Tricky Dicky
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Posts posted by Tricky Dicky
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I have gone on the App Store and a search comes up empty.The app currently on sale is fine, works very well. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again if I needed to.
Richard
However go to the TouchCab website and use the link and behold the app is there, never seen that before on the App Store.
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I opened up the manual which unfortunetly is in Dutch - maybe Dutch Master might translate some of the relevant pages, pretty please?
There seems to be several references to downloads but my feeling is that it is drivers mainly. There is an extensive section on WiFi and Lan but having to rely on pictures only it does show a tablet using WiFi. It then goes on and lists a number of layout control software including Traincontroller, iTrain and RocRail which can be connected from whatever device they are installed via LAN or USB. One screen shot in the LAN, WiFi section mentions a MacClone which suggests some if not all iOS devices can connect.
Short of getting a translation or them publishing an English version that's as much as I can deduce from the manual.
Richard
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Almost too good to be true?
Yes the guy stood next to me to whom the sales pitch was being given was reaching into his pocket ready to part with his beer vouchers when that was announced. On the website it is priced at €149.99 I don't know what that converts into pounds but should be pretty close then add in a special exhibition price £120 is probably correct. As far as interfaces are concerned the specs. for it list a number of express net devices such as the LH100 and multimaus. As far as wifi devices I wonder if they are relying on third parties to develop the necessary apps. The demonstrator kept telling the guy once he had his phone networked with the device he simply had to download an app but never whilst I was there did he actually specify which app.
Richard
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I listened for a while to a sales spiel and several times the demonstrator mentioned an app to download but never said which devices, android, iOS or Windows and there does not seem to be any information on the website. At £120 it seems very competitive considering the number of bus systems it supports and with built in WiFi and router.
Richard
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Soldering has got to be the preferred method, if you are managing to solder droppers onto the rails then soldering onto a bus wire should be straight forward. Admittedly working under a baseboard can be awkward depending how agile you are.
Screwed connectors are one alternative but if your layout is portable and subject to knocks even slight ones, can over time result in screws loosening.
Then you have IDC connectors (Insulation Displacement Connectors). The most popular being the Scotchlok or suitcase connectors. Although they can cope with a range of wire sizes problems can occur when there is a wide difference in wire sizes being connected. Use one that suits the bus wire and it may not sufficiently displace the insulation on the thinner wire, likewise use one that suits the thin wire and it may almost sever the thick wire.
Other connectors are the Wago type. Push in types are best suited for solid wires whilst the lever type will connect both. The only downside is that you cannot do inline connections and need to cut and reconnect the bus wires. Every connection that has to be made is a potential problem and it is better to avoid cutting wires where neccesary.
Richard
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My only concern is the on board polarity switching and LED switching as the only sure fire way of knowing a point has moved is by linking a switch to the tie bar. If all the on board LED switching tells you that you have activated a switch to move the point then there could be problems. I may be wrong and admit I have not read the installation instructions but I cannot see how it detects actual movement of the point.
Richard
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Brilliant layout Jim, but can I suggest you desist from using Laco flux for electrical soldering. It is an acid based flux mainly used by plumbers because it has a cleaning effect it means they do not have to hand clean copper pipe joints. It may be doing a grand job with your soldering but long term you could find problems from residual acid. Any residual flux needs to be flushed away with water, easy to do in a pipe but not recommended for a PCB.
Richard
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Support for Railcom is very patchy, which is a pity as it has so much to offer. What support there is depends much on the hardware you intend to use namely the Railcom detectors. As far as I know (I may be wrong) Traincontroller supports Railcom using Tams and ECoS equipment and Rocrail appears to support Tams hardware. As far I know JMRI, and SSI do not support Railcom and I do not know about iTrain or Win-digipet. The guys at DCC4PC have some downloads which enables their hardware to make use of Tams protocols in Traincontroller but I believe there are some limitations. They are also selling their own software Rail Commander but it is early days in its development, but they are offering free upgrades as the software develops.
Richard
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Saw the layout at Doncaster and what a fine layout it looks. The backscene was particularly good. Well done chaps!
Richard
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TouchCab news & updates
in DCC Discussion Topics (not questions)
Posted
Your right Jim, iPad only - zilch, select iPhone only and its there. Thanks for the heads up. BTW I have been following your layout blog a most impressive project, it's a shame running problems have you considering a restart. Keep up the good work.
Richard