My HO model railroad club setup its NCE DCC system use smart phones to control trains about a year ago. We have found that most members prefer using their smart phones to run trains instead of the NCE remote. The NCE DCC remote is similar in shape and size to the MTH DCS remote.
One huge advantage of the smart phone over the remote is that members don't have to remember to bring the remote to the club. Nearly all members and most visitors have a smart phone with them at all times. I think that smart phones will be the preferred method of controlling trains at clubs in the future. Young members don't bother buying a NCE remote.
I tested the MTH app on my smart phone at the NMRA convention in Kansas City. It worked fine. The MTH representative at the booth told me that the wifi signal was stronger than the remote's signal. He said that users were less likely to get the dreaded "out of range" and "engine not found" messages when they use wifi. I don't know if this is true or not.
I will most likely install the MTH wifi app on my home layout in the near future. I am hoping that it will work better than the remote.
NH Joe
