WiFi Trial Failed - Update - Success Today!!

I just used the built in wifi channel and bypassed integrating it with the home network.  I don't use my tablet other than for the trains right now so it didn't matter to me if it had network access.

I set up my Samsung tablet (andriod) with the MTH wifi, my layout is in the basement and when I go down to play with my trains the tablet connects to the MTH wifi automatically.  My guess is because it's the strongest signal, so I haven't tried connecting to my own wifi.

Thanks for taking the time to document this and post it. Looks like a very nice way to set this all up and I saved and printed out your pdf file. Something I would not have thought of and I just happen to have an extra router handy. I am going to try it on my system if my WiFi unit ever arrives. I'm betting this will be popular with others as well, as a way to hook theirs up.

Also, your image in your post above is not showing up, just says 'Image not Found'.

Thanks again for documenting and posting to share with us.

RTR12, that image shows in my Firefox browser and Not in my Windows Explorer browser.  It's the same image as the image at top of the PDF article.

You said that you first tried to configure the DCS WiFi unit to connect to your home wireless router, and it "didn't work". Was this because the two devices were too far apart to get a reliable wireless connection, or for some other reason?

The pdf will be fine, just didn't want to miss anything. Thank you again for posting the info.

HMB, after following the Quick Start instructions repeatedly, I couldn't connect to my household router.  I have no clue why I couldn't get it to work and my networking expert, Brad, didn't waste time trying to figure out how I messed up.  He just set it up so I can try out running trains with my tablet.

If I had to guess, it may have something to do with these settings that have to match in the advanced setup from the on line manual, but I'm just an electrician, not a computer expert.  Maybe WPS doesn't always handle that.

Lines 10, 11, and 12 should be the same in the Train Router and the WiFi Module.

              MATCH          EXAMPLE

1. ESSID          "MyTrains"
2. ENCRYPTION          "WPA2-PSK"
3. PASSPHRASE          "train1234"

When I finally got back to my trial running, I had to update to 1.1.  With that done the four engines  on the 4 TIU outputs popped up on tablet then disappeared.   I might get one or two engines active but all 4 never showed up again with wireless connection.

Hard wiring with Cat5 cable between WIU and Train Router was the only way I could find all four again and everything was too unstable.

I give up.  If anyone in the Metro Denver area is up for a challenge to get my WiFi running some time please contact me.  Contact email is in my profile or via my website.  This has been an expensive trial.

Now I'm back to happy trains with my remote!!

Susan,

Now that you've updated the DCS App to version 1.1 you must update the WIU firmware to version 1.1, as well, to make things work correctly.

I have Verizon Fios and have no trouble getting my MTH unit to hook to the home network.

Ive got an apple airport and i phone, set all WiFi units to static IP's. It worked OK  lat time i used it but it was a bit funky reading all the engines into the app. Some would go inactive then re-reading the layout would move those to active and othewrs to inactive

Help with WIFI setup for those in the Kansas City area.  

Assistance can be provided for model railroaders in KC.

Contact me via my email address in the Pro Hobby profile.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Susan,

Now that you've updated the DCS App to version 1.1 you must update the WIU firmware to version 1.1, as well, to make things work correctly.

Thank you, Barry.  I had updated my tablet to 1.1 when my trial got interrupted.  When I resumed working at it, I went through all iterations to upgrade the WIU.  When there's no "Success" message the upgrade remains a mystery.  When I checked LUCI there was a long string of numbers containing 1.1.

One of my issues was new diesel engine added as steam engine.

Susan,

I had something similar happen.

My RK Imperial S-2 Turbine loaded into the app with a horn icon rather than a whistle rope icon. MTH explained to me that it was an issue with the engine, rather than with the DCS App, and that there were several engines that had the same issue.

Is that your only problem with the app?

After the January 2016 Trial Failed (see below) I gave up on Wifi for a while.  In September 2016 I discovered DCS signal interference.  See Signal Interference Found! No Need for Cherry Bomb Cannon.

Knowing the interference was cleared up and seeing all the good words about running with a smart phone or tablet, I installed the latest upgrades and firmware before restarting my January 2016 setup (see start above).  Success!!!!  Now I can add Wifi to the rest of the TIUs and have all my track running with Wifi.

There is nothing like a two year interruption in serious train running.