Elite wifi connection

[BigNoj]

Has anyone connected their Elite via a USB wifi dongle rather than a lead?

[Chrissaf]

I doubt it very much - see further below for why I think not.

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Why would you want to......explain your rationale for doing it and maybe an alternative suggestion could be made. I cannot see any reasonable benefit of placing the RM PC so far away from the Elite controller and model layout that it requires a wireless connection.

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The RailMaster Elite driver in Windows expects to see a USB Serial connected controller. If your thought is to create the equivalence of a wireless USB lead by plugging a USB Wifi dongle into both the PC and the Elite USB ports, then the PC will detect the USB Wifi dongle and load the USB Wi-fi dongle driver and not the USB Serial driver that RM needs to communicate to the Elite. In other words, RM will most likely loose the ability to see and communicate to the Elite.

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The issue will be even worse if you only plug the USB Wifi dongle into the Elite USB port. The Elite is NOT a TCP/IP device. Plus additionally, RM is only software coded to talk to the Elite via USB Serial communications, not the TCP/IP protocol used by Wifi devices.

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I've never heard of one, but there may be a specialist wireless USB extender product that does NOT use Wifi TCP/IP protocols. If that was the case then technically that is a different kettle of fish. But as said, I have never heard of such a product. The reason being is that the USB specification has a cable distance limitation. Off hand I can't remember what the limit is, but I think from a vague memory it is about 6 to 10 metres give or take. With such a short distance, that is easily catered for by a direct cable, then there is no demand in my opinion for a manufacturer to design and develop a wireless USB extender. I may be wrong and somebody else might know of such a product, but it will be news to me.

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In the IT industry (my background) the normal accepted way to extend a USB port more than 6 to 10 metres, is to use a Balun device to convert the USB lead into Category 5 or 6 UTP cable. This in theory would give support up to 100ft maybe even 300 feet subject to the actual product (more expensive one or one with a powered active interface box).

[Yelrow]

I would add That HRMS, have clearly said that you cannot use a hub, 2 way, 4 way whatever, it must be a direct and sole connection, which seems to preclude any other way of doing it. john

[96RAF]

Yes or rather No - I carried out extensive trials to try to get the Elite to talk to anything by WiFi or BT dongleys and to no avail.

 

I don't think the Elite has the space in memory nor the brains to allow such drivers to be installed, so it sits there fat, dumb and happily unaware of people trying to talk to it except by USB.

 

I did however install an electro luminescent panel backlight, which one day I will get round to documenting but heres a photo to distract you meanwhile...

/media/tinymce_upload/1ae1f187dc5d03f25920989741cdb52e.PNG

 

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[Fishmanoz]

That's an HRMS belt and braces answer John, we know many hubs, usually powered ones, do work.  But caveat emptor. 

[BigNoj]

Now why couldn't Hornby put in a backlight like that and maybe an off switch. 

[96RAF]

@BN

The forums covered the on/off switch saga a long time ago (why doesnt it switch the Elite on/off).

Hornby stated that they recommended the power supply was switched off at the mains so a separate additional switch on the Elite was not a good idea.

The on/off switch seen in the picture is used for refuelling the Sapphire decoder fuel simulator on the track.