Run Trains With Your iPad

How did they get the info to the trains ?

standard WIFI ? blue tooth ?

and what was on the receiving end ?

Maybe a special adapter to the TIU or such ?

At the MTH booth, people were attaching their iphones and controlling the trains. They appeared to attach to the tiu via a box via wifi.

 

 

At Lionel, they had a plastic base that the iPad sat in with a 30 pin connector attaced to a legacy base.

 

Seemed like details were a bit sparse, but that iPad control is right around the corner.

 

It seems like there will be computer control for those who want it.  Others will still be able to use dcs, legacy, tmcc, Or conventional control.

 

Ed

 

what ? , Lionel can't do WiFi .... ?   so it's a  USB / Com port adapter ? 

 

you just plug one of those on the rs232 port of the legacy and voila you clear to go wifi with the ipad true the router......

 

I watched all 3 demos and Lionel's seems to be the more advanced as far as what it will do on the iPad. I'm not sure i would use it but I will give it a try. Seems interesting though.

Lionel had a WiFi to serial converter.  No 30 pin cable, just a standard Y cord that came with the Legacy base.

 

MTH's interface is currently a PC interface using a webpage.  I'm pretty sure this is interim.  They will run trains, operate layouts, and more.

 

Lionel's approach is more of a layout control of switches, accessories, etc.  The approach is to use the remote to run trains and iPad to operate the layout.  Other applications could follow such as built in LSU and roster listing.

 

The other hobby shop app appear to be just a TMCC interface to the Legacy base.

 

All interesting approaches.

Thanks Marty,

 

I saw the 30 connector plugged in but couldn't see where it was going... Maybe just for power to iPad...

 

Ed

Eddie, the 30 pin connector was just power. PCQuebec has the idea on how the signal got to the Legacy base 

 

MTH was controlled by connecting to their wireless LAN then going to a web page. This is temporary approach 

 

The third example uses the iPad to interface with a PC that connects to a base.

 

All had good ideas and different approaches. Be cool to see final products

I had a private demo of the iPad interface at the MTH booth prior to the opening of the show. Here how it was done:

 

The TIU's serial port was connected to a laptop's USB port with a serial/USB cable.

 

The laptop was connected to a wireless router and running a special program.

 

The iPad or iPhone used the Safari browser and connected to the wireless network via an IP address. This then brought up a web page interface to run the engines.

 

In early 2013 the iPad/iPhone app will be available. This will be the interface for running your engines.

 

If you already have a wireless setup in your home you will need the following:

 

Serial/USB cable to connect the TIU to the computer.

PC program.

iPad/iPhone app.

 

There will be various versions of the app:

 

A free version with limited capability like the DCS Commander.

A paid version that will do what the present DCS remote does.

An advanced paid version with many more features.

 

I asked what the cost would be for the paid versions, and was told that a decision as to the cost has not been made as of this time.

Bill

 

Thanks for the explanation.

Any word if either will work with an Ipod touch?

MTH's looks like it will.  Lionel's seems to be targeted for iPads.

There is another thread on this here.

If something is port for the iPad is not that hard to port it for the iPhone and iPod too. 

True but since they are 2 very different approaches, I do not think Lionel's App would be conducive to an iPhone.  The screen will be too small.

I'm suprised they were allowed in the buildings!  Humm, so we can bring in i-pads?????

I know what the power of an iPad and iPhone are and the great features that they have. I just don't get what the big deal is when it comes to train control. What's the difference between holding an iPad/Phone in your hand or a DCS remote/Cab 2? 

It takes two hands instead of one.

 

Rusty

I think lionels approach is the way to go. Just show one section of the layout at a time. IE: yard,town,industry ect. Getting from screen to screen would be easy on the ipad. You just slide your finger over the screen to move left or right to get to various layout sections diagramed on the screen. Lets say you have a small town with some sidings. You can show the track plan and all the switches and accessorys then when throwing a switch or activating an accessory you just tap the appropriate one on the screen and it brings up a picture of the control box associated with the item. Then you touch the box on the screen to activate the appropriate switch or acc. Let the remote handle the trains. Could see this as a dispatchers control panel also. I cant wait to see and get this technology!

When does the first touch screen locomotive that can text and send photos hit the market?