The range of the WiFi signal is determined by the transmit power, the receiver sensitivity and any RF signal attenuating obstacles in its path. FCC regulates the transmit power while the receiver sensitivity can be increased by adding external antenna. Clear line of sight can easily give range upto 300 ft.

But hey, why bother with these worries when you can simply setup a mesh network of access points and take the signal with you wherever you go. It's that simple! Really!

The decision about using WiFi vs Bluetooth for communication was the first in the early design phases of LocoFi™.

1. WiFi and Bluetooth are two wireless technologies that both operate on the 2.4GHz spectrum but the underlying protocol is very different.

2. Bluetooth was invented specifically for exchanging data over short distances while WiFi was invented as a replacement for wired LAN (Local Area Network).

3. Bluetooth is meant for exchanging small amounts of data only.

4. Bluetooth speeds are much slower than WiFi. Bluetooth speeds are much slower than WiFi. Think first person video transfer from the cab of your loco. Bluetooth can't support it.

5. You get much more extended range with WiFi. Setup a "mesh" network and the range is virtually unlimited.

6. Only WiFi can handle a large network of locos (think internet). IPv4 Class A networks can theoretically support billions of devices. The newer IPv6 supports virually limitless number of devices. Imagine a single network of all the locos in the world and you choose whatever train you want to run on your choice of layout (now we are dreaming) :-)

7. Since WiFi is a wireless extension of the internet, it seamlessly ties into IoT. Think about cloud and the ability to run your trains on a remote layout (even across the world) or stream your cab video to the world. With technologies like VPN, you can be remote yet operate a layout as if you were present there.

As you can see, Bluetooth is essentially useful to connect nearby devices to exchange small amounts of data, for example in your car or your headset. It was in fact invented to serve that purpose. WiFi, on the other hand was invented to serve as an extension of the TCP/IP based networking protocols, that is internet.

Still not convinced. Google "WiFi vs Bluetooth". Once you see what each technology is capable of, it will be easy to see why WiFi is better suited over Bluetooth for model railroading operations.

Most electronics need DC power supply. Even a DCC decoder rectifies the DCC signal to draw power for its operations. So, yes, AC can be rectified, filtered and fed to the LocoFi™ module.

There are two ways this can be achieved. One, put the bridge rectifier and the filter capacitor with the LocoFi™ module in the loco shell. However, the filter capacitor is usually a large component that may not fit inside the shell of a HO scale loco. It may be more feasible in S scale and O scale (or any larger scale). The other way is to rectify and filter the AC power supply before it's fed to the tracks. That way, it's very similar to running on older "pulsed" power supplies (see our FAQ -> Troubleshooting -> 02). This means that no other AC only operated trains can be run simultaneously on the same track.

Yes. Absolutely. Since the LocoFi™ module can be powered by DC, a battery qualifies as a very good source of DC.

While we do not sell batteries (at least not yet), if you have a battery pack rated for anywhere between 9V - 24V powering the module directly, the LocoFi™ module will perform flawlessly without even any concerns for dirty track. In fact, minimum operating voltage for LocoFi™ 3 (DULLHB) is 7V and can easily run off of 2S LiPo.

Please check out our videos of a LocoFi™ equipped locomotive operating with power from an onboard battery and another video showing a track powered by a battery.

Yes. While the much awaited Amrit™ is delayed, currently commercially available 3rd party "charging from the track" can work equally well. Be it a battery based or supercapacitor based, as long as you put them in series at the output of a bridge rectifier and ensure that the rated voltage at the track isn't exceeded, they can do the job. Please see the wiring diagram below for reference.

Short answer. Yes but the range might be limited.

Long answer. As long as there is some opening where the RF signal can leak through, there will be no issues. However, the range may be limited. It's similar to how much your eye can see depending on the amount of light available or just like when talking on your phone your cellular signal drops when you walk inside some buildings.

We've performed laboratory tests by enclosing the entire module in aluminium foil based containers and as we created small openings, it worked just fine. In fact, the WiFi microcontroller itself is enclosed in a metal case (to avoid external RF interference) and only the PCB antenna is exposed for transmission and receiving data. See below:

Let's look at a LocoFi™ modules as a devices with different sizes and capabilities especially the motor current rating. Please check out the technical specs of each module for details. Then look at your requirements. If you find a LocoFi™ module that matches your requirements (size, current rating, etc.), then it's good fit.

It's true that we mention "for HO" in some of our product titles but that's just there to emphasize the best suited size and current rating for a typical HO scale loco. Obviously, a smaller size can always fit inside a larger scale loco and vice versa too in some limited cases. In fact, LocoFi™ powers our customers' equipment of all scales from N, HO, OO, On30, S, O and G.

As we release more optimized versions for other scales, they will have their own specific "best suited for" scale mentioned in the product title.

Also note that barring things like dimensions, current rating, sound output volume, etc., all LocoFi™ products still work on the same underlying technology with a single application controller app. You may as well be operating a G scale and an HO scale loco running on two different layouts at the same time as long as they are added to the same network!

Yes. Absolutely. It is supported on all compatible versions of FireOS that is supported in Android. For Android, we currently support 5.0+. Please see Fire Tablet Device Specifications to see compatible Fire devices and FireOS versions.

DCC was invented as a standard for compatibility among DCC equipment manufacturers. LocoFi™ is NOT DCC. DCC ready boards are just that, "DCC Ready" only. It's a clever way to let a locomotive run on DC when the DCC decoder isn't installed. To make LEDs functional on DC, we need resistors and that is pretty much the DCC ready light board does. That means the LED resistors can't be onboard the DCC decoder to make in plug'n'play or you would be desoldering the SMD resistors from the light board.

In an ideal world, an 8 pin connector would be just that, an "8-pin connector". You plug in anything into it, be it a DCC decoder or a LocoFi™ module. Alas, with pretty much only DCC around until now, the choice for model locomotive manufacturers was obvious. That is, to design a DCC ready board in a way that runs on DC power as well.

The 8 color coding scheme only specifies "common". It's the DCC standard that specifies that "common blue" should be positive. How does it impact LocoFi™? Well, not much in a way. The LEDs are diodes meaning they conduct electricity in one direction only. Hence, all we need to do it feed the blue wire on the LocoFi™ module to negative side of the LED instead of the positive. Worst case (opposite polarity), the LED won't light up.

Please note that a module is complete in itself by having resistors onboard or else you need external circuitry to light your LEDs which in the case of DCC is provided by locomotive manufacturers.

Still confused? Questions? Please feel free to Contact Us.

LocoFi™ modules can operate on voltage as low as 7V (for DULLHB) and as high as 24V. That's a lot of flexibility. Much more types of power supplies to choose from. Sometimes, no standards is the best standard.

To make LocoFi™ modules compatible with DCC ready boards, we'll be giving up this flexibility to "run anywhere". We'll have to get the onboard resistors out and for those folks with DC only locomotives who have been waiting for this revolutionary technology to arrive would be soldering the resistors as well, not to mention that they won't be able to use the variety of voltages to run on or risk burning out the LEDs.

Other than that, switching around the common blue to positive isn't a big deal. We just don't want to give up the power we want to give to our users. Simplicity and flexibility!

Please note that we don't provide the 8 pin connectors or else it may be mistaken for DCC plug compatibility and risk destroying the LocoFi™ module. We do hope that in future, model locomotive manufacturers will provide more generic 8 pin adapters that can take in "any" module.