Dave45681 posted:SGP posted:For the record, if you can have someone help you get the App on your tablet you don't need wireless internet in your home. My understanding is that the MTH WiFi device has the ability to send out its own WiFi signal independently just for your trains. Others with more experience can chime in where that switch is located or if there is an easier way to download the App to your tablet.
MTH set this up so that it doesn't matter what devices you currently use in your life, just grab a second hand tablet around the same cost of the remote if your using WiFi and your good to go.
Correct, of course. I meant to imply the internet connection was needed in order to get the App on the devices, but your right that they can talk directly to the DCS WiFi unit once the App is installed.
As to the discussion of abandoning the already engineered remote, it has been suggested (or even stated as a hard fact, but I can't quote a source off the top of my head) that it is a parts availability issue. It's will not be feasible to continue "just ordering more" of the same thing. Considering the TIU/Remote first came out in 2002 (and was in development for at least 2+ years before that most likely), it's not hard to believe some of the 16+ year old parts are no longer available from the tech companies that actually make the chips.
Therefore, continuing to offer the remote would require at least some level of a re-design. That is what MTH is trying to avoid.
-Dave
I have read that on this forum before and that might be true BUT!!! to your logic, those said discontinued components have either gotten cheaper to manufacture or a cheaper alternative has been created to replace it.
Electronics get cheaper, smaller, and then replaced with something even cheaper and even smaller and so on and so on.
So MTH doesn't want to re-engineer the remote with modern components does indeed make sense but don't blame the parts, they can be found one way or another. That costs prohibit those changes is a different deal of course.
