Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
If you want to be able to use your cell phone or tablet as a throttle on your Digitrax layout, you need to have a wireless connection.
On most layouts, people choose to have a laptop running JMRI connected to the command station through a USB device such as a PR4. If this laptop is connected to the home WiFi network, and WiThrottle is active on JMRI, then any personal device using an App like Engine Driver (available from the Google Play store) that is connected to the same WiFi network can control trains.
But if you do not want or have a laptop, USB connected command station, or home WiFi network, then you can use the LNWI to bridge the connection between your device and your command station.
LNWI stands for LocoNet WiFi Interface. Plug it into your LocoNet, plug in the power supply, and connect your device to the LnServer Network! That's it.
The LNWI only supports a maximum of 4 devices, and you can have up to 2 LNWI's per layout, which means a total of 8 devices could be used. I have noticed a lag in response from my engines when using an LNWI. I have not noticed this lag when using JMRI and the home WiFi network. I believe this could be because home routers are more developed than the specialized module used by Digitrax.
Using a PR4 USB interface and a computer running JMRI is a better way to add WiFi connectivity to your layout. But if those are not options available to you, then the LNWI is certainly a great choice!
If you want to be able to use your cell phone or tablet as a throttle on your Digitrax layout, you need to have a wireless connection.
On most layouts, people choose to have a laptop running JMRI connected to the command station through a USB device such as a PR4. If this laptop is connected to the home WiFi network, and WiThrottle is active on JMRI, then any personal device using an App like Engine Driver (available from the Google Play store) that is connected to the same WiFi network can control trains.
But if you do not want or have a laptop, USB connected command station, or home WiFi network, then you can use the LNWI to bridge the connection between your device and your command station.
LNWI stands for LocoNet WiFi Interface. Plug it into your LocoNet, plug in the power supply, and connect your device to the LnServer Network! That's it.
The LNWI only supports a maximum of 4 devices, and you can have up to 2 LNWI's per layout, which means a total of 8 devices could be used. I have noticed a lag in response from my engines when using an LNWI. I have not noticed this lag when using JMRI and the home WiFi network. I believe this could be because home routers are more developed than the specialized module used by Digitrax.
Using a PR4 USB interface and a computer running JMRI is a better way to add WiFi connectivity to your layout. But if those are not options available to you, then the LNWI is certainly a great choice!
