I am a former RC car racing addict, who powers his current layout with four ZW's and will NEVER resort to running trains with swipes on a smart phone.
I am seriously considering converting at least my MTH engines with Proto 3.0 electronics for dead rail running. Bells and whistles are important to me. I am just beginning to study the many options, but am I fooling myself that I can find more traditional controllers than my detested smart phone? I am an octogenarian who has been stalled for years at the point of completing the wiring of a 24 foot square layout. I refuse to use my "smart" phone for anything more than text messages, phone calls, and an occasion glance at the weather.
Am I being unrealistic? Are there any "simple" ways to use Proto 3.0's ability to run DCC and use battery power only for powering the electronics and running the locomotives with their attendant sounds, smoke, etc.
I don't wish to bother this forum for details on how to do it--all i want are your realistic responses as to whether dead rail can exist with a dead smart phone!
Larry (modeling Cajon Pass in 1957 when phones were not so smart)
