Frequently Asked Questions
What is TouchCab’s mission?
To improve the user experience in the world of model railroading.
Does TouchCab use minutes on my iPhone?
No, TouchCab uses Wi-Fi only, so your phone bill is not affected.
Do I have to use a computer to connect TouchCab to my model railroad?
No, you do not.
All you need is a wireless router connected to your command station. Please see this page for details.
Will there be an Android version of TouchCab any time soon?
No.
What about the iPad? Are there any plans for a special version of TouchCab for the iPad?
There is now an iPad 2 in the TouchCab labs, so it’s getting closer ...
What is the maximum number of TouchCabs that may be used at the same time?
In theory, the maximum number is 253. The network has 255 available addresses of which one is used by the wireless router and one is used by the command station.
The largest recorded number of TouchCabs used simultaneously is 8.
If you have tried more, please let me know.
What is the difference between TouchCab and TouchCab Free?
Please see the feature comparison chart.
My command station can do this and that function - why can’t TouchCab?
TouchCab is not a remote control for the command station. TouchCab is, well, a cab - a handheld throttle with all the fixings. TouchCab is designed to let you run trains and operate your accessories along the way. If you want to tweak the settings of the decoders, you’re much better off sitting down at your computer.
Sometimes a turnout does not respond the first time i want to throw it. What’s wrong?
If you don’t use feedback from the accessory decoder, the command station does not know the state of the turnout after a power-up or restart. Since TouchCab gets information from the command station, it does not know better. First time you throw the turnout, the command station and the turnout align, and the turnout responds correctly after that.
I have command station XYZ. Will TouchCab support this?
That depends.
If it is possible to make a decent connection to the command station - yes, TouchCab may support that command station eventually.
What’s a decent connection, then?
A decent connection is ultimately one where the user should not be involved in making the connection. TouchCab runs on the iPhone, where setting up all kinds of configuration parameters to establish a simple connection is out of the question. Things should work right out of the box, and that is TouchCab’s ultimate goal.
You should not have to be a network administrator just to run your trains ...