WIFI unit won't add particular engine; but the remotes will

Try putting it at a different location on the layout.  I had one loco that acted that exact way:  sometimes nothing found, sometimes the IS # and then failure, sometimes interrogation and then failure, even though remote showed signal strength of 10.  Moved it to another location, and it was right right away.  I've never had to "reboot" the wifi, and have never gotten a time out message, but I am using android.

When you say upgraded by TAS, is it a TMCC engine now?

He specifically said "Proto 2 Upgraded". TAS did all types of upgrades. 

Just wanted to make sure, he could have easily meant it was a PS/2 and was upgraded to TMCC.  If it's PS/2, don't know why it wouldn't work.

Train America did PS-2 upgrades as well. They upgraded 4 of my locomotives to Proto 2. I was actually happier with their PS-2 upgrades than with their EOB upgrades. They would also sent the trains that had AC motors to Timko first to replace the motors. The only one that I have having the WIFI issue with is the Mercury. The other 3 added with no issue.

Scott Smith

John,  back when upgrade kits came out,  Mike had a special class for the TAS guys on doing DCS upgrades.  They did many.

Just furthering my education Marty, I didn't realize they did PS/2 upgrades.

Maybe the new address won't "stick" because of a bad battery?

1 )I left it on the track for a few hours for a battery charge.

2) I tried it with a second i-phone and got the exact same results

3) I opened the tender and found out that Train America didn't use a battery, there is a BCR 2 installed.

4) I did notice that Train America glued the BCR 2 to the top of the speaker. Could that cause an issue with the BCR 2 and the WIFI? Keep in mind that the remotes still work.

I am clueless on this issue. Any suggestions.

Scott Smith

If you can add the locomotive to a standard DCS remote, I would suggest it may not be the engine at all.  The sensing of the signal and communicating with the engine is done by the TIU, then the information is stored in the remote.

The battery on top of the speaker is a non-issue.

Did you try a factory reset on the problem engine and then attempt to add it?

Scott, did you try my suggestion above?

RJR,

Moving the locomotive had no effect.

Scott Smith

Gunrunner John had it right again. I did a factory reset using the remote. Then I was able to add the locomotive to the I-Phone and add it back to the remotes.

Thanks again,

Scott Smith

Now the question is what was the cause?  Since the TIU does the searching, why would the remote be able to add the loco but the wifi not?????

RJR,

That's a great question.

Scott Smith

I'd like to hear the answer to that one.  I know several times that a factory reset has brought me in from the cold, so it's always one arrow in the quiver.

Maybe one of the added engines had the same address?  Wasn't there an issue with the app reported earlier?   By doing a factory reset the number was reset allowing the app to add it?

Could be Marty, I haven't really kept up with the WiFi app.  I used it for the first time at the NJ-HR Trainstock. 

MTH WIFI with upgraded APP

My DCS system allows me to use both the WIFI APP and the handheld remote to add engines. I can first find and add an engine with the remote and then use the APP to control the engine.  Or I can find an engine and then add an engine with the APP and then control or adjust the engine with the remote or the APP.  Either way the APP can add a new engine by using the ADD ENGINE feature and then the EDIT function. Sometimes it appears that the APP cannot locate the TIU but takes a few minutes for the engine to be located.  A message then appears that asks if you want to start the new found engine. Once selected the new found engine is shown on the WI FI APP screen.

Note: I am now using a Lenova 10 inch tablet with the upgraded APP.  The free AP will also be used with any I phone or any Android smart phone or other tablet.

See photos of tablet mounted in a custom made portable holder.

Going to guess maybe a software glitch in the Wi-Fi app. How many engines in the phone? Was given a demonstration of it Saturday by Andy and found it very interesting plus discovered a lot of 70 year old guys have it on their smart phones.

I can first find and add an engine with the remote and then use the APP to control the engine.  Or I can find an engine and then add an engine with the APP and then control or adjust the engine with the remote or the APP

That's not correct.

In order to use an engine with the remote, you must add it with the remote. Likewise, in order to use an engine with the app, you must add it with the app.

Adding via one device will not allow use by the other unless it is added to that device, as well.

 the APP can add a new engine by using the ADD ENGINE feature and then the EDIT function. 

That's not entirely correct.

The app does not need to do any editing of engine data in order to operate an engine that it just added. In act, if one edits an engine's DCS ID# in the app and if that engine was previously added to a DCS Remote, any such remote will not be able to find and operate it.

Please be more accurate who you state things as facts so as not to mislead others as to how DCS in general, and the DCS App in particular, actually work.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

I can first find and add an engine with the remote and then use the APP to control the engine.  Or I can find an engine and then add an engine with the APP and then control or adjust the engine with the remote or the APP

That's not correct.

In order to use an engine with the remote, you must add it with the remote. Likewise, in order to use an engine with the app, you must add it with the app.

Adding via one device will not allow use by the other unless it is added to that device, as well.

 the APP can add a new engine by using the ADD ENGINE feature and then the EDIT function. 

That's not entirely correct.

The app does not need to do any editing of engine data in order to operate an engine that it just added. In act, if one edits an engine's DCS ID# in the app and if that engine was previously added to a DCS Remote, any such remote will not be able to find and operate it.

 

Please be more accurate who you state things as facts so as not to mislead others as to how DCS in general, and the DCS App in particular, actually work.

Notes:  Barry Broskowitz suggested the following clarification:  "In order to use an engine with the remote, you must add it with the remote. Likewise, in order to use an engine with the app, you must add it with the app."  

pro hobby posted:

Notes:  Barry Broskowitz suggested the following clarification:  "In order to use an engine with the remote, you must add it with the remote. Likewise, in order to use an engine with the app, you must add it with the app."  

 Duh.  In the first post he tried to add it to the  app!   Read the whole thread.

I have been using this new app as an opportunity to reorganize my locomotives in my remotes. I have numbered all of my standard gauge as numbers 86-98.  O-gauge tinplate as 80-85. The rest of the engines will be grouped by road names. I did a factory reset on one of my remotes. I am using the edit features of the app and the remotes to make sure all engine numbers match. I find the editing feature easier to use on the app than it is on the remotes. I was trying to add the Mercury and change it to engine #75 (My NYC engines are engines #70-79).  I was going to add it to the App first and it failed. Both remotes were able to add the Mercury as engine #75. The App still would not add the engine. After a factory reset the locomotive could be loaded to the App. I then changed the engine number to 75 to match the remotes.

Scott Smit

scott.smith posted:

I have been trying to get my Third Rail Mercury (Proto 2 upgraded by TrainAmerica a few years ago). I can add it just fine to my two MTH remotes. However it won't add to the MTH App. on my I-Phone. I get a request time out message. After that every request times out and I have to reboot the WIFI unit to use it. I can add other engines after the reboot but once the Mercury goes back on the track and I try to add it again I am right back to everything timing out. I can see where it tries to add it as engine #75, but the name never comes up and then I get the error message. Any suggestions?

Scott Smith

Hi Scott,

We've seen an odd condition with engine names that prevents the app from adding them and yet, the remote can.  Mind you, the condition is not "supposed" to occur and so, is effectively a corrupt engine name.  

Try giving the engine a custom engine name and make sure that is saved by adding it to the DCS remote.  Then, with a successful engine name change, try adding the engine to your app.

MTH RD, FWIW, one of my android devices occasionally has had a problem loading an engine name, and sometimes has gotten the wrong name.  It has always picked up the correct ID#.  Also, when trying to add a loco to a device, seomtimes the app has a problem interrogating the engine.