

@cngw posted:

Thank you for the clarification! Good to know if I move to the new system, that I can run trains even if the shed is a mile from the house...as long as I have AC current - and the system is communicating.

It still does not explain some of the problems that led to the posting of this thread, but I am glad you cleared this up for me. I still do not think that I am the type that would like to use a phone to run my trains, but I am always open to new options....that work easily, and make things easier.   Thank you that reply and setting the record straight.

If you're linking directly to the WiFi box from your phone, you won't be running trains from a mile away!  The direct link will be much more limited in range.  With some network configuration and running through a router that has Internet connectivity, you can have longer range.

I'm not sure how practical it is to want to run trains from a mile away anyway.   What happens if you have a derailment?  Who monitors things to make sure something's not going wrong?  How do you see what is happening as you run?

Poor wording on my part...."I would be able to run them a mile from the house" - meaning I would NOT need the router in the house - but I knew I would have to be within range of the DCS wifi signal. It was explained that the new system is "self-sufficient" meaning the MTH system does wifi to the phone. Did I misread that explanation? (I don't plan on picking up the shed and moving it by the way - my concern was if I was 120 feet away in the shed, without connection to any wifi/router in the house, would the DCS wifi in the shed to the phone still work the system. I took the explanation given to me as a "Yes." ) Thank you for the reply John, always appreciated. Greg