THE LCS THREAD - Post LCS Questions, Info and Updates HERE

Is this how the software was meant to work?

Screen shots from LCS app:

Cross over

Yard:

East End of layout:

Meanwhile, this is a logical block wiring diagram:

And this is an actual diagram of the layout (which only exists on paper at this point in time)

This software was intended to build a "virtual" control panel to control trains/layout?

You only "draw" things that require or you desire to control?

You "jump" from screen to screen by using the iPad "finger swipe" technique?

Is there any way that a set of thumbnails for the "other" screens, aka the ones you aren't looking at can be included (like on the photo album app) or a way to add "buttons" that would allow a direct transfer from the screen you are looking at to one of the other screens?

The track sensor can only read the IR signal from the Legacy locomotives?  Is there any thought to having active sensors like a bar code reader that would allow you to read anything that was running on the track.  These wouldn't have to have the programming capabilities that the one demo'd at the open house.  One issue I see with the current sensor is that it only works when the loco goes over it.  If you have a long train backing up on long section of track the sensor won't engage until the loco hits it?  It might be useful to know where the entire train is instead of just the loco?

Chuck

I am hoping they offer boxcars with sensors that can be added to an\ train to make up for engines that don't have the sensors.

That would be great.  Or make a basic sensor snap on to place under any car.  Two wires for power and just enough smarts for an ID number/tag?

One of the advantages of using an SC2 over an ASC to control accessories is that the SC2 retains the on/off setting of the device it is controlling when powered off. How will the new ASC-2 work? 

Don, the ASC also holds the last settings.

Mine don't...  They are configured for all accessories and if I hit Aux2, the accessory turns on and stays on. If I power down the layout, I have to hit Aux2 again to turn the accessory back on.  Is there a way to configure the ASC so that it retains its settings when powered down?  

I don't see that behavior either.  I looked in the manual and I don't see anything about maintaining the settings through power cycles.

Just to be clear - your's don't hold the settings either?

Nope, at least in my test it didn't.  I'm not currently using them, but I just connected one to see how it acted.

Sorry guys. I was thinking of the BPC.

Totally different animal.  I believe the BPC has latching relays.

The BPC does not have latching relays.  The software would need to save the settings in the processor non-volatile storage, if the feature is supported.  I have not observed the BPC operating this way, but I will double check so the BPC2 works the same way.  

Will the new LEGACY IOS APP be able to store more than 99 Engines..?...Thanks..

No, that's a function of the Legacy system, and that doesn't change with the introduction of the LCS.

So what would you guys like to see in an iPad app based on LCS technology that Lionel is not planning (so far as we know) to address in their app? What sorts of things have you been wanting to do that the sensor track technology could enable?

Why do I ask?  I'm an iPad software developer (and not a Lionel employee), and I think it would be fun to maybe turn some of your great ideas into reality. 

//Scott

one thing I would like to see, actually has nothing to do with Legacy, but would love the app to keep an inventory of all my freight cars.  As well as keeping an inventory I would like it too keep track of pick up and destination places for my cars (user defined), and randomly build a consist and assign destinations for that consist.  I love using my small layout to just build random trains and then take those cars to their destinations.  I would love if my iPad could decide what my orders are for building a train.  It would also help me use more of my rolling stock.

So Scott, if you could make this, happen, that would be awesome!  I would be willing ot help make a design doc and screen shots and requirements.  Sadly, I can't do any of the development

Well, let's take a closer look.  I have a basic idea of what you're after. If you'd like to flesh it out a bit more, just send an email to the address in my profile. 

I have been toying with this idea for a while.  I will work to put it on "paper" with some rules/requirements my vision and share with you via email.  It will be a fun project for me regardless of the outcome

MartyE suggested that I repost the following in this thread:

Wonder if there is any chance of an enhancement that would retain the information as to what is on the stub.  Would be a very helpful feature for those with hidden track for storage, etc.  Perhaps an icon next to the stub that could be touched causing a table  to pop up showing what is currently residing on the stub with last in at the top and first in at the bottom.  Also, a summary table showing all the layout stubs with their respective equipment.  Seems to me this type of feature could lead to having dozens of sensor tracks on a layout vs a few.

We're beta testing the LCS WiFi Interface right now. Works very nicely with the iPad (not available for iPhone yet). Android users can use BlueTrain 2.0 (which works great) for engine/MU control only, but there are no layout features (it wasn't designed around that) with better range than the BlueTooth interface. The system doesn't interfere with the regular TMCC, Legacy or DCS remotes, so we can all still operate trains irresponsibly like before.

The sensor track is a nice idea, but I'd rather see the ability to interface with other types of sensors such as Infrared or current-sensing.

Matt

I'm glad they got you testing the LCS.  When Jon was looking for clubs, yours was one of the first I thought of.

I'm thinking we are only seeing the tip of the ice berg with the sensor track.  You notice Jon did say "engines and cars" could be read and determine the direction of travel in another thread so it looks like more is in works.

I agree. The first thing that hit me is that the unit has a buss, so I can see a lot of other items becoming available down the road. What's going to be interesting is seeing how/if the unit integrates with third-party hardware.

Hope everyone is getting ready for a great Thanksgiving. Just wanted to post a quick note that the lionel.com/lcs site has a few updates. In particular, a searchable PDF listing locomotives compatible with SensorTrack can be found on at http://www.lionel.com/lcs/LCSproducts/SensorTrack/ . Just click the "Click HERE for a list of compatible locomotives" and the PDF will load.

Cheers,

Rudy

Rudy,

Thanks for posting link to the compatible locomotives to sensor track.

I just noticed the LCS Sensor Track manual is now up on the Lionel Site.

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...50LCSSensorTrack.pdf

It lists what "Actions" you can program the track for along with how to create

complex recording.

The WiFi module manual is still not up. 

Excuse the lack of a Link.  My browser at work doesn't work with that function. 

The actions are pretty cool and work well depending on the placement of the track.  The recording function I found to be fairly accurate as long as the engine enters the sensor track at the same speed it entered when the recording was initiated.

 At the LUG meeting my Texas Class traveled back and forth for almost 20 minutes without missing a beat.

Can't download it...says it's unavailable.

Yes, it's been removed. It was a draft document that was inadvertently posted. There's  additional recording functionality that will be in the final product which is missing from the draft manual. I'm working a new video to describe the SensorTrack in detail. Stay tuned!

Ahhhh!  That explains all the typos.

I was getting ready to pre-order the WiFi, LCS sensor track, power supply, and cable and then realized that there is nowhere to order the SER2. Since I still have DCS attached to the Legacy I gotta have the SER2 to run both together? Am I correct in this? When does the SER2 release?

Hi Jeff,

Ironically, the SER2 will probably be the first item in stock.  It was left out of the catalog because of miscommunication on our end.   I will look in into how to get the part number available/resolved so it can be ordered.  And yes, you will need one to maintain DCS connectivity. 

I can get you a sample SER2 if we can't get the ordering resolved.  Since I only have one spare SER2, you are the lucky one!

jon

Awesome! Thank you. I am really looking forward to the WiFi. Any news on the PC side for apps?

I know I have read about people wanting sensors in Boxcars and other such cars and I agree that would be great.

but my question is, what about in a Caboose?  They already usually have power pickups for lights and plenty of room for one thing.  And additionally, an engine lets you know where you train begins, a caboose could trigger actions after a train has ended.  This would also be great on cars with EOT devices (vision tank car, cattle sounds car).

just a thought...

That's a good idea, the caboose is a natural place for the sensor.

Great Idea! And it even makes sense that I can understand...

For those that money is not an issue, how about placing the sensors all of the cars so you could tell what cars were located in a particular consist? I am not sure of the number of cars/engines that could be stored but is a thought.

If a way to manually program the necessary data into the car to provide the specific information of road name, car type, road number etc.

Sorry if I didn't read back thru all of the previous posts if this was already stated...

I think I had thrown in (a while back) the idea of using passive RFID tags like Walmart, etc puts in merchandise to detect shoplifting. They are cheap and bendable to a certain degree, lending themselves to placement into almost any kind of freight or passenger car.  

The current SensorTrack, of course, is infrared based, so what I'm suggesting implies different hardware, i.e. "SensorTrack-RF" as opposed to the current "SensorTrack-IR" that Lionel will be delivering Real Soon Now.

//Scott

Sounds like a good 3rd party development project.  Now that the interface to the Legacy has been documented, you could use the RFID logic to communicate to the Legacy base.

Any update on availability of the Wi Fi Module and the SER2 module?

I can't seem to find either on the Lionel Shipping schedule but I may not have searched for the right thing....