You need the LCS Power supply, 6-81449, the WiFi module, 6-81325, and the iPad or iPhone.  The iPad application is free, you have to pay for the iPhone application.

Thanks John.  But that's a zombie trolley.  LOL!!!

But I figure you mean this.  LOL

Lionel 6-81499

So that is all I need for a wireless throttle?  Seems like a good setup for my switching layout.  I assume I need 14 or so volts on the track supplying the AC too?

I am also wondering if the ipad/Iphone throttle is precision.  The original Cab 1 I had was not precision enough for me using the Powermaster in conventional.

OK, so I can't type five digits properly.

As far as precision, the throttle is a precise as your locomotive and command base lets it be.  The original PowerMaster only supported 32 speed steps, and conventional mode is typically not a precision operating environment, at lest IMO.  Trying to do really low speeds with precise speed control in conventional is very difficult, at least for me.

So then the questions become...

LCS with the Ipad app?  Will it be more precise than the powermaster?

Dcs with the phone app a better choice?

What I am really after is wireless or even a throttle attached by a cord.  Don't need the digital control aspect right now on a layout this small.

The 32 steps were indeed not good enough for me personally.

You need something better than the old PowerMaster.  The Legacy PowerMaster offers more power steps in conventional mode.  The manual doesn't state it, but I believe it's been mentioned here, and it's in the features list on the Lionel site.

I think your PowerMaster is your limiting item, I've used the iPad to control Legacy locomotives and I get fine control.

By the time I get a new PM, the LCS and all I bet I would be pretty close to the price of a Legacy or DCS system. 

Wish I knew how this stuff went together better in terms of what operates what.

If I could rig a walk around or corder throttle to my old ZW I would be happy.

Hi

The Legacy PowerMaster we are talking about is Lionel part number 6-37146 right? I have been following this thread and love the idea of control the trains via I pad or I phone.  Where can I get more information about this set up?

While you can buy the Legacy system, you have to have command locomotives to use it.  Note that you have to have at least a Lionel BASE1-L to use the features of the LCS system anyway.

Maybe you should start with your current configuration and what your fleet consists of?  If you're talking strictly conventional, that's one thing.  If you're talking command and conventional, that's another.

Probably in the OGR forum.   There's more information here than most places.

If you already have Legacy, you can add the LCS had do a host of things.

For both of you folks, I recommend checking out Introducing LCS to start.  Education is key before you start buying stuff.

Maybe you should start with your current configuration and what your fleet consists of?  If you're talking strictly conventional, that's one thing.  If you're talking command and conventional, that's another.

Well John... I have mostly PS1 and Williams.  I have one or two Lionel command locomotives.  However, I want to ring the bell, blow the whistle and have the ps1's talk and maybe do the startup thing.  I know I can do this with a traditional transformer, even though it is more difficult versus having DCS or with Lionel Legacy for the TMCC loco's.  I could sacrifice some if not all of this for a precise throttle.  Like I said, my old ZW and a corded throttle would be fine.

I just saw LCS and thought hmmm...this might work.  But if I am approaching the cost of a DCS system or Legacy then why even consider it.

From my reading it seems DCS can do conventional, PS1 but not TMCC out of the box.  Meaning TIU and the handheld.  As I have way more PS1 than TMCC maybe this is the way to go.

I am really surprised no electronic guru here has come up with a wireless or wired throttle for an old ZW type transformer.  Direction and speed up and down would suffice.

Hi

John thanks for the additional information. When I saw this thread I said to myself a poor man way of getting some of the advanced bells and whistle at a affordable price. This forum comes up with some cost effective solutions at reasonable prices and thought this might be one of those solutions. After reading the additional material and doing a cost based accounting it comes out a little less than a Legacy system based on eBay pricing at the current time. 

I have to agree with TurtleLinez. I would love to have the advance bells and whistle if I could hook it up to my ZW at affordable price. Maybe that is a dream and maybe not but time will tell.

There was a company called All-Trol that made a walk around AC throttle. I have one and it has exceptional low speed control as well as whistle, bell, momentum and brake control. Like other plug in throttles, you can unplug, move to a new location while your train continues to run at the set speed. I used it with an old Lionel type V transformer.

The company was a partnership. One of the owners passed in 2010 and the business basically came to a stand still. Additionally, Lionel and MTH command control most likely killed the demand for that product.

The other owner is Bob Nute. I don't know if this is still a valid email but you can try to reach him at:  bob.nute@gmail.com 

The Legacy PowerMaster has special programming to operate PS/1 and PS/2-3 locomotives in conventional mode and access many of the features easily.  Since it also does 200 step mode for conventional control, it sounds like a good solution to your issue.

Personally, I wouldn't be looking for obsolete and out of business entities for this capability, what happens when you have a failure?

I only mentioned All-Trol because it appears to be exactly what RA and Kris are looking for. I've never had a bit of trouble with my unit. Also, if Bob Nute is reachable through the email address, he may still have some products left. And since he was the actual product designer, I imagine he could still provide repair service if he has the desire to do so.

The bottom line is that it couldn't hurt to ask. 

Would a full 990 Legacy or MTH DCS system accomplish the same thing?  Or is the new PM the key piece?  In terms of Legacy I mean no PM with it.

I will email Alltroll to see what that is all about.  Will post the results here if I hear anything.

Hi Dennis B

I sent an e-mail this morning and I waiting for a reply. 

I found his info on another forum where he responded to a thread in 2013. Hopefully, he is still using that email address and will respond. Please do let us know if you hear anything. 

The DCS only gives you .5V steps in conventional mode, so it won't be any better than the old PowerMaster.  Smooth operation isn't in the cards with that combo.  The Legacy only controls command stuff, so in order to vary the track power smoothly, you need something like the Legacy PowerMaster as well.

I would have never guessed this would be such a difficult or expensive thing to accomplish.  Basically wireless control  of a ZW (or the like) handle.

Thanks John and others as well.

You could use something like the Z4000 and it's remote, but that's not cheap either.  Also, I think it's steps are pretty large as well.

I think I am seeing transformer handle operation in my future.

I wonder how complex it would be to vary ac voltage.  I am told it is not as simple as a light dimmer.

It's not difficult, but that's why they made the PowerMaster.

Hi John

For the Z4000 are you talking about the 40-4001 or something else? Is there are way to use smart phone or something like that with Z4000 without the TIU?

Kris, I have never seen this type of control relative to a z4k

I'm indeed talking about the 40-4001, it's the only remote control I'm aware of for the Z4000.  There's no way to talk to the Z4000 remote without either the matching controller or using the DCS remote with Z4K tracks.

Dear gentlemen

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping there was another way or some kind of work around. After this quick education on this matter I see there is no work around and you have to get the MTH TIU and 990 Legacy to make all the bells and whistle work.

Well, you don't need both.  If you have a Legacy, you can add the Legacy PowerMaster, street price about $80-85 and have excellent variable voltage control.  To handle multiple separate tracks, you have to add PowerMasters for each track.  For the MTH solution, you get two variable tracks from a TIU, but they have large .5 volt steps, not what the OP was looking for.  Since you can have two PowerMasters for the price of one TIU, the cost is about the same except for that expensive Legacy system.

Dear John

Thank you for reply.  I will wait until I build a permanent layout to purchase and install PowerMaster.