Voice Streaming and Recording (VSR)

DO NOT REPLACE THE BT BOARD IN THE ENGINE. Do not send the engine back to Lionel for repair as this is not indicative of a problem on the Locomotive side of the equation. VSR is an advanced function within the Bluetooth 5.0 specification and requires that both sides of this- Your phone or tablet and the engine to be compatible while using the app. Absolutely- call Lionel support on the issue- but the answer is, they should be telling you to ensure you are using a compatible (BT 5.0) 3rd party device with the app loaded.

Let's go back to a conversation with Dave and this is my key complaint on this feature- you are NOT as a customer properly told the hardware and software requirements YOU have to provide in your 3rd party device- to fully use this feature.

https://ogrforum.com/...2#172611907079938312

@Dave Olson posted:

We put quite a bit of work into getting this feature into our LC engines. What we found is that performance is very closely tied to the device being used. Especially on the Android side.

Let me elaborate. We ran into an issue with many Samsung phones. The Bluetooth streaming for voice requires we (the APP) set a specific baud rate. On many Android phones (namely Samsung made in the last 3 years), the baud rate cannot be set by the APP. Rather it is artificially throttled by the smart device.

This applies to many other Android phones as well, especially tracphones and other more bargain priced phones. You also have to make sure the device you're using has Bluetooth 5.0; older phones and even some newer lower-priced devices still use Bluetooth 4.0, which is not meant for voice streaming.

We have found that iOS devices operate the feature very well, especially if they're from 2019 and newer. If you are experiencing an issue with the feature on an iOS device, I would recommend emailing me and we can get to the bottom of it.

So bottom line- what exact model of phone or tablet are you using and have you confirmed it is in fact Bluetooth 5.0?

Here is a perfect example of the issue relying on 3rd party devices for controlling your trains.

Thank you for your reply. This clearly is the issue because my cell phone is Bluetooth 4.0. In the video that Dave posted on YouTube it states that it will work with Android 4.0 but again that clearly is not the case. Yes, I agree they should make more of an effort to get the correct information out there so thank you again for setting me straight on this. I'll live with it for now until I upgrade my phone.

Here is the original VSR YouTube video that Dave posted. It has no mention or disclaimer of the fact you should have a Bluetooth 5.0 phone, so it's a little misleading all though I don't think intentionally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f1f1UCAA4Q

I have a similar issue with a VSR equipped Lionchief Polar Express 20th Anniversary engine I just bought.  My Google Pixel 6 that I used to control it has Bluetooth 5.2.   Everything works fine, but any time I try to use any part of the VSR system (recorded message or the Live voice streaming), nothing happens and the app closes.  I've tried uninstalling the app and reinstalling it but that made no difference (at the bottom of the main app page, below the throttle, it says 2.6.30 - I'm guessing that's the app version?).   Has anyone else experienced this?   Any suggestions on what to do?

Thanks,

Dale

@Dale K posted:

I have a similar issue with a VSR equipped Lionchief Polar Express 20th Anniversary engine I just bought.  My Google Pixel 6 that I used to control it has Bluetooth 5.2.   Everything works fine, but any time I try to use any part of the VSR system (recorded message or the Live voice streaming), nothing happens and the app closes.  I've tried uninstalling the app and reinstalling it but that made no difference (at the bottom of the main app page, below the throttle, it says 2.6.30 - I'm guessing that's the app version?).   Has anyone else experienced this?   Any suggestions on what to do?

Thanks,

Dale

Well, the other part of that message from Dave at Lionel was that Android devices- regardless of bluetooth version of chipset may not always work.

@Dave Olson posted:

We put quite a bit of work into getting this feature into our LC engines. What we found is that performance is very closely tied to the device being used. Especially on the Android side.

Let me elaborate. We ran into an issue with many Samsung phones. The Bluetooth streaming for voice requires we (the APP) set a specific baud rate. On many Android phones (namely Samsung made in the last 3 years), the baud rate cannot be set by the APP. Rather it is artificially throttled by the smart device.

This applies to many other Android phones as well, especially tracphones and other more bargain priced phones. You also have to make sure the device you're using has Bluetooth 5.0; older phones and even some newer lower-priced devices still use Bluetooth 4.0, which is not meant for voice streaming.

We have found that iOS devices operate the feature very well, especially if they're from 2019 and newer. If you are experiencing an issue with the feature on an iOS device, I would recommend emailing me and we can get to the bottom of it.

@Dale K posted:

My Google Pixel 6 that I used to control it has Bluetooth 5.2.     Any suggestions on what to do?

I do feel sorry for users buying or expecting these features to work based on advertising- but the key problem is you are required to bring a 3rd party device (in other words- not made or controlled version by Lionel) to the table. Because they have no control over what 3rd party devices are built, let alone the operating systems and settings, the Voice Streaming and Recording is heavily, and I do mean heavily involved in both the hardware of your 3rd party device, but also it's operating system and settings.

Bottom line- this is a very tough feature to implement and make work do to complications and details of the Bluetooth protocol and features.

At the end of the day- try a different device and probably a newer apple device may be more compatible.

Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just pointing out the inherit problem with the "apps are the future of the hobby" and yet right here we are, in 3rd party compatibility and requirements causing issues.