# Wi-Fi DCS — user reviews > 36 indexed App Store user reviews of Wi by Mike's Train House, Inc., rated 3.67/5 from 24 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wi-fi-dcs/id988168329/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wi-fi-dcs/id988168329.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 9 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 2 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 4 ## Newest reviews (13 of 36) ### 3/5 — ProtoCast feature does not work *2025-11-23, version 4.0.2* After being out almost a year, you’d think the app ProtoCast feature would work with a WTIU. ### 3/5 — Tennessee Ron *2024-12-17* Wonderful app. Nothing is perfect, but ALL MTH functions flawlessly. Those Lionel command engines also do well. Why complain? If you are stuck on Legacy equipment, then use Lionel’s programming. I am having so much fun running my system on an iPad. Great interface. Good response. Full features. If you want to have great control, and a heck of a lot of fun, take the plunge. As a former Lionel postwar collector and MTH fan, quit complaining. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, then either you are doing something wrong or you need to get a component replaced. Well done, MTH. The late great Barry Broskowitz “WiFi DCS Companion, 2nd edition “ is indispensable, and will contain more information and practical solutions than most will ever need to enjoy MTH WiFi DCS. Can’t wait for the WTIU to arrive. It supposedly has improved features. ### 4/5 — Works again. *2024-01-21, version 3.2.3* Thank you for the update. The app works great again. ### 2/5 — Unable to lash engines *2023-12-24, version 3.2.2* After update no longer able to lash up engines. Select TIU name lash and hit next but nothing happens. ### 3/5 — Problems *2022-01-23, version 3.2.1* So I got a ready to run set a 3 years back for my 10th b day and I always had problems connecting the train to the app and still can’t connect it pls fix it ### 4/5 — There is something wrong with the speed *2020-03-18, version 3.2.1* The speed dial sometimes always wants to go up which the speed go up too fast and sometimes it always wants to go down. Please fix this. Overall, this app is great. ### 3/5 — Could be better! *2019-07-29, version 3.2.1* This is a good app for running with the DCS Explorer (ready to run train sets). My biggest grip is the layout isn’t very kid friendly. Would like a main screen that locks in so the little ones don’t constantly slide the screen left/right and select other functions than the basic controls. Also, why not allow control of some of the advanced engine functions with the DCS Explorer?! Sheesh, I have a premium engine that I need to buy all the stuff for a full layout just to access some of the sounds and features embedded! ### 3/5 — Great for DCS/TMCC/Legacy. Not so good for variable voltage. *2019-03-26, version 3.2.1* I was very excited to get this app in conjunction with a new TIU and WIU. I was sold on the idea of integrating control of all my equipment: DCS, Legacy, TMCC and conventional. This system promised them all. So I went out and purchased a Lionel SER2 serial converter, powered DB9 cable, and MTH's TIU to Legacy base crossover connector cable. DCS engines work perfectly as expected. After all, this is an MTH program and they want their products to shine. Legacy and TMCC locomotives also work mostly as expected, with a majority of Legacy features including an adjustable labor effect and quilling whistle/horn being well implemented in the software. The developer also recently introduced diesel RPM ramping. RPM levels are tied directly to the speedometer and behave differently than they would using the Legacy system. Conventional control is a mess. The app will randomly become stuck at certain voltages, causing runaway trains. After 5 to 10 seconds, the app will unfreeze. Other times, the voltage will surge or drop without warning. At low voltages, there is an irritating flickering (+/- 2 Volts) of the power which causes a campfire like effect on bulbs, and causes chatter in reversing units. From what I understand, there is a hardware issue with the TIU and the manner in which lower voltages are simulated with drastically chopped waveforms, and latency issues with the app whereby it freezes up trying to communicate with he TIU. As a workaround, I recommend assigning a Lionel Powermaster as an engine, and use it to vary voltage in a nice, smooth and predictable way. Hopefully, the app developers will address these issues as we move forward, or at least as much as possible given the insurmountable issues of trying make a new app control an outdated 19-year old TIU. ### 1/5 — Rubbish *2017-12-01, version 3.0.0* Full of bugs I want my money back ### 1/5 — Should be Free! Shame on MTH! *2017-04-29, version 2.0.0* I love being able to control my model trains from the MTH DCS App. But the fact that we're being charged $20 to unlock all the features in the app when we've already paid close to $200 for the Wi-Fi DCS module is unacceptable! It took an entire year for this app to catch up to having most of the features that the remote control has. The app should be completely free and shame on MTH for ripping off its loyal customers. ### 1/5 — Trainman *2017-04-19, version 2.0.0* Works well when it is not losing the signal. I have to frequently press the "Refresh" button in order to get back control of the trains. That said, this App is a wonderful, very user-friendly improvement over the DCS Remote, which is HORRIBLE! In fact, I am eagerly awaiting the Upgrades to this WiFi App so that it will have ALL the functions of the Remote (I hope anyway!), then I will stop using the Remote entirely and ONLY use this DCS WiFi App to operate my trains! (Please hurry with the Upgrades!!!!). One caveat, you MUST have already purchased the latest TIU ($250 - $300) and then you must go to the MTH website and download the latest 5.0 Software for the TIU (Good luck with that! The download is NOT easy. If you have a Mac computer, you will NOT be able to get the Download. It is only [sort of] compatible with a PC). Then of course you must also purchase the new WiFi Unit ($150 - $200). If you do not have the Remote, you will not be able (yet) to have complete control of all train/track functions as I mentioned above. REVIEW: Premium Upgrade, April 18, 2017 ($19.95) I have been waiting for this Upgrade for about a year. I wanted to be able to do all the functions that the HORRIBLE remote can do but with the User Friendly WiFi App. Unfortunately, this Upgrade falls very far short of my expectations. The first new function that I tried was giving actual names to "Custom Sound 1" and "Idle Sequence 1." I saved the new names, or at least I thought that I did! However, the next time that I tried running the Train, ALL of the names that I patiently added had disappeared! The Default "Custom Sound 1", etc., were again displayed!!! Arrrggh! Besides this annoyance, I found that this new Upgrade does NOT allow one to do all of the functions of the Remote. I have not yet tried setting up the Accessory Functions with this App, but I am not very optimistic that they will work considering the problem that I had with the "Labeling" of Sounds and Idle Sequence. Maybe updates will occur for this "Premium Upgrade" to fix problems and add additional functions that are present in the Remote, but right now it is a very useless Upgrade, especially for the cost of $19.95! At present, this new Premium Upgrade is a Rip Off!! ### 1/5 — Totally useless Expensive App *2017-04-19* Can't remember your dcs lash up or tmcc engine. I have to reprogram it each time. Shame on you Mike wolf for such an expensive useless app! ### 4/5 — Great App *2017-02-19, version 1.2.0* I had little trouble upgrading my old TIU to the latest version and connecting and running the WiFi unit. Make certain you upgrade to the "standard" version and are using the latest version of the app. We had no problem controling 5 trains and no network issues, once we upgraded to the newest version. Being able to control our trains with an easy to use iPad interface (versus the DCS remote) REALLY increased my kids interest in model railroading, even if it offends the purists. You can have multiple devices (for us- an iphone and two iPads) controlling different trains simultaneous on the same layout (beats buying multiple DCS remotes). Can't wait for the enhanced version so we can also control accessories and switches. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — New WTIU *2025-03-16, version 4.0.1* What the $&$ you buy a $400 piece of equipment and then you have to charge more to use the application that is not right!!! ### 1/5 — Still issue with MTH system *2025-01-06, version 4.0.1* I REALLY want to enjoy the mth Wi-Fi system. But there’s always bugs and issues. If you polled 100 people about the reliability of the mth system 50% or more would say they’ve experienced issues setting it up. Lionel Legacy system hands down is WAY my reliable. GEESH MTH! WTH! ### 1/5 — wtiu *2024-12-16, version 4.0.1* this app with wtiu dose not even work mth you screwed up so bad on this app and your wtiu your manual is terrible and dose not even help you FOR ANYONE don’t buy this just don’t buy lionel stuff instead. ### 1/5 — Premium version of 3.2.2 has problems *2024-01-07* The Premium version after the Dec. update will not add TMCC or Legacy controlled engines. ### 1/5 — Does Not Work *2024-01-05* The app worked great until it was updated 2 weeks ago. Now it does not recognize my engines on the iPhone app. It recognizes my M.T.H. engines on the iPad app, but you can not create lash ups and you can’t set up Lionel engines. ### 1/5 — Destroying my love of this hobby *2020-05-09, version 3.2.1* This system is so unreliable it is destroying my love of the. How many hours do I need to try building a lash up before giving up? How many times do I have to load and reload it? How many times do I have to delete the app and re-install it? Tonight I tried a lash up. First time I tried one train pulled but the other didn’t push. The tire came off so I had to put back on. Back to it. Try building a lash up. Timed out, request failed. Try resetting. Now we can only find one engine. After wasting over an hour and a half I decide to give. Tomorrow I will try again. But the answer may be to search for something more reliable. ### 1/5 — Too many bugs with iOS11+ *2019-12-03, version 3.2.1* I’m not exactly sure why this app functions so poorly on an iPhone 11 Pro vs an older ipad on iOS10.2.1. At any rate, it hardly works. My locomotive randomly gets placed in the inactive bank when they are running, which then means they cannot be controlled. I’ve tried closing the app, force closing it, finally the only option is to kill power to the entire layout in order to shut down the run-away train. This isn’t the only bug. Just the most obnoxious. ### 1/5 — Where is the option to upgrade??? *2018-11-06, version 3.2.0* Where is the option to upgrade??? Please take my money, I've spent hours and on different APPLE devices HELP..............just no link to upgrade.......ugh ### 1/5 — Help *2018-08-03, version 3.1.0* How does one access the Premium download, I’ve been hours trying to find it I do not see where you can download it ### 1/5 — Where is my upgrade? *2018-04-22, version 3.1.0* Just Pay the 26 dollars of the premium pack and nothing where is the compleate aplication ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Tennessee Ron *2026-07-08, version 4.0.5* All is now working flawlessly ### 5/5 — Easy App, Great to use *2024-12-21, version 4.0.1* I downloaded the app for my WTIU and it has been a breeze to learn. The interface is simple. Great job! ### 5/5 — Nice modern touch to classic hobby *2019-01-10, version 3.2.1* Very easy to use and very enjoyable. It’s a great modern touch this classic hobby. ### 5/5 — Tennessee Ron *2018-10-06, version 3.2.0* Wonderful app. Nothing is perfect, but ALL MTH functions flawlessly. Most of Lionel command engines also do well. Why complain? If you are stuck on Legacy equipment, then use Lionel’s programming. I am having so much fun running my system on an iPad. Great interface. Good response. Full features. If you want to have great control, and a heck of a lot of fun, take the plunge. As a former Lionel postwar collector and MTH concert, quit complaining. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, then either you are doing something wrong or you need to get a component replaced. Well done, MTH. Period. ### 5/5 — I am running both Lionel & MTH Locos with this Premium APP *2017-09-01, version 2.0.0* I am using the Premium APP on an iPhone 7 Plus. It is easy to program the APP to run Lionel & MTH Locos. Just follow the easy to follow prompts. I am operating over twenty locos with this APP on four main lines and from sidings. The soft keys are a lot better over the old hand held controller because each soft key has a description of what it does. I would highly recommend this MTH DCS Wi-Fi APP for your layout. Start with the free APP and when you are ready purchase the Premium APP and you will have fun running your trains and so will visitors to your train room / layout. Train Room Gary: from Michigan 🚂 ### 5/5 — MTH Wi Fi *2017-07-17* How smart is the this system? Fantastic, sad it does not cover DCC as well! MTH have been very good for something simple use. I just find it hard to believe they have gone to a different system to everyone else. It seems to make things difficult for many railroaders. ### 5/5 — MTH DCS WIFI *2016-01-27, version 1.0.0* This app works as advertised!!!! ### 5/5 — Thank you, MTH *2015-12-05, version 1.0.0* I really appreciate that MTH made this! I'm happy to know that I can run my DCS engine through my phone now! ### 5/5 — Intuitive Fast Fun *2015-12-01, version 1.0.0* The MTH Wi-Fi DCS app will end up ranking with speed control and smoke in the great advances in model railroading. The app is intuitive, fun and addictive. The app looks and operates wonderfully with my iPhone and iPad. It runs my trains error free communicating through the WIU. It is amazing how train commands respond much faster than with the DCS remote. A great way to control my trains. ### 4/5 — Premium version of 3.2.2 has problems *2024-02-02, version 3.2.3* The Premium version after the Dec. update will not add TMCC or Legacy controlled engines. Update 3.2.3 corrected the problem. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-09.*