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Connecting WiFi Throttles via USB

WiFi throttles can't normally connect to an EX-CommandStation via USB, however it is possible to temporarily create a USB to IP connection on your PC using tools like socat or SerialToIPGUI (for windows).

Using

Using socat in Linux

socat TCP4-LISTEN:2560 /dev/ttyUSB0,b115200,raw,echo=0

or (to provide more information)

socat -d -d -d TCP4-LISTEN:2560 /dev/ttyUSB0,b115200,raw,echo=0

Note: Change 'dev/ttyUSB0' to the appropriate USB port that the command station is connected to.

Using socat in Microsoft Windows

socat TCP-LISTEN:2560 /dev/ttyS11,b115200,raw,echo=0

or (to provide more information)

socat -d -d -d TCP-LISTEN:2560 /dev/ttyS11,b115200,raw,echo=0

Note: Change S11 to the appropriate USB port. Whatever 'COM' number appears in the Device Manager, subtract 1.
i.e. 'COM12' in the Windows Device Manager becomes '/dev/ttyS11'

SerialToIPGUI

  • start SerialToIPGUI
  • Select the correct COM port for the command station
  • Enter the port of 2560
  • Click Start

Once started...

  • Open your WiFi throttle app on your Android/iOS/etc. device

  • On the connection screen/fields:

    • Enter the IP address of your PC (The one running socat or SerialToIPGUI)
    • Enter the port of 2560

  • Connect

This only supports a single connection at a time

This 'trick' only supports a single connection at a time. So it is important that JMRI (if you are using it), or the Arduino IDE serial monitor, or anything else that might be using the COM (USB) port are shut down first.

Downloads

Troubleshooting (Windows socat)

In Microsoft Windows and using the command line socat, if you see a "command not found" error, Here is what you need to do to fix it:

  • Right click on "My Computer" -> Properties -> Advanced -> Environment Variables
  • Add a new environment variable, called CYGWIN_HOME and set its value to C:\cygwin
  • Edit the PATH environment variable and add C:\cygwin\bin to it (usually separated by a ';').
  • Just click okay, exit any command prompts or bash shells (over cygwin) you may have open, and open it again - it'll work!

Note that if you installed cgywin to a folder other than C:\cgywin (e.g. c:\cgywin64), use that folder name instead in the change above.