Front Page

Engine Driver version 2.1.  Changes in this release include:

• new user pref to select orientation on Throttle (default to portrait),
• stop javascript refresh on exit.

Changes in version 2.0:

• connect to discovered servers using IP instead of verifying name (avoids timeout on non-DNS network)
• added prefs for showing web view on Throttle page and setting the initial web page
• prevent a crash reported to Market

[view complete changelog]

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.

Prerequisites:

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, 2.99+ works much better) on your PC, connected to the layout.  Start up JMRI and verify you can use the included "Throttle" app to control a loco.

Start the WiThrottle function of JMRI, located in DecoderPro under Tools, Throttles.  It is also recommended that you start the Mini Web Server function (Tools, Start Mini Web Server).  Both of these should be added to Preferences, Start Up as well.

Operation:

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.
There is also a "demo" server at jmri.mstevetodd.com, port 44444 that you can connect to.

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 (or volume control) 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). You can reassign the volume control by clicking on the speed indicator (the small "v" shows which has control).

To create a consist "on-the-fly", simply select additional locos for the same throttle. Note: locos must be added with the same direction of travel ("elephant mode"). Direction and speed will be sent for all. Release will release all for that throttle.

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 or right to jump quickly back and forth between the Throttle, Routes and Turnouts pages.

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, and defining routes and turnouts in JMRI will all make your Engine Driver throttle easier to use (though not required).  EngineDriver will also show additional details if the Mini Web Server is started (such as roster icon images).

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

Downloads:

Latest version is 2.1, available in the Android Market and direct download [HERE]. (Note: you might need to manually uninstall earlier versions.)

Other versions are here: [version 2.1] [version 2.0] [version 1.9] [version 1.8] [version 1.7] [version 1.6] [version 1.5] [version 1.4] [version 1.3] [version 1.2] [version 1.1] [version 0.9] [version 0.8] [version 0.6] [version 0.5] [version 0.3] [version 0.2] [version 0.1]

The current version of Engine Driver uses a network discovery function which is NOT available in version 1.5 of the Android OS.  Attached below is a version of the program with that feature removed.  To use, download and install manually (see directions above), and enter your computer's IP address and port manually.  (Check the "Use Fixed Port" option in WiThrottle to simplify this.)

Then use as normal.

This special version can be [downloaded from here]