Anyone using old/used smart phones as dedicated throttles. If so, what do you buy and where do you buy them. I do not need to use them as phones, only need to connect to wifi. I understand they can be had at a very reasonable price.
Thanks in advance,
Mark
I got mine from my wife when she upgraded her cell phone. At that time her old phone had no trade in value.
So I guess that would be considered āfreeā. Of course you know what they say about payback.
Iām sure you know about the available WiThrottle apps. There is a āliteā version which is free, and the āregularā version which costs a small amount.
I tried the 'lite" version and wasnāt really happy, except for the free part.
I also presume you know that the ease of connectivity to your DCC system depends upon which DCC system you have, as well as where you operate.
At home I have NCE but donāt have it connected to Wifi. So an adapter board was required. Two friends also have NCE, one connected to Wifi and the other connected to an adapter. Another friend uses Digitrax connected to Wifi. No adapter needed there.
I bit the bullet and purchased a TCS UWT-50. Much happier with that.
Hello All,
Maxman has some great points about compatibility and connectivity.
I have been using Apple computers since 1986.
All our computers, phones, and tablets are Apple.
I chose the NCE DCC system because of the ergonomics of the throttle, how advanced consisting is handled along with the wireless function.
I also āupgradedā to the regular version of WiThrottle for added functions- -specifically, the ability to control two (2) locomotives or consists with one device- -essentially adding two (2) additional throttles.
I also run JMRI DecoderPro with a Digitrax PR3 (superceeded by the PR4) for a standalone programming track.
An NCE USB Interface for Power Cab is also required.
āUsedā devices can be sourced from family- -as Maxman said- -cell phone repair shops in your area, and online auction sites.
āRefurbishedā devices can be found at the above sources listed along with your cell phone carrier.
With āusedā devices the phrase, āCaveat Emptorā comes to mind.
Paying a little more for a ārefurbishedā device can save money in the long run, especially with battery life.
Your āusedā device might need to be tethered by a power cord because of a worn-out battery.
Hope this helps!
My DCC system is Digitrax. Iāve been using JMRI for years now and have occasionally messed around with wi-throttle apps using the Android āEngine Driverā and connecting through my home wi-fi network through any one of several āvintageā Amazon Fire tablets that have been passed down to me from my sister who would buy each of the latest iterations of the tablets. Thereās over five thousand Amazon Fire tablets presently on eBay right now.
Connecting was simple. Running trains was OK but I would say it was more of a novelty for me since I have plenty of wireless Digitrax throttles on hand.
Thereās more information here:
https://www.jmri.org/help/en/package/jmri/jmrit/withrottle/UserInterface.shtml
Recently I treated myself to a Proto Throttle which requires its own wireless interface. Iām still in the learning stage for this endeavor.
Good Luck, Ed
There are stores that sell used phones. Ebay as well. I bought the Digitrax Wifi adapter and use an old Android phone. Works fine. There is no need to install JMRI to do this if you go with the Digitrax Wifi system.
Simon
Just ask around, old smart phones are free, just gave one away (wife didnāt like it so got one like mine which she loves).
Hello All,
AEP528 you are correct.
A WiFi connection is all that is needed.
Thank you for pointing this out.
I amended my post.
Hope this helps.
No, as soon as I wanted an āunusedā smartphone, they all disappeared. Thereās more of a trade-in now than there was and with an extended family that my wife and I maintain payments for all, the trade-ins dried up any chance of my getting an unused or unwanted smartphone.
Ebay was a good source, but there SO MANY of them, you have to work at it. Iād say a good Samsung Android can be had for $30 if you try hard. Thatās still a great savings over any wireless throttle. I use one almost constantly with my test track and a DCC-ex command station. On the layout, itās much different when having to look down to monitor speed settings. That said, even wireless throttles are not flaw-free, at least with my UT6Ds from Digitrax. They have digital encoders instead of pots and the result is that you canāt easily tell where the ā0ā speed is without looking, either. You can spin the knob as far counter-clockwise as you can without looking, but if you were up significantly on the speed curve, itās not enough to get to zero.
Back to the rare, āunusedā smartphone - the biggest issue, besides price, is the battery. Almost all, even bought in great condition on Ebay, have batteries that have long ago left behind any semblence of a good charge. Replacing the battery, even if you are willing to attempt it, can be as expensive as buying the phone in the first place. Be prepared to always have it hooked up to a charger when not in use. Otherwise, youāll never be able to use it when wanted.
I found that a tablet (either Android or iOS) works better than a phone, mainly because of size (and legibility).
I use a Samsung tablet, about 9.5" diagonal.
For software Iām using the Roco z21 app, controlling either a Roco z21start (white box) or a Digikeijs DR5000.
A very nice feature of the z21 app is that it will present you with TWO side-by-side locomotive control surfaces when the tablet is in horizontal orientation. Iām not sure if other software apps do this or not.
I also got a rubberized case for the tablet, covers back and sides. I can lay it right on the track and it wonāt short the system out.
I originally started with an old Samsung Galaxy Player device ā the same size as a phone, ran Android apps, but there was no āphoneā capabilities. It runs the z21 software also, and I still use it upstairs on my test track when needed.
But the tablet is much, MUCH better as a ācontrol surfaceā in actual use.
I own a TLC (Android) phone that is about 3 years old, and a Samsung that is about 6 years old. Batteries are not an issue - nothing compared to the battery limitations of a Digitrax wireless throttle. I use the Enginedriver app, which is free on Android phones. Enginedriver can accomodate 3 engines on the same screen. I never used a tablet, but I like to walk around and follow my locos on the layout, so a cell phone is probably less bulky for that purpose. For some locos with faster starts, the screen throttle can be a bit more difficult to use. Using JMRI, I just slowed down the first speed steps of these locos and the problem was solved.
Simon
I have done this, using both a kindle and an old cell phone. While I think that the technology is neat I find it more enjoyable to use a āregularā wireless throttle. Less looking at the device and more looking at the trains.
Old Fat Robert
We have NCE and about two thirds of us use our phones as throttles. My only perceived downside to using a phone is holding onto it and accidentally dropping it. Setting it on the track is a habit I avoid because mine has a metal case so donāt want to inadvertently cause a shorting issue if it gets onto any track. So I solved both issues by getting an inexpensive lanyard to secure my phone around my neck when I need to be hands free.
We do however, still have a group of members who prefer a handheld throttles so the club has some for them to use and other members have simply bought their own.
Another user of WiFiTrax here. I am also an Apple shop, so Iām usingWiThrottle. The Ergonomics of using a phone are OK, but Iām the kind of person that adapts easily to that sort of thing. Since I will be hosting operating sessions, I may do what a friend has done and get a few old phones for people to use.
The one thing I did that may or may not be helpful, is to relocate the WiFiTrax board to the middle of the roomās ceiling. It would occasionally lose connection before; I hope to prevent this.
I have an old Samsung galaxy laying around, but that is out of support now and Iām hesitant to let to be on my home network even for this purpose. Unfortunately, all my newer phones get traded in because that is the only way I can afford a new high-end model.
If you donāt mind a tablet. I think one of the cheapest/quality things you will find is an Amazon fire kids tablet. This has been working okay, especially for my son.
I also have an old Samsung and it works fine for this purpose. I believe there is no risk for the network.
Simon
I agree with Simon.
With the Roco z21 or Digikeijs DR5000, youāre connecting to their own, privately-generated ānetworkā that isnāt connected to the wider internet.
I even have a Samsung āGalaxy Playerā that can run the z21 app (the old one). It was an iPod-like music player that can also run Android apps (and has wifi). Same form factor as a smartphone, WITHOUT āthe phoneā. Itās so ancient that it wonāt even sign into the google play store any moreā¦
That was true for me a few days ago as well and I may go back to using it on the internal network. Iām using a DCC-EX CSB1. I currently put it on my home network when I updated to the latest firmware a few days ago to see how it performs but I wonāt get to experiment for a few days as my layout isnāt ready to run just yet. I gave away my 4x8 I was using as a test bed (wife required it leave the house). I donāt expect any issues as I run a network that is more capable than the average wifi router most people have.
Iām trying this primarily because Iām often using the phone in my pocket or my son is using his tablet (switching his device out of kids mode to change the network requires a parent). I have to rely on wifi calling in my home to receive service most of the time unfortunately so switching networks was a problem.
My old samsung device technically wonāt be available until Xmas day. Itās my daughterās phone that she primarily used to take photos with and I succumbed to peer pressure at her age to get her a device 
I could always just restrict this device to only talk to the CSB-1. I havenāt really put any thought into that until this discussion. The thought of using that old device really wasnāt in my head until this discussionā¦ Ultimately Iād like to see if there are any roms that can run on it, but I think Samsung really made this one difficult for the hacker community.
Iām heading to a local train show today. If by some chance there is a vendor that has the TCS stuff, I would like to see how the TCS UWT50 feels even though the phone would probably be my go-to personally.
I have a NCE Power cab starter system. I am looking into getting another controller and was thinking wirelessly was what i would want. From what i have been reading i either need to get a NCE compatible wireless module and wireless throttle.
Or usb adaptor from NCE and computer to bridge the wireless gap to the network. To make it possible to use a phone for a throttle.
Can someone tell me. Would i be correct in these assumptions?
This should answer your questions. No computer needed.
Thanks he dosent actually name the device in the video. Do you know is he referring to a WDF-31. From TCS?