Skip to main content

Reply to "MTH ANNOUNCES NEW DCS WTIU WIFI UNIT"

Nobody knows the true situation with the remote and obsolete parts.  However, I worked in aerospace for many years, and many of our designs faced parts obsolescence.  That didn't stop us from producing product, you just have to plan for it. It's very rare that you have to completely redesign a product for one or two parts that go out of production, normally it's a much smaller task to continue the product production.

I personally have used both the Lionel and MTH smart device applications, and I still prefer the remote.  One thing that you can't do well, or at least most of us can't, is run one-handed with the phone or tablet.  I also can't use tactile feedback on the remote, so I'm looking at the phone instead of looking at the train.  When I'm running trains, I really don't want to stare at my phone all the time.

Of course there's a huge difference in the dollars allowed in aerospace for this contingency and the need to plan and cover parts obsolescence which really isn't applicable at this level.  The real question is while yes it can be done what's the cost to design and make a remote with current parts which will work with the original TIU's and WiFi?  Then what is the real market here for it, could you even begin to recoup the costs?

Unfortunately this is felt harder in the 3 Rail O world do to the smaller and fragmented command markets that exist.  You can see this same problem though in the DCC market as well.

As an FYI this whole issue is something I dealt directly with at a previous employer so I have a fair amount of experience here.

Last edited by TexasSP

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
×