LCS Wifi module

So far I've been unable to get it to join my network with an ASUS dual-band router, it just never connects.

I have mine as part of my home network with no problems.  The LCS WiFi uses antiquated and slow 802.11b wireless networking.  For purposes of LCS, there is no performance issue.  But, I don't imagine many people have their home wireless routers configured for 802.11b.  I suspect that today they come configured for 802.11n and 802.11g.  If you have trouble getting it to connect to your wireless router, check the router's configuration. 

Connected it day 1 to my Apple Airport Extreme router as a WPS printer. It has since then worked perfectly.

I specifically enabled 801.11b so I could connect it, but the ASUS router doesn't like it apparently.

Well, I got it connected, but it's not a workable solution.  I updated the firmware to the latest, and after a couple of tries, it connected. 

 

HOWEVER...

 

The process of using WPS nukes all the network configuration and both my secured and guest networks were gone, replaced by a random named ASUS network!

 

I think I need a new router.

 

We finally got our new Legacy WiFi interface unit, replacing the beta test unit. The new unit works well with the new iPhone app ($50 from the Apple store), the iPad app, and the BlueTrain Android app. I'm going to install a router this weekend since we plan to install the DCS WiFi modules when they become available later this year. Hopefully we'll be able to get everything to cooperate.

I've got my home unit connected to myApple AirPort Extreme and my layout unit connected to my uncles Netgear 4300 and both of them work greatv

I finally got a working solution to connect the iPad through the main network and LCS works through the main network.  I still wish they had an alternative connection method other then WPS, we still haven't gotten our club layout to work that way.

Does anyone have an AT&T Uverse router?  I can't get the LCS wifi to connect to it?  You have to go into settings on the uverse router & turn WPS on but there is no button to press. I have talked to AT&T & they are use less.  They want me to go to paid support.

 

Thank You For Your Help

Ken M

If you have no button, there should be a provision on the configuration screens to invoke the WPS procedure.  What's the specific model number of your router from the product label, usually on the bottom.

 

It appears the posters here are way ahead of me in using LCS WiFi. I have been trying it out on a test oval of track to see how it works and how reliable it is. I have decided to not have the LCS connected to my home network. When the LCS is operated through the home network the iPad is then also on my network and while the LCS app is in use all the other functions still run in the background like Outlook and messaging. So when I am operating the engines there is a constant  barrage of emails, scheduling requests and texts coming in to the iPad. The joys of earning a living to pay for the trains. When I operate as a separate network I just select the LCS network for my iPad and it works great, and I am off the grid. The only problem so far is if I get too far away from the LCS box the iPad automatically re-pairs with the Home network. Not a good thing while the trains are running. 

The solution I have chosen is to use a dedicated iPad for the LCS that is only paired with the LCS and will be docked at the layout. I can then use my normal iPad to answer the emails whose senders just cannot wait, and there is no interruption to train operations. 

The solution I have chosen is to use a dedicated iPad for the LCS that is only paired with the LCS and will be docked at the layout. I can then use my normal iPad to answer the emails whose senders just cannot wait, and there is no interruption to train operations. 

That's a waste of a good iPad.

 

Just turn off Notifications while using the LCS Module, then turn them back on when you're done with LCS. It's faster than switching networks.

 

That way, your range will be improved and Notifications won't intrude.

Thanks Barry. Whether or not it is a waste of a good iPad depends on the relative importance of the trains! We also have an extra because my wife decided to get a new one. I understand the turning off of notifications but I do not see how it helps in the network re selection. As I move away from the LCS its signal strength drops while the home network signal remains constant. It only takes the briefest of interruptions and the iPad reconnects to the home network. I suppose it is possible my iPad is not performing flawlessly. It is an old iPad 2 that has seen a lot of use and travel. 

One other thing is my grandson likes the iPad much better than the Legacy handheld so with a dedicated iPad he can use it while I use mine for work. 

I do not see how it helps in the network re selection

With Notifications off, you can just connect to the home network and no be troubled by interruptions. Since you'd be on the home network, there'd be no reason to reconnect at all.

I have not been able to connect my LCS Wifi in the "join network mode" after in gauging a professional network person and consulting lionel engineering to solve the mystery.  I would need to configure the router to 802.11b and set speed to 2.4 Gz and then everything works! problem is my network runs at 5G.  I would have to drastically reduce the speed of my network.  Now the question being is why would Lionel build a network box with 5 year old out dated technology !

     This seems to answer the question why so many people have trouble connecting in "join network" mode,  the LCS Wifi seems to be outdated technology.  folks the internet is not going to get slower only faster.  waiting for the 5G version of LCS Wifi     

Bill,

 

That's not your problem, unless you've deliberately configured your router to not be backward compatible, which is the industry default.

 

Perhaps what you need is a different "professional network person".

I put in the new router today. Basic Netgear N600 $70 router from Wally World. WPS mode engaged just fine. The LCS software on both the iPad and iPhone had vastly improved range using the router/network over the Wifi module as a hotspot.

 

BlueTrain can't see the Legacy Wifi right now. Working to configure BlueTrain to access the WiFi module as a client on the network. What remains to be seen is how we can add the MTH WiFi modules when they become available.

 

So far, so good.

In order to get Bluetrain to connect using the network mode, you need to do a DHCP reservation on the router for the LCS WiFi device to "stick" it's IP address.  Then you enter that IP address into the Bluetrain settings.  Pick Client and then enter the address in the format: nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn:50001

 

Note that the port number is REQUIRED to get it to connect.

Sounds like you have an older "selectable dual band" WiFi router. Most WiFi routers now sold are "simultaneous dual band" that run both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands at the same time.  WiFi clients connected to the two bands can still communicate with each other, but those connected to the 5GHz band will communicate with each other and the router at the maximum possible speed.

The one issue with the WiFi module is that it runs at 801.11b speeds.  This forces the 2.4ghz side of the router to support the slower speed.

 

Does the mere presence of an 802.11B device slow down an otherwise all-G or all-N network?

 

 

Thanks John. Got an E-mail from Bob Krivacic shortly after I posted and he told me the port number was the problem. I also had an error in the settings file that was causing a problem which I was able to fix. I'm going to try to force the DCHP reservation on the router Wednesday. Looking forward to using the system with the router as it yielded much better range. Next step is to see how we can tie in the DCS WiFi modules when they hit the streets.

Yep, the DCS WiFi will toss another wrinkle into the mix.

 

Got Legacy tied down and the IP address locked in place. Changed the DHCP address pool far away from the Legacy WiFi address so people won't accidentally configure incorrectly. Works great -- had control off the locomotive from outside the building tonight. Now we wait for the DCS modules.

 

Thanks for the advice, John.