Guide to Run Trains from
Cell Phone or Tablet
Running trains with the Wi-Fi DCS app by MTH on cell phones and tablets
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This app on your cell phone or tablet has become the preferred way to run trains. Use your device as if it were a handheld remote. Spend time to master it, though it’s straightforward.
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Getting Started:
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Download the premium MTH DCS app or upgrade from the free app
Be sure the device is fully recharged. Turn device on
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First Steps:
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Go to settings and find wi-fi network signal: In Virginia, it’s TrackerWiFi-VA, and in MD it’s TrackerWiFi-MD.
Password for both is Tomorrowism0ving (zero and not letter O in m0ving)
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The device links to a router at the power cabinet. This is a stand-alone router to run these apps. Your device will tell you there is ‘no internet connection’ – that is OK.
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If your device is sluggish, clear the cache by closing out apps that are operating.
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Punch up the Wi-Fi DCS app so it comes to your screen. The screen page you will see will have ‘Run My Trains’ within a white search panel. Hit this and a new screen comes up with a speed odometer that dominates the screen. This is the home screen or ‘dashboard.’
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Below the top purple header are three key symbols: On the left is an icon of a dial with the hand at 1 o’clock. This gets you back to the home screen. The center is a box with nine purple dots. This is the features page. At the right is a symbol of a gear. This is for ENGINE settings.
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Place an engine on the track. The device reads the engine. In the top right of the home screen hit the down caret. A screen appears that will say ‘Choose or Add an Engine.’ Below will be three engine status reports: ACTIVE, INACTIVE, and ADD, as in add engines.
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The engine just placed on the track and read by the device will be under ACTIVE. The INACTIVE list will remember previously run engines.
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Check off the engine you want to run – the one just added or an inactive one. This engine will come up on the home screen at the very top in the purple band.
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Note: You can add TMCC/Legacy Engines under the ADD heading.
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Symbols on the home page: The home screen has different symbols in the four corners:: the top left is a bell, then clockwise it’s a horn, then bottom right a triangle with an F for forward, and bottom left a triangle with R for reverse. To the bottom left of the speedometer is a plus and minus sign to increase or decrease speed
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Caution: When hitting the F for forward, be sure to not hit the 120 on the speedometer (with a fat finger). Hitting 120 will speed the engine to 120 mph. CRASH!
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To return to the home screen touch the dial with the hand at one o’clock above the speedometer.
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To see the Active engine’s settings, hit the gear symbol: Be sure to study this. When starting with a new engine, scroll this page up to ‘speed control’ and set a maximum speed for the engine. Return to the home page and notice the odometer will show numbers only up to the maximum speed just set.
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You can set a maximum speed for every engine.
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To change a speed of an operating engine, hit the number on the speedometer or, preferably, hit the plus sign on bottom right so the speed is increased incrementally.
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Pressing the circular arrow on top left refreshes the page
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The Double Chevrons at the center bottom of the home page are for additional operational features: smoke, engine sounds, headlines, PFAs and more.
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Notes:
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When sharing a loop, you can coordinate the speed of your engines with fellow Trackers.
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The default sound level on an engine sound slide is 70.
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Apple fifth generation IPads are available on eBay for $85
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The five tabs, or icons, along the bottom of every page, are for advanced features: Engines, Track, Switches, Accessories and more
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The free app does not have all of these features. Upgrade to the paid app to the premium app for $25.99.
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