Multiple WiThrottle Operators

[freescopesdad]

I just bought a license to WiThrottle and upgraded my ECoS firmware to enable WiThrottle support. If I have 3 iphones running WiThrottle on my layout, A, B and C, does opening locomotive 1234 on A preclude control by B and C? At least until I release it? Thanks.
Ron

[jdcolombo]

I don't think this is a WiThrottle issue.  Instead, I think it depends on your command station.

I use a bunch of Wi-Throttle enabled throttles on my Digitrax system, including TCS, phones and ESU.  On any of these, if an operator attempts to select an engine that is assigned to another throttle, I'll get a message to the effect that the address is in use on another throttle and offer me the possibility of "Stealing" the engine from that throttle.  I always thought that this was all part of the Digitrax command station protocol, not the throttle itself.

John C.

[John]

I don't think this is a WiThrottle issue.  Instead, I think it depends on your command station.

I use a bunch of Wi-Throttle enabled throttles on my Digitrax system, including TCS, phones and ESU.  On any of these, if an operator attempts to select an engine that is assigned to another throttle, I'll get a message to the effect that the address is in use on another throttle and offer me the possibility of "Stealing" the engine from that throttle.  I always thought that this was all part of the Digitrax command station protocol, not the throttle itself.

John C.

That's correct .. a throttle assignment is in the command station ..

[Maletrain]

On Digitrax systems, if you try to acquire a loco address that is already in use by another throttle, you will get a warning of that, but also a chance to "steal" that address.  If you do steal it, then both throttles can control that address, at least for a while.

On NCE, I CAN use 2 throttles to control the same loco at the same time, without any "steal" like in Digitrax.

There is a kink of consist/MU addresses with WiFi throttles.  WiFi throttles make consists in the throttle, rather than the command station.  So only THAT WiFi throttle knows what is in ITS consist.  The command stations think the addresses are not consisted/MUed, because the WiFi throttle is sending commands to both, individually.

In Digitax, I THINK the command station would see addresses in a WiFi consist as independent (not consisted in the command station), so it  would let a second throttle steal a top or non-top loco, and that would probably then have both the WiFi throttle and the other throttle controlling the same loco.

So, I suggest that you experiment with the system you have to determine what it actually does when 2 throttles try to acquire the same address, and recognize that consists in WiFi throttles are not the same as consists in command stations (which are also not necessarily the same as consists using the NMRA CV19 protocol.)

[Sumner]

....
On NCE, I CAN use 2 throttles to control the same loco at the same time, without any "steal" like in Digitrax.....

Similar results with DCC-EX and a WiTcontroller WiFi throttle and I believe with EngineDriver and the WiTcontroller throttle at the same time.  Not sure if this is all the throttle, the command station or a combination of both?

Sumner