Running two LC engines with the App

Pete- I've not found a way to run 2 engines simultaneously on the app. When I have multiple LC locos on the layout and powered, only the selected engine can be run. I agree that the slider gives better speed control.

Maybe an update is in the works when the Base 3 is released.

Bob

The new Lionchief app will allow you to run 3 trains at once.

@GAN Railroad posted:

The new Lionchief app will allow you to run 3 trains at once.

Where did you see this? I read through all of the Base 3 App settings and I didn't see anything about making a lashup with bluetooth. The Cab3/ Base3 system will do it just like before with Cab 1's and 2's.

I'm hopeful that the functionality will be in the app.

@GAN Railroad posted:

The new Lionchief app will allow you to run 3 trains at once.

I have the latest LC App and it doesn’t do this. Are you a beta tester for a newer version?

Pete

I can't remember what video I saw it on since I watch so many, but the updated Lionchief app will be released at the same time as the base 3 app. It will allow you to operate 3 engines the same as the universal remote. Perhaps during the week Dave Olsen, or somebody from Lionel could chime in to verify this. I'm not a beta tester.

@GAN Railroad posted:

I can't remember what video I saw it on since I watch so many, but the updated Lionchief app will be released at the same time as the base 3 app. It will allow you to operate 3 engines the same as the universal remote. Perhaps during the week Dave Olsen, or somebody from Lionel could chime in to verify this. I'm not a beta tester.

The Universal Remote still only controls one engine at a time. Just allows you to have 3 programmed into it.

Then let's ask @Dave Olson......

Thoughts Dave?

Will the updated LC app allow for multi-engine (lash-up) control?

Bob

@Norton posted:

I have found the slider on the App to gives better low speed startup than the pot on the Universal Remote.

Several months ago, I tested a LC+ 2.0 Baby K4 using the Universal Remote, and also found the low-speed precision to be lacking.  Head-to-head, it was clearly inferior to operating a LC+ (1.0) with its bundled remote.

If Lionel updates the App and makes it work with two locos, that'll provide a workaround for those who don't mind running their trains with a phone app.   However the Universal Remote has updateable firmware.  I would prefer that Lionel ALSO update the remote software to achieve better precision.

I'm fortunate enough to have CAB-2, CAB-1L, etc., and with those controllers the Baby K4 worked smoothly as I expected.  But given price and market conditions, many more entry-level hobbyists are likely to be using the Universal Remote.  Your post just confirmed my perception that with the default firmware, the U.R. doesn't allow the trains to operate to their highly realistic potential.

The LC Remotes are obviously built to a price. I just picked up a dedicated remote for an 1st gen plain LC for 12 bucks and there are a lot of features in the Universal remote that make it a bargain but a better pot thats smoother with a different taper would help startup and low speed running a lot.

Given an engine can start slower with the App its not the fault of the engines.

Pete

No updates to the LionChief APP. Instead, Cab3 has a "Bluetooth" tab that is in essence an upgraded version of the LionChief APP which allows multiple engine connects simultaneously.

FYI, Cab3 on Android is on the Play Store now. We're still working with Apple on getting the iOS version approved.

Just tried the CAB3 with a couple of BT engines, both connected right up and managed to stay connected better than the LC app.

Thanks for the update Dave.

I'll update the app later on today.

Bob

@Norton posted:

The LC Remotes are obviously built to a price. I just picked up a dedicated remote for an 1st gen plain LC for 12 bucks and there are a lot of features in the Universal remote that make it a bargain but a better pot thats smoother with a different taper would help startup and low speed running a lot.

Given an engine can start slower with the App its not the fault of the engines.

Pete

I haven’t been inside one of those remotes but is it literally a pot or some manner of rotary encoder?

For my DC homebrew controllers I’m a huge fan of the single knob/center off paradigm instead of a discrete reverse switch to flip polarity. This style was traditionally more popular in Europe and UK than here in the US, but I love it, especially for low speed/switching operations. My controllers use a simple linear taper pot, but I modify the taper with two equal resistors, one from each side to the wiper. This gives you an inverted S taper which is weird for normal use but in a center off model, it gives you a very gradual slope around the midpoint, steepening as you go faster in either direction, then very steep near the voltage peaks. Might be work cracking one open and giving it a try.

attached is a response plot of 50k and 100k resistors on a 100k linear pot.