Bluerail and bluetooth sound

[Fred2179G]

Thought you'd like to see the results of fitting a Bluerail (the original Blue Horse) receiver into my J70 Tram engine. The loco is an old used one but it saved me cutting out a new body. There is a Bachmann 4-wheel tram truck underneath, which I figured would not use too much power.

Sound comes from the Bluerail app on my phone paired to a small bluetooth speaker in the loco - you can see the little blue cube which isn't hidden yet.

 

[BakerJohn]

This is great! I'd considered Bluerail when i was making decisions about rewiring my Forney, but I chose Phil's RC Trains units instead. Do you have an issue with seeing the screen ever?

 

[Fred2179G]

Do you have an issue with seeing the screen ever?

I live in Florida and use my smartphone on my boat in the sunshine, so this idea that you can't see the screen in sunlight is pure B.S. When the sun is direct on the phone, you turn around so it is shaded.

In other words, despite everything negative said about phones by Greg, No, I don't.

 

[stockers]

What sort of range do you get?

 

[Fred2179G]

What sort of range do you get?

It worked fine across most of Jack's garden - dropped the connection at the very far side - probably 50'. It was better when I put the phone down on the table so my hand wasn't affecting the signal.

 

[BakerJohn]

Maybe Ill try this on m next loco then. We shall see. I do like the RC Trains system.

 

[Fred2179G]

I should report a side-effect of this. After loading the App on my phone, I started getting the "Congratulations" browser hijack/malware.
https://www.symantec.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/congratulations-you-won-scam-android
Apparently this tags along with an App from the Play Store. I reported it to Play Store and Bluerail, so hopefully they will find me a clean App !

 

[Fred2179G]

Another thought occurred to me after trying to solder an LED to the tiny connector board. It's designed to fit an NMRA socket - so why don't I get a socket and wire it into my loco, then this board will just plug in.
http://www.traintekllc.com/esu-51950-dcc-wire-harness-with-nmra-8-pin-socket/

Duh.

 

[Fred2179G]

Maybe Ill try this on m next loco then. We shall see. I do like the RC Trains system.

So do I - I have a Deltang TX20 that I've been using to run a live steamer, and which is getting repurposed to drive an electric. The advantage of bluetooth is that you don't need a transmitter, and thus you save space and cost.

 

[PhilP]

So do I - I have a Deltang TX20 that I've been using to run a live steamer, and which is getting repurposed to drive an electric. The advantage of bluetooth is that you don't need a transmitter, and thus you save space and cost.

Bluetooth is a transmitted signal. You are using a smart-phone as the 'transmitter'..

 

[Fred2179G]

Bluetooth is a transmitted signal. You are using a smart-phone as the 'transmitter'..

Really?

 

[Fred2179G]

I used a different speaker yesterday in the loco, which got spruced up with some black paint. The little blue one is a 1" square $12 on Amazon, and this new one is my preferred speaker around the house - amazing sound for $20.
Anker Ultra Portable Pocket Size Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OEPCHL2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's 1.75" square, so I cut away the back of the boiler and it now sports a flat-top firebox, which you can hardly see in that bodywork.

Anyway, I re-edited the videos to put the two speakers together. See which you like.

 

[PhilP]

Are they the same sound-files?

 

[Fred2179G]

Are they the same sound-files?

Yes. The Bluerail App on my phone generates sound, which is sent to a speaker if it is paired.