What are your thoughts about using Lionel or MTH’s apps to control your locomotives? I’ll be honest. My thoughts have been changing the more locomotives I review. There will always be something special about using the traditional method of a transformer. . .but, it’s pretty fun using an app.
I’m reviewing the Atlas O U30C, and the MTH app (and probably a phone upgrade) has really changed the game! I could make the engine crawl at 2 smph or blast it at 60 smph. It really was smooth.
With AI quickly changing our world, it makes me wonder what’s next for toy trains and operation.
I’d love your thoughts. (I’m not trying to start an argument. As you can see, my opinions have changed and it surprised me. And we know the next generation of people constantly use their phones, so this is the future for them.)
I don’t have a smart phone and have no desire for one. Ergo, no apps.
Honestly, I use TMCC just the way I would a transformer, and have it only because a few of my TMCC/Legacy locos run better with it than without it, not because of additional features.
I am not the target demographic of current manufacturing, so I understand that my perspective is limited and unpopular. I’m a guy that collects and runs original prewar Standard Gauge in addition to my O. I like transformer control. (My favorite is the KW.)
If using apps and phones and AI perpetuates the hobby, great. As long as the trains continue to have a way to be run traditionally. If not, I am stuck on the secondary market, which–to be fair–is where I have been for years, anyway. But today’s products become tomorrow’s secondary market.
Just one $.02 perspective from one guy with very idiosyncratic tastes.
I, for one, also dislike smartphone control. I really, really dislike it. I much prefer conventional transformers and remotes. Since I’m too cheap to buy Legacy or TMCC, but I do want walkaround control, I’m even going to build my own little remote. But no way would I want to run my trains using a touchscreen.
Hi, I may be an outlier but I really enjoy the function of the control through the phone. Not because of the phone but the slow speed capability and ease of installing the board. I converted a Weaver RS3 using the Blunomi board and the sound is great, the keep alive takes care of any power issues and I can run at very slow speed. It would be nice to have one controller for all but the advantages for me so compelling
bkanaley, Coworker Lucas Iverson is currently converting an engine (Atlas, I think but don’t hold me to that) to the Blunami system and there will be series of videos related to that installation soon.
I’m not against using a phone for anything, but it seems to be getting to the point where anything is turning into everything. I just want a break from my phone or the internet in general.
Once a week I get a push notification from my Samsung stove asking me to join its network lol, who else is in its network lol.
Personally my trains and print magazines give me that break I need
I definitely agree with you on reading magazines on my phone. I hate it and rarely do it. What i would really like is a dedicated device that combines the tmcc and Blunami on one device maybe a little like a diesel control stand
Rene, thanks for the heads up. I’ll be looking for Blunami install. I can compare with my experiences. I did have some fun 3d printing a speaker enclosure for the RS3
Thanks for the inquiry, Rene! It’s ALWAYS good to see you chiming in on the Forum!
OK, that being said I’m a dinosaur and proud of it. I like conventional transformer control, I worked with sophisticated electronics for 30 years and while they’re quite miraculous I just don’t trust them 100%. I don’t own a smartphone and have no plans on getting one, my flip-phone (I call it “The Old Muzzleloader!” ) does everything I need. I make phone calls with it, that’s all.
What I like about conventional is with my Post-Wars is if something goes wrong with them I can fix it myself. If something goes wrong with one of my Modern Era units I can restore conventional operation with a drop-in replacement board. I don’t need crew dialog (it IS cool, I’ll admit) but smoke, whistle and bell is all I need, and I can even live without the bell.
My hero Scotty said it best:
And mind you, I have seen my fellow VTCA members struggling to get the bugs out of cranky engines with various and sundry apps on our Depot open days while my primitive Post-Wars are chugging right along. I’ve considered advising them to beat the engines with sticks to drive the demons out but that would be cruel!
(Personally, it’s my opinion one of the main reasons driving the high prices on many O Gauge engines today is the sophisticated electronics, but that’s another subject entirely!)
So, as Mister Fezziwig says in “A Christmas Carol”:
“I must be loyal to the old ways and die out with them if needs must!”
The first post started this discussion by referencing O gauge, Legacy and DCS, and wireless (Bluetooth.) I am in S gauge where Legacy engines do not have Bluetooth but they do have DCC capability. They also have no features that cannot be accessed with a Cab 2 handheld. There is no advantage to using a smartphone over the Cab 2 because both just talk to the Legacy base. I can tell you that every cell phone focused guest that has been to my layout puts down the phone and uses a Cab 2 while they are here because it works so much better.
What would really make a cell phone the controller of choice? I think it would be an AI overlay on the Legacy, or DCS, system. Imagine this. I pick up my iPhone promax and say bring out the train in the south yard pulled by the NKP ES44, run up to 45MPH on Line 1 to the Line 3 junction. Proceed on Line 3 to the Line 1 return junction, then return to the yard. All this requires is an AI app that triggers the existing app to send the resulting commands to the Legacy base.
That capability would cause me to switch to a phone (actually an iPad Mini) rather than the Cab 2 controller. It would totally change how I interact with the layout.
One of the worrying things about engines with Bluetooth is what to do when something is no longer compatible. In 30 years, will these engines still be running? No one can know.
I believe the Blunami can also be used in DCC mode so it would still be functional but you may not have the Bluetooth if that technology goes away. Your DCC system can control it like any other DCC loco
I admit, I used to be skeptical of using a smart phone, until I tried it. Now I won’t use any other tool for controling trains. It makes the locos move much smoother, as you said.
On the other hand, it depends on the kind of layout you have.
If it is running trains in a stationary way, the smart phone may not come so handy.
It it is about switching and moving around a lot, the smart phone outdoes any other throttle. You have no cord to mind, which eventually will hamper you.
At home I am building a switching layout of only 11’ by 1’ 1/2. Still, I enjoy moving around freely.
At our club’s ops session, some of us use Digitraxx throttles and swear by them, and others prefer the smart phone (Wi-Throtte or Engine Driver being the apps). Throttles with cords demand a lot of extra effort for wiring our layout of about 70 metres of FREMOdules.
So it is about to one’s choice, but apps make modelrailroading a lot of more fun.
perpetuates the hobby, great. As long as the trains continue to have a way to be run traditionally. If not, I am stuck on the secondary market, which–to be fair–is where I have been for years, anyway. But today’s products become tomorrow’s secondary market.
) does everything I need. I make phone calls with it, that’s all.