I want to control the turnouts/ routes in various yards on the layout with touch screen monitors.

So far I have set up several panels in layout editor and have tested them. All good so far. I How envision using a small touch screen monitor at each end of double end yards to align the routes in and out of each of the yard tracks. I may need up to 12 such monitors.

Our club layout has thirteen Android tablets that originally augmented and now have partially replaced hardware control panels. Many of the tablets were donated by members as they bought newer devices, but searching the internet will provide numerous options. The more busy station displays work better with 7 to 10 inch screens. All of the Androids are using the Chrome browser to access our WiFi router. If you are using Chrome, be certain that you have the most recent version that your tablet will run for each tablet.

Will JMRI support this? All of the panels are open on my computer now, but how do I get the appropriate panel to appear on each of the monitors at the various yard locations?

Start with the information found at:

and, even though you did not mention use of WiFi for throttle, it is practical to be aware of the information provided at:

Be aware that many of the WiFi routers sold for home use even just a few years ago could only support a few active links at the same time. Our first attempt maxed out with only ten connections, counting the JMRI computer. But we also have between ten and thirty members using WiThrottle to run their trains on an Ops Session night.

After several newer donated routers, we ended up purchasing a router aimed at the small to medium commercial business market. That was several years ago. But save that commitment until you notice the real need for it with error messages in your log file and/or slow or missing responses to your tablet tapping.

Since I am not a computer type person I would appreciate getting pointed in the right direction.Thanks.

It should be strongly suggested that you use cable to connect your JMRI computer to your WiFi router, mostly for eliminating doubt when trying to work on other puzzles. Also log onto your router and with each tablet connected, go through the list and select the option to used a fixed IP address rather than allowing "dynamic" addresses which increase the router's overhead. If or when you start using smartphones with EngineDriver (Android) or WiThrottle (iDevices), it would be to your advantage to also assign the fixed addresses too.

Be aware that the 2.4 GHz band that is the primary connection medium for most WiFi has a lot of energy absorbed by water molecules and that means human bodies.

Many layouts have a dedicated router in the same room with the trains. Connection to the Internet is not needed for operating your layout. The WiFi available in your home may be adequate unless there are some other family members doing heavy gaming or streaming. If you dedicate a single router in your layout area, keep it as high as is practical for good heat dissipation and as close as practical to the center of your layout.

If you have an "L" shaped room or overhead metal air ducts or your panel to router line of sight path has a lot of track in the way it may be worth the effort to find a local friend who understands the newer "mesh" implementations rather than a single router. The price on those things has dropped dramatically since we started our installation.

At least for the first few weeks look at each log\session.log file after each session and search for WARN and ERROR messages. This is good practice anyway, even without WiFi.

Cliff in Baja SoCal

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Lars Lemberg <larslemberg@...>
Date: December 29, 2018 at 10:16 AM


John,
I am in the process of choosing touch screen devices to be positioned
around my railroad. I will need about six devices, and I am interested in
your details of how you arrived at Amazon Fire devices.
Lars