I run a LGB MTS system with the 55060 pc control unit. My roster consists of 9 locomotives and 60 pieces of rolling stock. With installing all electronics that control layout in house (for obvious climate reasons and might just do indoor layout one day and can switch over power to inside) and trains being stored in shed on other side of yard not having wirless control involved alot of walking. First system started with a lap top that was given to me for free (ran windows 95 with 90mhz chip) now you know why it was free. So I used that laptop with a 40 foot umbilical cord on the patio, cool couple mouse clicks and we are away control was great. Not being a fan of the MTS 55015 lets face it does the job but required about 27 key strokes to perform a simple operation. But I wanted wireless control. There are many options for that but at a hefty price. And to upgrade a remote I’m not a fan of with the wireless control came with a price (1 transmitter and 3 reciever units) was not an option for me. In walks a new computer another unit given to me (with bad power supply) repaired it formatted drive installed Windows XP pro. Now Windows XP pro offers what is known as “Remote Desktop” (not offered in XP home version). Remote Desktop allows you to sign in to any computer on your home wired/wireless network and control that computer as if you were sitting in front of it. See where I’m going with this? Now here is the cool part. My cell phone is a Samsung Omnia I910 running windows mobile 6.1 and also has Remote Desktop Mobile. So yes I am able to control my layout from anywhere in my yard with my cell phone or Netbook. So below is an actual screen shot from my mobile device.
Now there is no reason that this would not work with another control software as long as the computer that is a host to your layout is running Windows XP professional and also connected to your home network. And this is not
Another form of “remote control”. I suppose the next thing would be to put internet cameras up and then you could run the trains while on lunch at work.
A little update if anyone cares. I purchased an “Acer aspire one” netbook with Windows7 starter. Wireless control with Wifi has been flawless have not had any issues other than operator error while enjoying a cocktail. The stupid red lgb controller only sees the light of day when I need to change a cv. And the netbook battery life is amazing 7+ hours of running and not needing to plug in.
You’ll laugh, but I also bought the Acer netbook, the one with the 11.6" screen, 2 gig ram, got it cheap - $280, because it had Vista on it… I put XP pro on it (they have all the drivers at Acer) and it is great, I’m surprised how well that little Atom processor works!
Seems now you can only get the netbook in the 10" screen, the 11.6 now only comes with a celeron and costs about $100 more.
Went with the 10" atom and came with 512 ram 160gig hd. $280 microcenter and $40 extra for 2 gigs of ram. Purchased in mid march though. Can’t beat the size as it cradles nicely in one hand. Off topic I have a lot of XP experience and very little 7starter time with no complaints. Should I feel blessed that I never used vista or touched it? Seems to get a bad rap. And something about remote desktop in vista being stripped.
Yeah I have to admit I really scored, 11.6", 2 gig, $280, have not seen that equaled. Yes, I never went Vista, bypassed it, everything I have is XP or Win7… Vista was a mess, I manage the IT department at our company, never purchased a Vista machine, and never will.
Remote desktop is used all the time by my staff, and I believe you are right about RD.
You need to pay serious homage to your protecting stars! I had it for almost a year until I could get a legal copy of 7. Every other month I had to do the old “Format C:” routine.
Just picked up a “Acer Aspire One” 10.1-inch for use as a “photo lab” on our upcoming vacation, 14-day cruise to Alaska/Canada and yes we will be riding on all trains available. The web-book will serve as a "dumping place for all the daily photo’s. I’ve been known to take a few too many pic’s while on vacation. Back in the days of “film” I fired up 39 rolls of 36-exposure 35-mm film on the Cumbres and Toltec, while my wife shot a modest 22 rolls of 24-exposure. And all of that was on Day 1; we bought up all the film in Chama that night for the return trip the next day.
Yeap, that was my fault. Remember, I said that was day 1, I didn’t tell you that was a three day trip. Day 1 was from Antinito to Chama, Day 2 was the revese trip, Day 3 was chasing BOTH trains on the ground by car. That turned out to be most of $400 in 1983 dollars (just the film processing charges.
Another form of “remote control”. I suppose the next thing would be to put internet cameras up and then you could run the trains while on lunch at work.