Question about Base 3

AFAIK, the selection of the command system would have no effect on the Lionel camera equipped equipment.  That is a direct link from the camera to either your home network or your smart device with the app, it doesn't have any direct connection to the command system in use.  You can pull your camera car with an MTH DCS locomotive and have the same results as with a Lionel locomotive.

John:  Thanks for your reply. In my train room, I still have two TV's mounted on the wall that using VHF receivers could allow coming and going views from small TV cameras I installed in a F3 and rear observation car.  These systems , available at train meets worked for me not too many years ago.  Today, the closest I can come is walking a few feet from a Lionel  caboose equipped with a camera, holding an I pad and loosing the picture  easily.  I may have erroneously believed that the improved bluetooth range  of cab 3 might improve this situation.  Sounds like this is not the case.  How is it that I can fly a drone a great distance from my ipad and still see a great picture?  My visitors today are missing a highlight of my train layout tours.  Phil

The frequency band that Bluetooth uses is widely used buy other devices, including those that use Wi-Fi. As technology has progressed there are more and more devices using that RF spectrum than ever before. This is also further complicated indoors by the many reflections and multipath interference that occurs with those wavelengths being reflected by certain surfaces.

Another aspect is power. BT devices are limited in the amount of transmit power they can use.

While not an exactly scientific answer, hopefully this sheds some light on why you see different behaviors with outdoor drones vs. trains indoors.

Well, the cameras are WiFI, but similar issues with interference still applies.  I've never heard of a drone using BlueTooth.

Thanks so much for that reply.    Does Cab 3 have stronger bluetooth?  If yes, is it reasonable to expect better video images on IOS devices with the new system?  Has anyone using cab 3 running trains with Lionel's cameras in any of the cars experienced improved range and quality.  If cab 3 does lead to better video, I might like to use apple tv to mirror the ipad images to a big screen TV.  

On the Lionel Caboose with camera, you have to take out the plastic window in front of the camera to get clear video.

As well, I seem to remember a short while back that Lionel indicated they would complete necessary work on the software in August to address issues with their rolling stock cameras.

@phil klopp posted:

Thanks so much for that reply.    Does Cab 3 have stronger bluetooth?  If yes, is it reasonable to expect better video images on IOS devices with the new system?  Has anyone using cab 3 running trains with Lionel's cameras in any of the cars experienced improved range and quality.  If cab 3 does lead to better video, I might like to use apple tv to mirror the ipad images to a big screen TV.  

Like I said, the cameras are WiFi not Bluetooth.  I've been universally disappointed with the Lionel camera products, they used a $5 Chinese camera system and crappy software to implement their "system".  I think if you want a real WiFi camera display on your trains, you'll probably have to spend a little more money and buy a quality WiFi camera and build your own.

I believe Mr. Muffin's uses Mevo.

Years ago I owned a K-Line flat car with tiltable and revolvable camera that transmitted via radio/tv waves video, not sure about audio, directly a device that attached to the back of the TV set. I don't believe it was a HD camera but it nevertheless worked very well. Obviiously, the greater background light the better was the picture. I like items like this because don't need apps or software updates to work, nor do they need Smart TVs.

Could a doorbell camera be used, mounted on a train, watched on a tablet and mirrored onto a full size TV?  

Sure, any camera could be mounted, the trick is making it look good.  I've tinkered with a number of WiFi cameras on trains.

Train cams are a mixed lot when it comes to received image quality.  When the original ChooChooCam came out a couple of decades ago, I mounted it in a Willaims DS-90 dummy (electronics took up most of the body back then) and ran it at shows including the B&O Museum.  A real novelty back then and a real crowd pleaser.  The biggest problem was the frequent image dropouts and static.  In conversations with pro videographers, I learned that I needed to upgrade radios to $$$$ pro gear with diversity receivers and the like.  My budget dictated that option be deferred.

The camera IQ (image quality) was a cost-affordable upgrade with "board cameras" then available from Sony, Panasonic, etc. and I paired wide angle cams with 2.4GHz X10 transmitters.  The R.C. Heli crowd was building precursors to today's drones and their websites had a wealth of information on hacking together off the shelf gear.  My efforts produced a flat car mounted cam with greatly improved IQ.  The radio links were disappointing - still dealing with dropouts and interference.

The current spectrum of off the shelf solutions that fit into O Gauge still disappoint when it comes to the received image.  I've tried several in hopes of an affordable system that can deliver a mostly drop-out free video stream to a monitor.  The train layout environment is a challenge with all kinds of objects between the moving transmitter and receiver, and now we have train control devices filling the WiFi spectrum.   I eagerly await hearing of a successful solution.

@Tracker John

There are some good off-the-shelf components that will fit into an o gauge dummy engine. Check out my build: https://ogrforum.com/topic/onb...5#154307984004363555

I think I could get this built today for around $400 or so.

@H1000, thanks for the link.  Looks like you developed a dropout-free solution.  It's added to my ToDo list for after I explore the Base3 ecosystem some more.