Now you can use your TrackSide R/C Transmitter to control two separate tracks. The keys on the left for Track 1, and on the right for Track 2. Requires the latest software for both transmitter and base unit, along with purchase of a second base unit.

Press Stop while the train is stopped to change direction.

Operating modes are user programmable for single track with all the normal 2nd Key functions (below left), or two track operation with simple speed control functions (below right).

Many of you in this hobby are faced with what seems like a simple project. You want to setup a train display for the public, often children, and you want them to be able to interact with the train. The sign reads "Press the button to run the train". But how do you make that happen?

We have just made that a bit easier for TrackSide R/C users! Two wires from our Interactive Display Remote to a momentary push-button. Press the button and the train accelerates slowly to running speed and continues to run for a programmed amount of time (30 secs, ​1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes), then stops. We supply the board. You mount it in a box along with a momentary push-button of your choice. Securely mount the box in the appropriate location and you are all set. Or if you prefer, we can do it for you. Just contact us.

There are no wires between the box and the TrackSide R/C. A supervisor can still intervene if needed using the standard TrackSide R/C transmitter to disable the button and take full control of the train.

PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is the defacto standard for controlling DC brushed motors with a micro controller. The output is constantly switching between 0 volts and max voltage at a rate of 20KHZ. The duty cycle of this switch varies from 0 to 100% to provide 0 to 100% voltage to the loco/track. The motor averages out this switching and just sees it as a DC voltage. In fact the motors work better with PWM at low speeds because the switching provides more torque and gets the motor started turning easier from a dead stop.

However, some train electronics are designed on the cheap, and they assume the input to their electronics will always be a nice pure DC signal (even though it never really is with track power due to many discontinuities while running over joints, through turnouts, etc.) and it causes problems. The motors will run fine, but the lights may act weird, and/or flicker. It won't cause any harm, it just doesn't look good. If you run into this problem, it can be fixed by using a PWM to Linear Converter, which will smooth out the PWM signal into a nice pure DC output. The Crest CRE-57091A has been tested with our products and works nicely. It is installed between the output of the No Frills Track Throttle, or the TrackSide R/C and the track.

Note: The newer CRE-57091A has three input terminals, which is quite confusing. The center terminal is not used.

  

On our new Project Page, we will be sharing  some train projects, both ours and yours! If you have something you would like to submit, please contact us.

Revision 13X of the MyLocoSound Steam card has added a new 6 chime whistle. Programming the whistle type (Button 9) has changed the order of things around a bit, so be sure to use the latest copy of the instructions.

We been shipping our Standard Transmitters for RailBoss 4 and TrackSide R/C with a single 3 volt CR2032 coin cell battery for years now. They work great in most aspects: long lasting, light weight, easy to find replacments. However, the one nagging problem has been infant mortality. Every once in awhile, we test a transmitter prior to shipment, including measuring the battery voltage, and all is well. But then we get a call from the customer .... dead on arrival or shortly after startup. Not good. We think the source of the problem is the quality of the batteries.

So, all RailBoss 4 transmitters have been redesigned to take two 1.5 volt AAAA Alkaline batteries, the same as our Long Range Transmitters use. This should improve both reliability and batttery life. Since AAAA batteries may be a bit harder to find, we have made them available here on the website if you can't find them locally.   AAAA