andRoc Introduction & Setup

Content → Mobile Clients → andRoc

• Introduction | Devices | Development

The Android based wireless client for Rocrail.

• Works with all Command Stations supported by Rocrail
• List up all available Rocrail servers. (Android 1.6+)
• Loco throttle with:
  • Loco images
  • 24 functions, 4 groups of 6, and lights
  • Release and Start
• Loco Setup:
  • Vmin, Vmid and Vmax
  • Programming on the main. (PoM)
• Controls:
  • Automatic mode
  • Routes
  • Actions
  • Switches
  • Outputs
  • System
• Accessory pad
• System monitor
• Layout:
  • List with all ZLevels
  • Block status color
  • Interactive
  • Fiddle Yard
  • Turntable
  • Module view
• User interface is localized; Depending of the language selected for the device.
• Shows cell phone number or device ID in the Rocview as throttle ID

• Android 1.6+ based wireless device. (Android 1.5 can also be used without R2RNet support.)
• WLAN
• Current Rocrail 1.4 snapshot (1599+)
• Preferred are small loco images; normal sized will be down scaled to 50 pixels high.
• Connects to the client port of the Rocrail server.

This method is preferred; You will be notified about updates.

1. Search for andRoc or Rocrail in the Market App.
2. Touch the install button.
3. Ready to run.

To test andRoc without a local running layout you can use the following demo access:

It has a small layout, connected to the virtual command station, and about 20 predefined locos with small images.

andRoc will use the selected device language if available. It defaults to English.

Add or edit your own language at LaunchPad:
Translations at LaunchPad: https://translations.launchpad.net/rocrail/androc/+pots/androc

Reporting at LaunchPad: https://bugs.launchpad.net/rocrail/androc

Navigation between the activities is done by the Menu.
Touching the Loco image will cycle through the Throttle, Loco and Loco Setup activity.

The initial values are for the Rocrail demo, rocrail.dyndns.org:8080, which needs Internet access of the Android device.
After connecting the Rocrail server a dialog shows the progress of loading the plan.
The last host:port combination is saved for the next session.

The plan title of the Rocrail server which did announce itself over R2RNet.

The IP address or computer name of the target Rocrail server.

The client port of the Rocrail server. Default 62842.

Select one of the previous connected Rocrail server from the list.

This option needs a restart of andRoc to get active.
Use this option with care because this requires a lot of processing power of small devices. Leave it off for normal use.

Prevent the device of going into sleep mode.

Switch directly to module view in case the loaded plan is modular.

Clear the list of recently connected Rocrail servers.

If a Rocrail server has R2RNet activated it will provide its client connection information by multi casting to the andRoc clients.

andRoc:  <netreq req="clientconn"/>
Rocrail: <netrsp host="192.168.100.37" port="62842" rsp="clientconn" plan="Plan-F"/>

Clicking in the loco image will open the Loco activity.

Start automatically running the selected loco if the auto mode is activated.
This button is disabled if the auto mode is not activated.

Release a loco from this throttle.
Without releasing a loco from a throttle it is not possible to control it by another throttle/client. This behavior can be manipulated by disable steal loco control.

Function group selection button. There are four groups of 6 function buttons available.

Flips the current driving direction of the loco.

Velocity commands are send if the delta is 5 or at move end.
The delta is introduced to reduce the amount of commands triggered by changing the bar position.

Start automatically running the selected loco if the auto mode is activated.
The selected schedule or block is used as destination if set.

Determines if the Start will issue a normal GO or one in half automatic mode.

Moves the loco in the selected block.

Swap the logical placing of the loco.

Adjust the velocity in all running modes including automatic.

Programming on the main. PoM
Reading CV value from the main needs bidirectional communication.

v1.1.207
Dispatch the loco for a throttle like the LocoNet Fred(i).

This is for testing of accessories.
Especially of use at starting up a new layout in Rocrail.

The addressing scheme can be selected with the Type button:

• M → Module
• F → Flat
• P → Port

For more information on addressing schemes: Addressing

Selecting a start address can be done with the numeric touch field or those four buttons on the bottom of this view.

On power down a notification is shown. The system activity will get visible if this notification is touched.

System events and CS messages are listed up below the buttons of this view.
The max. list length is 100, the oldest entry will be removed from the list.

Start all trains in automatic mode.

Selecting a route will send an activation command to the Rocrail server.
This is mainly used for testing.

Selecting an action will send an unconditional activation command to the Rocrail server.
This is mainly used for testing.

Information about Copyright, license, Version, Throttle ID and so on are listed up on this view.

A list of all available ZLevels.
The example shows all module names of a modular layout.
This list will not appear when only one ZLevel is defined for the current layout.
The first entry in the list is the “modview” visualization if the plan is a modular layout.

A single touch on an object will send for most types a Flip command to the Rocrail server.
Block, FiddleYard and Turntable objects will send an Open or Close command.

A single touch on the block will open a new view for controlling it.
Long pressing on an occupied block will open the loco control.

Selecting a loco from the list will set it in this block.

Opens the loco control.
Touching the loco image will also open the loco activity.

Set the block to the Open or Closed state. The LED signals if the block is Open.

Accept a BiDi Ident from a loco in auto mode.
See also: Accept Ident

Touching the FY will open a new view for controlling it.

Opens or closes this fiddle yard for trains.

Move the table to the next/previous track.

Move to the selected track.

Touching the TT will open a new view for controlling it.

Opens or closes this turntable for locomotives.

Move the bridge to the next/previous track.

Move to the selected track.