JMRI: Engine Driver Throttle for Android

This free application can connect to a JMRI WiThrottle server running on a computer, and in turn control your locomotives. Speed, direction, and up to 29 DCC functions are supported for one or two locomotives or consists. You can also control layout power, turnouts and routes.

For screenshots, installation and usage details, visit [Homepage for EngineDriver].

Prerequisites:

An Android device running OS 1.6 or later, with WiFi, plus access to Android Market OR ability to manually install .apk files.
Verify your Android device can connect to your PC network via WiFi and obtain an IP address.
Make sure you are running one of the latest versions of JMRI (2.8 works, 2.12 works better) on your PC, connected to the layout. Start up JMRI and verify you can use the included "Throttle" app to control a loco.

Operation:

Start the WiThrottle function of JMRI, located in DecoderPro under Tools, Throttles. (Or under Debug in older versions of JMRI).

On your phone, start the Engine Driver app and wait for your PC's address to show up in "Discovered Services".
Click on the discovered address, (or you can enter the address and port of your WiThrottle server directly).

On the throttle screen, click on the "Press to Select" loco button for each loco.
On the next screen, enter the loco address (verify short or long), and press "Acquire". You will be returned to the Throttle screen.
Repeat using 2nd "Press to Select" button to acquire a 2nd loco.

Operate your loco using the slider for speed, and the reverse, stop and forward buttons to control direction.
To release all locos, just press the Back button and exit the app. This will also stop your locos (can be overridden in preferences).

Press your phone's Menu button to access screens for Turnout, Route and Power control, as well as adjust settings and setup default function labels.
You can also "fling" left and right to quickly switch between Throttle, Turnout and Route screens.

Configuration:

Under Preferences, you can turn off the "stop on release" feature if desired, and you can set a Maximum value for the throttle sliders. If you're planning to manually enter Turnout numbers, select the correct Hardware System to use as the prefix. If the throttle slider is too small for your fingers, increase the size in Preferences.

Use the Function Buttons menu option to set the default labels and function numbers to display. If you have entered labels for a roster entry in JMRI, these labels will be used for that entry, and can be copied from the dialog (access the menu after selecting a loco). Remove buttons by blanking out the labels.

On the JMRI computer side, check your WiThrottle preferences to insure you allow or disallow the control features desired. If you've defined your turnouts and routes in a panel, make sure to specify "user names" for those you'd like to see listed on your throttle. You can also "filter" the turnouts shown using the WiThrottle->Filter Controls option in the WiThrottle window. Turning on "Use eStop" and "Use fixed port#" are also recommended.

Entering roster entries, routes and defining turnouts in JMRI will all make your Engine Driver throttle easier to use (though not required).

You can browse the current development source code (with tags for earlier releases) [HERE]. [view complete changelog]

[Homepage for EngineDriver]

This is the package/jmri/jmrit/withrottle/EngineDriverAndroidThrottle help page