MTH DCS WIFI APP FROM A COMPUTER ?

Hi GARDNER,

 

The MTH apps and written for iOS and Android.  They do not run "natively" on a Mac or PC, however it is possible to run them from a Mac or PC inside of a simulator application.  If fact, that's how I personally test our iPhone builds.  Some of our developers own iPhones and iPod touches, but I only own iPads (my phone is Android).  I run the beta test app inside of the xCode simulator, which is for Mac only.  There are similar simulators for Android for both Mac and PC.

 

You will still need hardware to connect your TIU(s) to your home network, but the apps can be run without a mobile device.

Thank you for your reply.. I`m not familiar with Simulators, but I`ll make some searches to see what I can find out.. Are the Simulators free that you know of, considering the one you use.?.. 

I think the real answer is that if you want to reverse engineer the MTH DCS protocol and write your own software, you can control a TIU over the USB or serial connection from any computing device.  Dave and a couple others have done this, but Dave also received MTH's blessing/partnership in developing an application +wifi dongle and can market it.

 

I am hopeful that MTH was serious about opening up the protocol (from the York DCS working group).  I had started thinking about switching to controlling just Legacy engines since Lionel has been adding IR Transmitters/Receivers on engines and track sections to the Layout Control System (LCS), and allows 3rd party development (at some price?).

AFAIK, there is no price for you to develop something for your own use using the Lionel Legacy protocol that has been published.  I don't know about a commercial product using the protocol, haven't looked into that aspect.

I looked on Amazon and they have all sorts of new and used NOOKs and KINDLE FIREs, saw a NOOK HD, used, for $50... Another thing I wanted to try out is the 'LIONEL BATTLE TRAIN APP' which can now be used on IPAD and ANDROID Devices...

There is an Emulator called ADOBE AIR which like xCode, but says it works for Windows, Mac and Android and  is free, I`ll have to try that.. Apparently there is a significant difference between an Emulator and a Simulator..

Just to clarify, can I run trains on a nook or android via dcs yet or do I have to wait?

Nick,

 

Not yet.

MTH has said their WiFi Box won`t be available until the end of the year and the DCS APP hasn`t come out yet, also I don`t believe an Android APP will come till later... I`ve heard this a lot and it never seems to happen, but Mike said in April that the new MTH Website was coming in about a month and the Basic DCS APP too... 

There seems to be some confusion about the technology used to create  the iPad and Android apps that will hopefully be coming. So I thought I'd try to explain a bit of it. I am oversimplifying (lying) just a little to keep it simpler.

 

Most computer programs are developed using languages including Java, C++, Basic, or Objective C or …  using a system called a development environment where one writes programs and then compiles (changes them to machine codes). They can then be tested (run) on that same computer. These development environments are themselves programs. Common development environments include Microsoft's Visual Studio (Windows only), XCode (Mac only), and Eclipse (versions for both).

 

Programming mobile devices (phones, and tablets) is not done on the mobile device. Programs are written in a development environment on a computer. Often Eclipse is used for Android development (using Java) and XCode is used for iOS development (in Objective C). The programs (apps) can then be downloaded to the mobile device for testing.  Having to download every time you test a tiny change is a pain. So for both XCode and Eclipse, another kind of program called a simulator is used on the computer where the program is being developed. The simulator produces an image of the screen of the mobile device and mouse clicking is used to simulate screen touching and the programmer can see what would happen under different gestures (tap, drag, swipe, pinch, etc.) It simulates the phone or tablet like a computer program simulates the weather. That is, it gives an idea of what will happen if … The simulator won't communicate with a TIU or any other device.

 

So both MTH and Lionel have a team working in XCode writing apps for iOS devices. I presume both companies will also develop similar programs in Eclipse for Android devices. (I expect there is enough market for that). None of these programs will run as an application on the computer on which they were written. They are written for a very different system. So the answer to the original post is no. Dave Hikel's system will run on a PC (or you can write your own programs for Legacy since it is now publicly available, but it would be a major project.)

 

None of the above is written to run in a web browser. Adobe AIR empowers you to run web pages and multimedia programs written for the web in Adobe Flash (or Dreamweaver or &hellip on a machine they don't currently run on. This is not related to the above and AIR will not allow Objective-C programs for iPhones or iPads to run on Android, nor will it allow Android programs to run on iPhones or iPads or any of them to run on a computer.

 

I'm very confident the apps for both environments are coming.  Maybe a bit buggy at first (as many more of us begin to use them than the brave testers, and we do weird things), the apps will be able to be improved "quickly." I think they will be a major enhancement to our hobby.

(Sorry for the length.)

 

Bob

In fact, I have been communicating out of the app using the xCode simulator to the TIU via the network.  You can run trains from inside the simulator.  Frankly, I don't think you will want to because the user interface using a mouse is pretty awful, but it does work.

That's awesome!

 

Learn something new every day.

 

Thanks Dave,

 

Bob

 I contacted Dave some time ago about getting his app. I really didn't understand what was needed to fully integrate my system. I am in the process of building a layout anyways. I had to do some major work first and it's taking a long time.

 So Dave, I hope I'm still on your list of future clients?

This product is not yet available - for more information see this recent discussion:

 

https://ogrforum.com/topic/i-pad-control

So assuming that the free iOS app will be distributed via iTunes store like all apps, how and where will someone be able to buy the necessary WIFI adapter for their RS232 TIU?

At present, you can purchase a wired, not wireless, ProtoNet adapter from Hikel O Gauge Trains.

 

That's what I've been using with the free app beta.

This sounds really interesting.  Having just hooked up my DCS and AIU with switches(thanks Barry, the book was extremely helpful). I was wondering if you can make a mock or diagram your layout on the iPad or iPhone and see your layout with switches on the screen.  Just another feature I think that would be really amazing to have.  So you have the controller aspect but a map if your layout on the tablet to see switches, see which ones are set for switched and which ones are set for straight!  Sorry if this sounds silly but it would be better then building a new control panel when I am done expanding?

I cannot wait for this to come to market.  But I suppose wired or wireless, there is a shortcoming with the plan: there is only one RS-232 connection on a TIU.  I assume if you have the RS-232 connection already connected to a Lionel command or Legacy base you have to swap it for the new RS-232 adapter. Or am I missing something?

Jerry,

I assume if you have the RS-232 connection already connected to a Lionel command or Legacy base you have to swap it for the new RS-232 adapter.

Not so!

 

I use an RS232 Serial splitter (Y-cable) to connect both my ProtoNet adapter and Legacy base to one of my TIUs. The splitter is only a few dollars from Amazon.

Thanks, Barry. Never dawned on me to use a splitter as I was under the impression the MTH RS-232 was a little different than the run of the mill RS-232.  I'll buy the splitter from 
Amazon.

I noticed that in next year's catalog MTH offers the DCS WiFi Module...

...but from where I can get the Android application for my tablet?

Will it be included in the package or to be purchased on a separate CD-ROM or downloadable from the official website?

The app is designed for use on smart phones and tablets, so it can't be distributed on physical media and has to be made available as a download from the internet. Logically, it makes sense for the app to be distributed as a download from the Google Play store (for Android users) or Apple's App store (for iOS device users).

Don't bother - It's a poorly executed kid's game and is not worth the price (Yes, I know it's free)