Category Archives: 4. Troubleshooting

If your loco does not travel as fast as it should at should when the app is set to full throttle, there are a few causes to check:

A) Check the “Top Speed” selection in the “Settings” section for your loco. This limits the top speed for your loco; the “Switcher” setting provides the slowest top speed, and the “Full Speed” setting will give you the fastest top speed.

B) If your track is not receiving high enough voltage from your power source, it will cause your loco to travel slower. If you are using a DC transformer make sure the speed dial is turned all the way up (not exceeding 24 volts). If you have access to a voltmeter, make sure the track is receiving the proper voltage.

C) You may need to adjust the motor tunings in the “settings” screen for your loco. Enter the settings screen (which is accessed from the “cog” button at the bottom of the train control screen). Scroll to the bottom of the settings screen where you will find the motor tunings (Start Voltage, Update Period, Differential). Try adjusting these settings to an alternate value till your loco achieves the desired full speed.

If your loco hesitates when it first begins to roll, you may need to adjust the motor tunings in the “settings” screen for your loco. Enter the settings screen (which is accessed from the “cog” button at the bottom of the train control screen). Scroll to the bottom of the settings screen where you will find the motor tunings (Start Voltage, Update Period, Differential). Try adjusting these settings to an alternate value till your loco starts smoothly.

The app requires Android 4.3 and that your device support bluetooth 4.  If your device has Android 4.3 or higher,  but the app does not show up in the Google play store, this means the Google Play store thinks your device isn’t compatible (so it’s hiding the app). The most likely guess is that the Google Play store thinks your device doesn’t have bluetooth 4.  

The version of Android that is on your device is software written by the device manufacturer.  Sometimes these companies release a software update that isn’t quite up to spec, which might cause the Google Play store to decide there is a compatibility issue. Eventually someone complains about the issue, and the company will release a software update.  First step is you should check and see if your device has a software update available. You will find a useful article on this in the Android section of e-zapptraincontrol.com.

You might also want to try visiting this direct link to E-Z App® and see if maybe there was just a temporary glitch in the Google play store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bachmanntrains.ezapp

If none of this works, your best solution is to contact the manufacturer of your device, tell them the model number (model XX) and that you have the latest version of Android available (version XX), and notify them that apps requiring bluetooth4 are not displaying in the Google Play store. Your device manufacturer will need to release a software update that corrects the issue in your device.

When operating the throttle in DC mode, you may notice a slight delay when starting your train with the throttle in the OFF position. The board in the loco doesn’t activate until your throttle reaches approximately 15% throttle power. To avoid this delay, only bring your throttle down to the 15% mark when stopping your train. This will allow the board to remain powered up, and avoid any initial lag.

The train flashes its headlight to alert you of power issues. If you notice your headlight blinks during slow speed operation, try cleaning your track for improved conductivity. This “blinking light” alert has a sensitivity setting which will be adjusted through future firmware updates.

The first time you put your train on the track, your train will move when given power. This is because your train defaults to “DC mode” which does not require a smart device to operate. Once you connect to your train for the first time, the train switches to “bluetooth mode” and can now be controlled by the app.

If you think you have setup everything correctly, and cannot see your train, there are several possible issues to check:

Does your train have power? Check to see that your layout is receiving power.

Do NOT pair with train from settings >> bluetooth.     When you connect to a bluetooth train, it becomes unavailable to other applications and devices. For this reason, do NOT pair with your train from settings >> bluetooth (as you may be used to with other bluetooth devices). Doing so will make the train unavailable in E-Z® App. It is ok to use settings >> bluetooth to test if your train is available and try connecting to it, but you will need to hit disconnect in order to see the train in the E-Z® App control app.

Is your train connected to another app or smart device? When a smart device (like a smartphone or tablet) connects to an E-Z App® train, that train becomes invisible to other users. If your train is receiving power and you still cannot see it listed on your Home screen, check to see that the train is not connected to another smart device in range that is running E-Z App®. The best way to rule this out is to temporarily cut power to the locomotive for 30 seconds. The train should become available in the Home screen once the board within the train has powered back up.

Is bluetooth working properly on your smart device? Bluetooth operates fairly consistently on modern smart phones, but on rare occasions the bluetooth service in a smart phone may act up. This can generally be resolved by temporarily switching off bluetooth in your smart device and rebooting the smart phone.

Is my Android software up to date? On Android it is always very important that your Android is up to date (with the latest software update available). Please refer to our Android Page for info on how to do this.

Clearing the bluetooth cache on your Android. Sometimes Android bluetooth issues can be resolved by clearing the bluetooth cache. This procedure may be slightly different on different Androids.

1) Tap the Settings icon.
2) Hit Application Manager.
3) Swipe the screen left or right in order to find All Tabs.
4) Select Bluetooth.
5) Tap Clear Cache.
6) Select Clear Data.
7) Choose Ok.

Is your phone/tablet bluetooth smart? Assuming this is your first time operating trains with a certain smart device, check to make sure your smart device supports bluetooth smart.

Connection issues on Androids running Marshmallow (6)? Android 6 (Marshmallow) is compatible with E-Z App®. However, due to changes in Bluetooth permissions with Android 6, the app may not be able to detect the E-Z App® trains properly. To resolve this issue, go to Settings in the OS–> Location and turn on location services. Your E-Z App® trains will now be detected properly in the app. This may require a wi-fi or cellular connection on certain devices..