NCE-WiFi-ESU?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Just curious if this would let me use ESU WiFi based throttles an NCE layout?

http://www.wifitrax.com/products/product-WFD-30-detail.html

[Maletrain]

I don't think so, but somebody else may know better.  The TCS WiFi throttle works with the NCE and Digitrax systems because it is programmed to work with those systems.  I don't know much about ESU throttles, but I don't think they work with the NCE "cab bus" used for attaching NCE throttles to the NCE command station.

So, at least before you buy one, find somebody who can say they know for sure that it will work for ESU throttles.

[davefoxx]

I'm not 100% certain, but I think that the WFD-30 NCE CAB Bus Wi-Fi Interface is to make cell phones/tablets and the universal wifi throttle work with NCE.  So, I don't think that the ESU throttle is going to work, and no where is it indicated in the information about the interface that it will work with an ESU throttle.

DFF

EDIT: See below for information and good news for the OP from people much more knowledgeable than me. 

[Jbub]

I'm not 100% certain, but I think that the WFD-30 NCE CAB Bus Wi-Fi Interface is to make cell phones/tablets and the universal wifi throttle work with NCE.  So, I don't think that the ESU throttle is going to work, and no where is it indicated in the information about the interface that it will work with an ESU throttle.

DFF

I think you can download engine driver onto the esu throttle and use it that way. IIRC the wheel now works in engine driver also.

[jdcolombo]

You can install Engine Driver on the ESU throttle and use it with this interface.  I have Engine Driver installed on my ESU throttles, and use them with my Digitrax system via JMRI.

John C.

[Jbub]

You can install Engine Driver on the ESU throttle and use it with this interface.  I have Engine Driver installed on my ESU throttles, and use them with my Digitrax system via JMRI.

John C.

Can you still use the throttle wheel with engine driver?

[jdcolombo]

Can you still use the throttle wheel with engine driver?

Yes.  And the side buttons are programmable with Engine Driver, as well.  The nice thing about using it with JMRI is that you can hide any function keys you don't want operators to see using JMRI's function labels tool.  In my case, all that shows up on the touch screen is Light, Bell, Horn (or whistle, if steam), and Sound On/Off.  I have the side buttons set up for throttle up/down (if I want very fine speed control instead of the wheel), direction toggle, and horn/whistle.

But if the NCE Wifi interface supports Engine Driver, then the ESU throttle should work fine.

John C.

[reinhardtjh]

Looking at the documentation (http://www.wifitrax.com/manuals/WFD-30/WFD-30-Manual.pdf)

The WFD-30 allows you to drive your DCC trains from a hand-held untethered controller by providing a Wi-Fi connection to NCE command stations and boosters. It connects to one of the CAB Bus sockets on your NCE Command Station or to the right-hand “Extra Cab” socket on the Power Cab Panel,and allows Wi-Fi control of your DCC locos via the WiThrottle Server that it provides.

•You can drive trains using a smart phone or tablet as a hand-held throttle provided it has Wi-Fi capability and you have installed one of our recommended apps in Table 2
•You can use a special-purpose hand-held throttle designed to control trains using the Hoffman WiThrottle protocol.
•You can use a Windows or Apple computer, such as a laptop or desktop, with a recommended installed app from Table 2.
•Four throttles at a time can join theWFD-30 Wi-Fi Access Point, but you can avoid this limit using “Home Net” mode as described later in this manual.

Based on this it should work with any Wi-Fi device that supports the WiThrottle protocol, which is Engine Driver for Android and WiThrottle for iOS. The ESU controller can have Engine driver installed as other have said so it should work with this.