[Anthony566]

We I finally removed my Bachmann Dynamis Pro setup from my layout to setup my Ecos and decided in keeping with the hands free system I had with the Dynamis to add the Ecos Radio Handset, now when you open the box you think great im on to a winner here it looks just like the Bachmann Dynamis controller well trust me that's where the comparison stops while this unit is radio wifi rather than the infra red of the Dynamis the display and navigation is miles away from the Dynamis and in my opinion its awful .... it does work but its just not as well laid out and the resolution is awful and its not as easy to navigate as the Dynamis. Shame really.

 

[David Todd]

 

[ebaykal]

Hi Anthony.

I haven't used the Dynamis handset, so can't comment on it, but have a few words to say on the Ecos radio controller.
We used it thruout our OnTraxs show without any complaints whatsoever. About six people from the crew used it and not one of them complained about its abilities. It did its job quite well. Our Dortmund show?...thats a different story all together.
Below are a couple of links that might be of use to you;

http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...=20056&st=0

http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...showtopic=22255

Erkut

 

[Anthony566]

QUOTE (ebaykal @ 26 Oct 2013, 06:51) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Anthony.

I haven't used the Dynamis handset, so can't comment on it, but have a few words to say on the Ecos radio controller.
We used it thruout our OnTraxs show without any complaints whatsoever. About six people from the crew used it and not one of them complained about its abilities. It did its job quite well. Our Dortmund show?...thats a different story all together.
Below are a couple of links that might be of use to you;

http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...=20056&st=0

http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...showtopic=22255

Erkut

Hi Kal,

The technical functionality of the unit is fine it does what it was designed for but from the UI point of view it's quite poor IMO

I have to say for the cost of the unit I was expecting something a bit more refined.

 

[David Todd]

I was also slightly dissapointed but with the charging process...............

Click link,to see set up.

http://www.southwestdigital.co.uk/PDF/EcoS...11_eBook_01.pdf

 

[kristopher1805]

I have read all through this thread and the links and am truly rather surprised at the handset performance, I would hope that as my Z21 uses a tablet then it would not be affected by radio interference so that would be a better idea all around, pleased I bought the Z21 and of course you can walk around with the tablet as you wish. Looking at the Ecos handset it does look a bit old fashioned graphics etc. the manual is a bit tortuous as well but it is comprehensive and not the usual German approach of 3 pages how to plug into the wall socket and then a line to tell you to enjoy your marvellous product.

Still the bit about the mobile handset going over and controlling the Ecos stand locos must have been priceless!

 

[Julian2011]

Hi

QUOTE am truly rather surprised at the handset performance

R/C aeroplane controllers, in 2.4 Gb have to be matched to the receivers and use digital codes to communicate, which are so varied that there is almost no chance of instructions from one Controller being acted upon by another person's Receiver. It is similar, in effect, effect to that by which the on-board DCC Decoders work, so that only the addressed train responds.
What surprises me is that it seems ECoS didn't think that some form of coding was required - or perhaps the story is an apocryphal one?

J

 

[Greyvoices]

This discussion has certainly had an effect. I was thinking of buying the Ecos Radio Handset but by all accounts this would not be a wise purchase. I am now wondering about alternatives ....... If there are any. What about a cheap tablet loaded with some suitable software that can be recognised by the Ecos via wifi? Does such an arrangement exist?

Best regards ............ Greyvoices (alias John)

 

[dwb]

QUOTE What about a cheap tablet loaded with some suitable software that can be recognised by the Ecos via wifi? Does such an arrangement exist?

Not sure about tablets but there has been a throttle application available for iPhone for some time - http://www.touchcab.com/products/touchcab.html. I am not aware of any similar app for Android.

David

 

[pauliebanger]

The Android app is called 'Engine Driver' and is a free app.

 

[Nigel2001]

QUOTE (pauliebanger @ 27 Oct 2013, 23:21) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The Android app is called 'Engine Driver' and is a free app.

Ah, but, it helps if one is describing the same things:

TouchCab - an App for Apple devices for direct (no extra computers needed) communication with supported command stations. Those being the ECoS and the Lenz system (through the Lenz computer interface box). If owning an Apple device, and already owning an ECoS this is probably the simplest solution. There is no Android equivalent App.

EngineDriver - an App for Android devices which can communicate with the WiThrottle Server which is present within the JMRI software application. JMRI runs on Windows, Macintosh or Linux computers, and can then communicate with a DCC command station. For the ECoS there are some limitations of what is possible from JMRI over the Ethernet interface into the ECoS because ESU are terribly slow at releasing documentation of their interface protocols (or conceivably haven't written the capabilities yet). The JMRI website lists the capabilities supported, and driving trains is supported.
http://www.jmri.org/help/en/html/hardware/ecos/index.shtml
So, to use EngineDriver, one needs a small computer in the middle of everything. This can be a fairly basic or cheap device, even the £25 Raspberry Pi can do the job (though is a bit of a hacker's special, something with a little more power and more conventional is simpler).

WiThrottle - an App for Apple devices, which can communicate with the WiThrottle Server. See EngineDriver paragraph above.

- Nigel

 

[GoingUnderground]

If I remember Erkut's description of his problems at Dortmund, the issue was the very many RC transmitters in the area. In a domestic environment the ECoSControl handset works without any problems, at least in my experience.

However I don't think there will ever be a colour version simply because of the very high market penetration of Smartphones, which when combined with a cheap WiFi router and suitable software will do all that Control Radio can do, in colour.

 

[dwb]

QUOTE However I don't think there will ever be a colour version simply because of the very high market penetration of Smartphones, which when combined with a cheap WiFi router and suitable software will do all that Control Radio can do, in colour.

I'd go further and state that I doubt there will ever be another command station with a dedicated display as per ECoS. There's a wide enough range of tablets of various sizes which can do the same job.

David