I’ve never been burned purchasing from forum members and TIU’s do occasionally show up for sale here, usually at very reasonable prices.  

Tom

Thanks, maybe that will work for me!

tiu's can usually be repaired except for certain types  of problems ! If you don't get shorts and voltage spikes from your ac power coming in the house they'll usually last many years ! you also realize you can get  UPS power supplies ahead of your transformer and tiu and helps keep your electronics in pristine shape with no voltage spike and especially derailments which cause spikes from  track short circuits ! Alan

P.S. a lot of time the tiu's can be repaired !

@Alan Mancus posted:

you also realize you can get  UPS power supplies ahead of your transformer and tiu and helps keep your electronics in pristine shape with no voltage spike and especially derailments which cause spikes from  track short circuits !

I don't see any way that a UPS helps prevent damage from derailments, it's on the other side of the world before the transformer and the TIU!  Nothing you do in terms of power conditioning is going to change what happens with derailments, shorts, or power spikes at the track.

The UPS will protect you from power spikes, typically during thunderstorms. It may also help if you have a household wiring issue. I have an older house so I have a UPS on all my expensive electronics. I use a large battery backup, where the battery is dead, so it only protects me from voltage spikes, which is my intended goal.

If you want protection between the transformer and the TIU or track, you will need to insert fuses or fast acting circuit breakers of some type.

Correct Joe, the UPS is protecting you from the nastiness coming in from the power line, not what's happening several layers after it's output.

Somebody will come up with something for protosounds 2/3 operation, I think it's too big of a market to ignore. I hope Atlas wants to do something with DCS. However, if it comes down to it, all protosounds locos can be controlled 'conventionally'.

Just to be clear, even if you use the wifi system you will still need a TIU.

The issue is having a TIU that functions with a remote. MTH 50-1003 TIU which functions with a remote is no longer being manufactured. The alternative option being offered is 50-1039 which as I understand it is a TIU that ONLY functions with Wifi and will not work with a remote. Please correct me know if I’m wrong because if 50-1039 works with a remote that would address my concerns!

@U. John Biffoni posted:

The issue is having a TIU that functions with a remote. MTH 50-1003 TIU which functions with a remote is no longer being manufactured. The alternative option being offered is 50-1039 which as I understand it is a TIU that ONLY functions with Wifi and will not work with a remote. Please correct me know if I’m wrong because if 50-1039 works with a remote that would address my concerns!

You are not wrong, they dropped support for the 900mhz remote and only run with smart devices.

Next step is for someone to design a DCS remote that communicates via wifi. I'm using my old iphone and the DCS app and its OK, but its not the perfect solution. For me it falls short from a railroad aura aspect. Somehow some of the magic is missing for me.  Sort of like using keyboard cursor keys to control speed instead of a ZW handle.

Dale

Nothing is so easy as the job you imagine someone else doing!

@Pennsylover posted:

Next step is for someone to design a DCS remote that communicates via wifi. I'm using my old iphone and the DCS app and its OK, but its not the perfect solution. For me it falls short from a railroad aura aspect. Somehow some of the magic is missing for me.  Sort of like using keyboard cursor keys to control speed instead of a ZW handle.

Dale

How about something like this:

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

You are not wrong, they dropped support for the 900mhz remote and only run with smart devices.

John, didn't someone from MTH announce that you can tether a remote to the new TIU? I know for you big layout guys, this doesn't work, but for us small layout types, who don't walk around the layout but just sit in in front of our control panel while operating, it could be a nice alternative to the tablet. I know I would use it.

I didn't see that, but then I have no interest in having a cord to my remote, so maybe I just overlooked it.

H1000,

I was wondering how long it would take someone else, other than me, to make the connection.  Here are two more, similar concepts.  I've been looking at these for the last couple of years but haven't gotten around to trying one of them yet:

1.) Motorola Moto Z Gamepad Mod -- Nice but only works with this one cell phone (Moto Z); been on the market for at least three or four years.  I found it because I have this phone.

2.) Skyreat Mavic Air Pro Foldable -- Designed for piloting drones, but may work for locomotives as well.

See: https://www.amazon.com/Skyreat...9EPYCHKYV7H17GQMG1QQ

Mike

I'd love to hear how that solves the issue of one-handed operation as you can do with the DCS remote.

H1000, as I mentioned, I'm using my old iphone and the DCS app and its OK, but its not the perfect solution.    It's great for a first release, but I think it would not be too hard to come up with some enhancements.  Thinking briefly, how about a slider that's attached to a steam locomotive throttle lever, and of course a different arrangement for diesels?  These are all images on the phone screen; not actual physical parts.

Dale

Yellow Hudson Mike, you might be on to something too! 

Dale

John's point is well taken.  These provide tactile feedback, allowing you to take your eyes off the handheld control device to watch what's going on.  Unfortunately however they're not one-handed solutions.

M.H.M.

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

John's point is well taken.  These provide tactile feedback, allowing you to take your eyes off the handheld control device to watch what's going on.  Unfortunately however they're not one-handed solutions.

M.H.M.

Well yes and no.  That video I shot above is rather old and I have since rearranged the buttons some more.  All of the basic functions one would need can be run from one side of the controller with one hand. (engine start up / shutdown ; Speed + / - ; Direction ; Bell ; horn / whistle ; toggle quilling whistle ; switch engine).

The other side of the controller is setup for secondary basic functions which on the DCS remote require the user operate with their second hand. The difference is that the other side of the APP controller is laid out and can be used without looking at the controller or screen with the other hand. I don't know about anyone else here but when I use any of the secondary functions available on the drop down screen of the APP with my DCS remote, it requires my second hand (for some functions) and my eyesight to do so.

I get the point about one handed operation, would have been nice if Lionel would have gotten that memo with the cab-2. I can only hold it with one hand and use the other to actually operate it. All the while I am looking at the CAB-2 to do any of the functions on it because in so many ways it's just like holding a bulky 8" tablet in one hand while using the other to manipulate controls on the device. By the time you grasp the device in your palm, my thumb hardly reaches any usable functions. One hand operates the device while the other hand merely holds it.

@H1000 posted:

Well yes and no.  That video I shot above is rather old and I have since rearranged the buttons some more.  All of the basic functions one would need can be run from one side of the controller with one hand. (engine start up / shutdown ; Speed + / - ; Direction ; Bell ; horn / whistle ; toggle quilling whistle ; switch engine).

Well, yes and now.  You still have that very unwieldy thing hanging out there, even if all the buttons are somewhat accessible.  I still don't see that as a one-handed operation.

@H1000 posted:

I get the point about one handed operation, would have been nice if Lionel would have gotten that memo with the cab-2. I can hold it with one hand and use the other to actually operate it. All the while I am looking at the CAB-2 to do any of the functions on it because in so many ways it's just like holding a bulky 8" tablet in one hand while using the other to manipulate controls on the device. By the time you grasp the device in your palm, my thumb hardly reaches any usable functions. One hand operates the device while the other hand merely holds it.

They did, have you seen the CAB1L?  One handed and has all the common functions.

Plenty of good honest sellers on eBay. The question is whether you want to pay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MTH-D...349624.m46890.l49286

@U. John Biffoni posted:

The issue is having a TIU that functions with a remote. MTH 50-1003 TIU which functions with a remote is no longer being manufactured. The alternative option being offered is 50-1039 which as I understand it is a TIU that ONLY functions with Wifi and will not work with a remote. Please correct me know if I’m wrong because if 50-1039 works with a remote that would address my concerns!

I still see a market for a Premier Remote for MTH DCS.  If they are not building TIU's that use a wireless remote, then that leaves some thinking to be done.  Maybe time to cull the herd a little further.  It is that important to me.

If you keep your eyes peeled and are the patient type there are some good deals to be found both there on the buy/sell forum and eBay. I was looking for a backup TIU with or without a remote. Back in early December I came across such a deal. TIU and a remote for $340. The ad was a Buy-it-NOW and didn't say what revision the TIU was but at the prices these things have been going for I took the deal. Turned out to be revision L (all four channels tested good). In addition to that it had an additional remote, AIU and a WiFi module.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Well, yes and now.  You still have that very unwieldy thing hanging out there, even if all the buttons are somewhat accessible.  I still don't see that as a one-handed operation.

They did, have you seen the CAB1L?  One handed and has all the common functions.

And yet at our regional club that exclusively uses the the original CAB-1 everyone still uses two hands and looks at it while doing so to make sure they are pushing the right button.

My example above is not the only only choice. There are literally 1000's of different styles remotes (one and two handed models) that can be used with this project.  In fact, I've got so good at using that remote that I have detached the screen and just hold the controller now.I don't have a screen to look at, the controller is fully ergonomic to my hands (one or two) and the button layout is intuitively placed as to how I like it. When it comes to the Cab-1 I'd like to remap the Boost & Brake with the Whistle & Bell buttons, how do I do that?

Why should we be limited to Lionel's & MTH's "one size fits all" remotes when you can go on Amazon and buy the controller with the button layout you like and and arrange the exact button functions the way you prefer? This will never happen with a CAB or DCS remote as they lack any form of universal interface & protocol for communicating with 3rd party equipment.

Here's my experience, yours may vary.  If it has a screen you will look at it when performing 80% of the operations.  Simple whistle and throttle commands are probably the exception in most cases.  Both the Legacy and DCS remotes require this because of the nature of the functions.

Two handed operation was never an issue for me.  I always for the most case use both hands even with the DCS remote BUT i can operate either one with a single hand.  Go figure.  The CAB1 and CAB1L I look at a lot less because there is no screen but when you have to go to the numeric keypad you have to look at it.

Do I look at the smart apps more.  Yep.  There isn't much you can do without looking at it because there is very little to feel.  I kind of like the game controller shown above.  Still using my 2 hands I am accustomed to and have some tactile feeling. 

Again your mileage will vary and most likely a lot.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I can't help it if your club members can't remember where a few buttons are without looking at the remote.  Ditto the comment for two hands.

And neither can Lionel nor MTH. Maybe if someone would have looked into some basic ergonomics instead of using the blocky 8 bit Nintendo controller from the previous decade as a model, we wouldn't have this problem. And why is the CAB-2 such a leap backwards in one handed operation? The newest LC remotes are the same way running the throttle with one hand is very hard to do.

The reality is that while we run trains, with a somewhat one handed remote the other hand isn't doing anything anyway. Lionel knows this, that's why the CAB-2 & the LC remotes are configured the way they are.

Now with a customizable controller interface & app, the basic functions can be operated one handed and you can operate the more advance functions with a second hand just as you have to with the current models of dedicate remotes. This is all done while not looking at what you press because the remote is configured for one & two handed operation to the users exact liking. It's more than just tactile feedback and pushing a button that is identical to so many others on the remote. There is an ergonomics element so that users can identify the layout and functions of button without looking. Each button has it's own unique feel & texture so looking at them never becomes necessary. Kind of like why there are raised bumps on the F & J keys on your keyboard.

On the Cab-1 how do you know which train you are currently controlling?

@Frank Mulligan posted:

On the Cab-1 how do you know which train you are currently controlling?

There is no visual cue from the remote only whatever engine is reacting to the input.

All the surgeons I've known operate with both hands.  It tends to wind up with better results.  I guess evolution and natural selection just worked that out.  Other than my toothbrush and electric razor, I mostly use two hands. Try cutting a carrot accurately with one hand.  The accuracy of one hand operations is greatly over-rated, not to mention not looking at what you are doing . If it's at all important or risky, use both hands and look at what you are doing is my overall advice.

@Frank Mulligan posted:

On the Cab-1 how do you know which train you are currently controlling?

Blow the horn! 😉😁

We recorded an update to the DCS App remote controller operation with James operating and narrating. Some minor expanded functionality and slight button rearrangement.

Man, and people complain about the threads where people point out problems with their $2000 trains.

THIS thread is no fun anymore...

@U. John Biffoni posted:

The issue is having a TIU that functions with a remote. MTH 50-1003 TIU which functions with a remote is no longer being manufactured. The alternative option being offered is 50-1039 which as I understand it is a TIU that ONLY functions with Wifi and will not work with a remote. Please correct me know if I’m wrong because if 50-1039 works with a remote that would address my concerns!

You can use a phone handset cord to tether a remote off of the new TIU 50-1039. The only issue is, that remote will only then communicate with that TIU. Obviously, with four outputs you can support up to four tracks. I have jumpered two smaller loops off of the same TIU port with success - we ran that way today. So if you can operate with a single TIU you are all set. For someone that operates more than one TIU, each one would need to have its own remote tethered to it.

At our layout, the big layout runs trains via our iPads across four TIUs; we have an additional layout on the east side of the building that's operated with a remote tethered to a TIU and they don't interfere with the big layout. In back, is another TIU with a tethered remote we use for our test track in the workshop. I am getting ready to add a fourth independent loop and will tether a remote once again.

I don't like using the DCS app on my iPhone, but on an iPad, even the iPad mini it works really good. It is much easier to change between trains; execute the various commands; and not nearly the delay I experience with the remote. Today, we were running over twenty trains at the same time off of one iPad.

The 50-1039 was in test last week at MTH in Michigan, assuming everything is okay, they will give the go ahead for the production. I am thinking probably another 90-120 days before they get here. I am not clear on when the new remotes will ship.

You might recall Mike announced originally, last year, that DCS would continue on in a new entity, and most recently, Atlas licensed DCS for not only the MTH tooling they took over, but for Atlas tooling as well. Last I heard, their engineers were already fitting DCS components into their products.

Bottom line, rest easy. DCS isn't going away.

I'm very skeptical of Atlas ever becoming a major player in the O Gauge market, even if they start to put DCS in their locomotives.  They  just aren't available in any quantity or variety. I looked at their website, and the websites of several large O gauge dealers and some don't have any Atlas in stock or if they do, it may only be one locomotive. It must be a tough world to live in if you solely depend on Atlas for your locomotives!

@Madockawando posted:

I'm very skeptical of Atlas ever becoming a major player in the O Gauge market, even if they start to put DCS in their locomotives.

Skeptical of anyone but Lionel being a major player in O gauge? Hmm, this seems like an ongoing theme here...

I think the fact that Atlas has acquired the molds for many diesels, and has access to a factory to make them, changes things a bit.  

@rplst8 posted:

Skeptical of anyone but Lionel being a major player in O gauge? Hmm, this seems like an ongoing theme here...

I think the fact that Atlas has acquired the molds for many diesels, and has access to a factory to make them, changes things a bit.  

Hmmm... No, what I said is that I am skeptical of ATLAS becoming a major player in the O gauge market. Atlas is a small niche company  and their offerings of O gauge locomotives are nice but very limited variety and availability. There is nothing in Atlas’s history or in its press release that gives any indication (or hope) that they have any ambition to be a major player in O gauge.

While I agree there is nothing in the history of Atlas O since Jim Weaver's untimely death to suggest they are going to be a force in this segment of model railroading, the future could be different. I think a lot depends on market forces. If some combination of more people entering the hobby and pandemic induced more time at home leads to more purchases by those who are committed to DCS locomotives, Atlas O could become a significant maker of locomotives, in contrast to their recent history.  We'll see what happens.  On balance, I suspect they will be bigger than the almost nothing they've been doing, but more a niche role that Weaver had rather than a major force, as MTH was.  But I've been wrong before .

@Landsteiner posted:

While I agree there is nothing in the history of Atlas O since Jim Weaver's untimely death to suggest they are going to be a force in this segment of model railroading, the future could be different. I think a lot depends on market forces. If some combination of more people entering the hobby and pandemic induced more time at home leads to more purchases by those who are committed to DCS locomotives, Atlas O could become a significant maker of locomotives, in contrast to their recent history.  We'll see what happens.  On balance, I suspect they will be bigger than the almost nothing they've been doing, but more a niche role that Weaver had rather than a major force, as MTH was.  But I've been wrong before .

You're right, we don't really know but it's fun to speculate. One thing I do know is that in in the long run, supply and demand will come into balance. At the moment, and I stress AT THE MOMENT, the Rail King line appears in jeopardy. If that's truly due to lack of demand, it will naturally disappear; if it's not due to lack of demand, I'm confident something will appear on the market to take its place.

@raising4daughters posted:

You're right, we don't really know but it's fun to speculate. One thing I do know is that in in the long run, supply and demand will come into balance. At the moment, and I stress AT THE MOMENT, the Rail King line appears in jeopardy. If that's truly due to lack of demand, it will naturally disappear; if it's not due to lack of demand, I'm confident something will appear on the market to take its place.

I wonder if your hunch is correct about RailKing since I think many new entrants into O are more enamored with scale or very close to scale sized items.

The only items from the RailKing line that interest me are the scale diesels with 4-wheel trucks that aren’t also offered in Premier. I think this is limited to the ALCo RS-1, RS-27, EMD SW-1, SW-8/9, SW1500, NW-2, and MP15DC.

I also enjoy collecting the RailKing ore cars and 3-dome tank cars, and single dome (not modern) tank cars, again as these are mostly scale sized for the early 20th century and look great mixed in with 36’ woodside reefers and 2-bay hoppers.

Sadly, I think Lionel has all but abandoned the line of traditional rolling stock with prototypical (ie non-Disney, non-Star Trek, non-baby pictures) paint schemes.  Looking at it logically, its understandable with untold thousands of Lionel postwar, Lionel MPC and Lionel LTI traditional freight cars out there that can be purchased for under $20 a piece. Check out the 6464 remakes prices on auction sites. On top of that, there is Menards with their $17.00 freight cars.  Those same market pressures apply to Railking cars as well.

I would love it if Lionel would re-enter this market (or other companies) but I don't think so.

@MrMuffin'sTrains posted:

You can use a phone handset cord to tether a remote off of the new TIU 50-1039. The only issue is, that remote will only then communicate with that TIU. Obviously, with four outputs you can support up to four tracks. I have jumpered two smaller loops off of the same TIU port with success - we ran that way today. So if you can operate with a single TIU you are all set. For someone that operates more than one TIU, each one would need to have its own remote tethered to it.

At our layout, the big layout runs trains via our iPads across four TIUs; we have an additional layout on the east side of the building that's operated with a remote tethered to a TIU and they don't interfere with the big layout. In back, is another TIU with a tethered remote we use for our test track in the workshop. I am getting ready to add a fourth independent loop and will tether a remote once again.

I don't like using the DCS app on my iPhone, but on an iPad, even the iPad mini it works really good. It is much easier to change between trains; execute the various commands; and not nearly the delay I experience with the remote. Today, we were running over twenty trains at the same time off of one iPad.

The 50-1039 was in test last week at MTH in Michigan, assuming everything is okay, they will give the go ahead for the production. I am thinking probably another 90-120 days before they get here. I am not clear on when the new remotes will ship.

You might recall Mike announced originally, last year, that DCS would continue on in a new entity, and most recently, Atlas licensed DCS for not only the MTH tooling they took over, but for Atlas tooling as well. Last I heard, their engineers were already fitting DCS components into their products.

Bottom line, rest easy. DCS isn't going away.

Thanks for this information and update! I’m not a fan of the tethered remote approach but I am happy the production of 50-1039 will be an option for DCS in the future. If my 2002 model of the TIU ever fails (and can’t be repaired) I guess I’ll just have to buy the 50-1039 and get used to using an iPad mini. However, I really like using the untethered remote so hopefully I’ll get many more years out of my current remote/TIU combination. Also, as I understand it Atlas will produce diesels with DCS, so hopefully the MTH steam tooling w/DCS market will somehow also continue in the future as well.

@H1000 I hope I didn't miss it but what exactly is the controller you're using?

@BillYo414 posted:

@H1000 I hope I didn't miss it but what exactly is the controller you're using?

I used an ipega-PG-9083S with a Google Nexus 7 Gen 2 tablet in that video. I had to improvise a mount to the controller to have the tablet in portrait position.

I have also used this with an 8bitdo Sn30 Pro+ controller on an old Motorola XT907 phone.

Thanks. I looked it up real quick. I suspect some people won't be into it because it doesn't resemble the CAB 1 or 2 but if that works with the Lionel app, sign me right up. I dig the big red button but I could just as easily learn to use that and would be happy doing so if I don't have to look down.

It's very possible to get it to work with Lionel's apps but the there is one major hurdle that I have yet to overcome with the Lioncheif app which also looks to appear in the CAB3 app.... the speed control slider.

The MTH app had stepper buttons (remember the + & - buttons everyone loathed?), these stepper button are what allow me to interface and control the speed by 1 step increments. The lack of these buttons on the Lionel apps means I'll need to use the analog joystick to simulate up and down finger swiping motion. The problem is the Joystick always returns to center and the interface doesn't have a way to currently identify the last known position of the speed slider. As a result when the joystick centers, your speed drops back to zero. It's a work in progress... with a bleak outlook right now.

Now using the MTH app, I have actually simulated the same control of the Lionel big red wheel to control your Legacy and TMCC engines. By rolling an analog joystick on the outside edges clockwise (to increase speed) or counterclockwise (to decrease speed), you get a feel that is very similar to turning the knob except you use your thumb. You can also push down on the same joystick to change the direction (which also stops the engine).

The other issue with the Lionel app is the precision of speed control, in a word, abysmal.  It's very difficult to modulate speed even remotely as well as the big red knob.

I haven't actually used the Lionel app but that's a pretty enormous issue whether with the stick or trying to slide to a speed on screen. I can't think of a good way to cheat the analog stick and make it hold position either.

I wonder if someone makes a joystick component that isn't "momentary" so to speak.

Do you know if it would be possible to sub in a potentiometer for the throttle joystick? I'm just spitballing ideas here.

@BillYo414 posted:

I haven't actually used the Lionel app but that's a pretty enormous issue whether with the stick or trying to slide to a speed on screen. I can't think of a good way to cheat the analog stick and make it hold position either.

I wonder if someone makes a joystick component that isn't "momentary" so to speak.

Do you know if it would be possible to sub in a potentiometer for the throttle joystick? I'm just spitballing ideas here.

Well, I want to keep this as simple as possible so buying off the shelf hardware and then modifying it wasn't really what I had in mind. I'm toying with the idea of the software resetting the zero position of the analog joystick on the screen to the last set position of the throttle. This works for one engine but as soon as you switch to the next engine (in the CAB3 app), the slider will change position as the next locomotive is traveling at different speed and now you have the same old problem of finding the slider position again and setting the zero position to the new spot on the screen.

There are also some new buggy Bluetooth issues with the latest versions of the Lionchief app that have caused other problems with the Bluetooth connectivity to the controller. Lionel's latest updated versions of the app have really stalled this project plus with the CAB3 app coming soon, I wonder if the Lionchief app will remain relevant.

@H1000 you need to find something at has a rotary encoder to handle the speed issues. Some R/C airplane controls have this to set trim or stabilizers.

@rplst8 posted:

@H1000 you need to find something at has a rotary encoder to handle the speed issues. Some R/C airplane controls have this to set trim or stabilizers.

Unfortunately it won't solve the problem of the ever changing position of the slider when you change to a different locomotive in the CAB3 app. What i really need to do is developing a way for the software to find the current position of the slider and recenter the zero position of the joystick or rotary wheel so that it will begin movement up or down from that point.  This little piece will take a lot of work vs. the standard button mapping and simulate fixed finger swipes that has been done up to now. If Lionel adds a simple + & - above and below the slider to increase or decrease the speed in single step increments... problem solved!

@H1000 posted:

Unfortunately it won't solve the problem of the ever changing position of the slider when you change to a different locomotive in the CAB3 app.

I’m not sure why it wouldn’t work.  Rotary encoders spin infinitely.  It won’t matter where the on screen slider is when you bring a new engine up, clockwise increases speed, counterclockwise decreases speed.

That's tricky business. You would have trains rocketing off on you if I'm understanding correctly. I know the goal was to keep it simple. I'm just throwing out some ideas to try to spark some solutions. It sure would be nice if Lionel already had this stuff in the works in the background. I wonder if we'll get any sort of announcement with the next catalog. I'm doubtful but let's hope we get lucky I guess.

I also assumed the Lionchief app would go away once CAB3 comes out.

@rplst8 posted:

I’m not sure why it wouldn’t work.  Rotary encoders spin infinitely.  It won’t matter where the on screen slider is when you bring a new engine up, clockwise increases speed, counterclockwise decreases speed.

The rotary encoder needs to simulate a finger touch on the screen. So when you increase the wheel clockwise where is the start point for the simulated finger touch? If I use a fixed starting point at the bottom of the slider, a moving engine will come to a complete stop and start over from the slowest speed. The software will need to locate the always changing speed slider position on the y axis and make that the starting point for the rotary encoder or joystick. It sounds simple in theory but it's going to take a lot of coding to make this work right.

The latest versions of the Lionchief app and it's sloppy implementation of Bluetooth on smart devices has derailed most of the work. Since Lionchief version 2.5.05 the Bluetooth communication and support for older devices got real messy. (FYI, those who want to a stable version of the app for older android devices, download version 2.4.48a and don't update.) I'm reluctant to continue working with the Lionchief app while it will most likely go belly up when CAB3 comes out... that's where I'd like to focus my effort.

I think I understand now.  The software doesn’t accept increment and decrement commands as input.  It takes finger position on the screen.

Yeah that is a tough one.

There is a device I know of called a motorized fader.  They are used on digital audio mixing consoles.  When a “page” is recalled on the surface, all of the faders snap to the stored position. Something like that could be used.

However, reloading the position of the fader requires commanding it to so from a known stored state.  When an engine is recalled on the app, you’d still need to know the onscreen position of the throttle.

The long and the short of it is, probably Lionel would have to be the one to at least supply some sort of software interface so that these add-on's could work properly.

If you have Protosound 3 equipped locomotives, you could use DCC.  Digitrax, NCE, and other DCC suppliers still appear to be producing hand held remotes.  Neither ideal nor inexpensive, but it works.

@IC EC posted:

If you have Protosound 3 equipped locomotives, you could use DCC.  Digitrax, NCE, and other DCC suppliers still appear to be producing hand held remotes.  Neither ideal nor inexpensive, but it works.

This keeps coming up, but the same old problem still exists.  DCC and DCS/Legacy/TMCC do NOT coexist on the same tracks, you have to run one or the other.  So, unless you're going to stick to all PS/3 or you're content to run one locomotive on your layout at a time, this is a non-starter.