WIRELESS TURNOUT CONTROL

At the moment, the closest you have are FasTrack Commend Control switches; radio controlled but not Wi-Fi.

why not WiFi?

Alan

I am no expert, but in various electronic communications articles over the years say the wi-fi components are still “expensive” compared to Bluetooth. I am assuming that is why Bluetooth technology is added/ used for the newest Lionel Legacy and Lionchief engines and not wi-fi.

Carl J

I don't think it's the cost of components that makes Bluetooth easier, it's the cost of FCC or regulatory approval that makes Bluetooth less expensive.

Yes, there are FasTrack command switches and the Lionel SC-2 which can both be controlled by WiFi through legacy/TMCC components. MTH also has their components which can handle layout control, but not like a FasTrack command switch.

I can't blame the designers keeping the tech within their product line.

So, I can control my layout remotely including switches without wires. I can even automate actions triggered by trains passing a certain point. But, I cannot avoid having power and control circuits entirely. The layout still requires a physical nervous system.

This subject, of which my understanding is very limited, could attract more of the young to the hobby.

Use an MTH WIU with Aiu's and you have WiFi switch motors  

AlanRail posted:

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Where is the WiFi  switch machines? i was thinking this as I am wiring DZ switch machines I have on elevated trusses.  I need to use tubing to gather the many wires required to then channel  these wires to the layout base so I can wire underneath to the AIU switch controller.

WHERE is the DZ-2500C-WF??

Isn't this a question for Z-stuff?

Separately.  If such a WiFi switch machine existed today how do you see it being controlled?  That is, it sounds like you're using DCS with an AIU?  Are you proposing direct control the WiFi switch from the tablet (eliminating the AIU as a middleman)?

If the application is to eliminate the wiring from the AIU to your elevated trusses, you could do this today with inexpensive wireless "garage-door-opener" modules.  It would not be built-in like the LCS switch machines and would require some DIY...but it would allow wireless control of your switches and only $5-10 per switch.  You can read how to do this on the O gauge archive here.  Here's a video from the archive demonstrating the concept.

So this would arguably be Wireless Turnout Control.  And if using the WIU, it could additionally be called WiFi control of turnouts (albeit NOT native WiFi support in the switch machine).  The point is you could do this today and does not require any new software application development since you would use existing AIU turnout control via your DCS remote or via your tablet if using the WIU.

Z stuff dz-2500 and data wire driver.  switch machine has the decoder built in. just hook the power wires from it to the track and run one wire around the layout for the switch machines data connection.not totally wireless but the machine is on top of the table and only 3 wires to connect locally. 

Carl J posted:

Alan

I am no expert, but in various electronic communications articles over the years say the wi-fi components are still “expensive” compared to Bluetooth. I am assuming that is why Bluetooth technology is added/ used for the newest Lionel Legacy and Lionchief engines and not wi-fi.

Carl J

It depends what you need in terms of bandwidth and speed as to what is expensive.  For example, even the most basic wifi router sold in stores is a rather powerful computer compared to anything used in the model train hobby.  On the other hand if you don't need to manage a wifi network designed to stream video and navigate the internet, but instead only need a simple system to turn a switch motor one way or the other, Wifi is cheaper than bluetooth by about 5 times, even without the licensing fee.  technologically speaking wifi and bluetooth are the same thing, it is only the software being used to tell the radio what to do that is different, the work basically the same way. For what it's worth the physical hardware to make a wifi switch controller that would work off track power would be about $5 or so and a bluetooth one would cost about $10 in parts, and be much harder to write the app to control.  

For the op, if you're looking for a stand alone app to control switches or other accessories, find me an app developer to write the app, since I suck at that end of things. the hardware end could be easily accomplished with off the shelf parts.  ac-dc buck converter, esp8266-01 wifi module, and a big triac.  about $5 in parts.  I suspect the reason it doesn't exist is because the manufacturers have a vested interest in selling ASC's and SW2's and similar products that cost 5 to 10 times what they should.