+SmartHand™ is a novel, high-power handheld railroad control system designed for use with TrainController™ and Rocomotion. +SmartHand™ is well-suited for a single operating person as well as operating sessions with multiple users. +SmartHand™ can be used on small or on large layouts. It is compatible with all digital systems supported by TrainController™.

+SmartHand™ exceeds by far the possibilities of conventional handhelds, whether part of digital systems or not. +SmartHand™ exceeds also by far the possibilities provided by the normal computer keyboard, mouse or joystick. Up to 31 handhelds can be connected simultaneously at arbitrary locations on the layout. The handhelds are connected through Plug Panels, which can be installed in any number anywhere on the layout. Using these plug-panels the operator can unplug the handheld at any time and plug it in again at another, even remote location in order to follow travelling trains or to operate items, that are located far away from the computer.

The handhelds of +SmartHand™ are easy to use and convenient to operate thanks to an extensive graphical display and a cleary arranged, inutitive menu system.


Schematic Image of the +SmartHand™ handheld

All important operational functions of TrainController™ can be controlled with +SmartHand™. This includes all train functions like speed, engine functions or direction, but also the operation of turnouts, signals and routes. It is even possible to use +SmartHand™ to control the status of blocks, execute schedules and start trains with AutoTrain™. On screen controls such as train speedometer and odometer as well as the status of other items are also synchronised with the handheld. And if you have turned on the simulation of fuel or water consumption for your trains, then handheld control is temporarily suspended for a train, that runs out of these resources.

A high-sophisticated system of privileges and customization options allow adaption of each individual handheld to the skills (novice, expert etc.), role (engineer, yardmaster, dispatcher, etc.) or status (layout owner, club member, visitor etc.) of the particular handheld operator. The selection of trains or other objects, which can be operated with a particular handheld, can be restricted. In multi-user sessions this feature provides interesting possibilities. For example, it is possible that a Dispatcher located at the computer assigns a particular train to the handheld of another person, who is acting as engineer. The handheld can be configured to enable the person to control only this assigned train like an engineer. Useful for childs and visitors. In another example, the person responsible for a particular switching yard is provided only with control over those turnouts and routes, that are located in this yard.

It is even possible to send short text messages or orders from the computer to individual handhelds and to request a short acknowledgement from the handhelds.
Why is +SmartHand™ so unique? The difference between smart and conventional control devices:
Conventional handhelds and throttles are connected directly to the track via the digital system. For this reason such devices cannot respond intellegently and appropriately to the current traffic situation. If a locomotive is standing still in front of a red signal, because the next block is occupied or because a turnout is not yet thrown accordingly, and if the user turns the throttle of such device in this moment, then an accident may happen. With a simple keystroke to such device turnouts can be thrown even if they shall be locked in a route - with incalculable consequences. This is especially dangerous, when children or visitors, who are not very familiar with the layout, shall take part in the operation of the layout. A conventional control device combines the engineer, dispatcher and yard master in one case. However, which engineer may throw his own turnouts?

The handhelds of the +SmartHand™ system, on the other hand, are connected with the computer, which again controls the digital system and the layout (see adjoining diagram). Thereby the handhelds of the +SmartHand™ system can benefit from the intelligence of the computer. They become intelligent themselves ("smart handhelds"). The intelligent handhelds of the +SmartHand™ system can always respond appropriately to the current traffic situation on the layout. Unexperienced or even mischievous operators are no longer able, to get a locomotive to ignore a red signal. Turnouts in routes remain locked as required. Running trains are deccelerated and stopped, when block securing enforces this. +SmartHand™ ensures safe operation of the layout, even when children or visitors take part.

But +SmartHand™ provides much more above all. You cannot only control turnouts, signals and locomotives as with conventional control devices, but also routes, blocks, schedules and all other operational functions. It is actually even possible to control the soundscape of the +4DSound™ system. And by combination with +Net™ the handhelds become even network-compatible.



Sample Cnfiguration

And the best: you do not have to buy a pig in a poke! +SmartHand™ includes a virtual handheld demo, with which you can simulate a virtual handheld device on your computer screen. This demo can be downloaded from here prior to purchase. It allows to try out all features of the real system by simulating them on your computer screen. The demo is also useful to get familiar with the comprehensive possibilities of SmartHand™ prior to install a real system on your layout. The above diagram has been taken from the virtual demo as well.

The plurality and combination of unique and novel possibilites turns +SmartHand™ into a revolutionary powerful handheld control system for model railroads:
  • Operation of the entire model railroad layout, in particular engines and trains, turnouts, signals, routes, accessories, blocks, schedules, macros, sound etc.
  • Built-in support of AutoTrain™: select a train and a destination block, where the train shall go, and start the train, either automatically or driven by the human operator as engineer, in both cases under full control and protection of the TrainController™ Dispatcher.
  • Highly customisable to individual requirements.
  • Changing of trains and other objects is possible at any time - selection of available objects can be restricted by settings in TrainController™.
  • Self explaining menu driven operation.
  • Suitable for all digital systems.
  • Can be used with Rocomotion, too.
  • Graphical backlight LCD with self-explaining indication.
  • 20 key keypad for control of all important operational functions of TrainController™.
  • Solidly built rotary knob for speed control.
  • Brake and emergency stop.
  • Display of Speedometer and Odometer.
  • Realistic simulation of train tonnage; simulation of coal, fuel and water consumption
  • Well designed handy case.
  • Customisable icons display the status of auxiliary train functions.
  • Switchboard view for intuitive operation of turnouts.
  • Display of fast clock; synchronized with the fast clock of of TrainController™.
  • Keyboard mode for effective operation of multiple objects.
  • Multi color signal indicator lights for indication of the calculated home and distant signal as in the TrainController™ Train Window. The displayed signal aspects can be customised to fit to the signalling system used on the particular model railroad layout.
  • A sophisticated system of privileges and rules allow customisation of each individual handheld to different skills (novice, expert, etc.), roles (engineer, yardmaster, dispatcher, etc.) or status (layout owner, administrator, visitor, etc.) of the handheld operator.
  • Objects can be selected by name, by user defined numbers or by favourite.
  • Exchange of text messages and orders between computer and handhelds.
  • Up to 31 handhelds can be connected to a single serial port or USB port* of your computer.
  • Different data transmission rates up to 57600 bps.
  • Plug Panels, which can be purchased separately, allow plugging in of handhelds at arbitrary locations of the layout within a distance of more than 100 meters (subject to trans-mission rate).
  • Future-proof thanks to automatic software updates, that are provided for download on the Internet and automatically installed by TrainController™ into the handheld device, when needed.
  • Virtual handheld demo for download free of charge.
    • * with USB-to-serial converter (not included) - USB interface as special release on inquiry

    How to turn a driver's cab into a switchboard control panel in no time at all:
    If desired you have certainly always access to all control functions of your layout and you can control all objects with your +SmartHand™ handheld.

    But how about if you or one of your teammates plays the role of an engineer, who has to control "his" engine and who has to follow the guidelines and orders of the dispatcher? To accomplish this each handheld can be individually customised to the role of its operator. In the extreme case the handheld may control only one object - e.g. the locomotive, for which the operator is responsible as engineer - and the selection of other objects is locked.

    Another handheld can be configured for control of turnouts, signals, routes and blocks in a certain station. This handheld would be the optimal control device for the station inspector. In this case it is even possible to configure the handheld in a way, that it may control only the locomotives in his sphere of influence. When a train enters the station, then the station inspector may take over control of this train. When the train has left the station, the operator has no access to this train anymore. This flow of authorization is performed automatically during operation!

    In this context another strong point of the     +SmartHand™ system has an effect, namely the possibility to connect up to 31 handheld devices: this feature is not only useful for owners of big layouts, that are operated by several operators, but provides a subtle possibility also for owners of small layouts, even if only one person operates the layout. The handheld with number 5, for example, can be configured as a handheld for an engineer; e.g. for control of all passenger trains. The handheld 15, however, which is not at all connected to the system, is configured as "virtual" handheld for operation of the switchboard panel of a station. Since the configuration data of both handhelds is stored on the computer rather than in the handheld itself, it is possilbe to turn the handheld from a driver's cab into a switchboard control panel in no time at all by simply changing the address of the handheld from 5 to 15 and vice versa. In this way you are provided with up to 30 "virtual" handhelds beside the one physical device, that can be activated at any time.



       Sample Display in normal train mode




    Turnout operation in switchboard view




    Customisation of function icons




    Configuration of the signal display (here according to german signalling system as example)

    Driving with Signals
    Experienced users of TrainController™ may know, that signal aspects (Stop, Go, Slow) are calculated  for all trains running under control of the computer. These signal aspects indicate as home and distant signal, whether and how the train may leave its current block and enter the next block. This is also possible for train watched by the computer, but actually controlled manually.

    This feature is utilized by     +SmartHand™ for display of these signal aspects by so called signal indicators on the handheld device. This keeps the driver informed about the main and distant signal currently valid for "his" train. Another unique feature, that no conventional control device can provide so far.

    The signal indicators consist of two groups of 4 multi-color LEDs. One group displays the home signal, the other the distant signal.

    These signal indicators can be freely configured to match the era and signalling system applied on the real layout.     +SmartHand™ is furthermore delivered with some predefined, frequently used signalling schemes (the diagram on the left side shows the scheme of the german Bundesbahn); it is also possible, however, to define customised schemes, too.

    Comprehensive information can be found in the +SmartHand™ Manual, which can be downloaded free of charge. Download your copy of the Virtual Handheld demo today! Make your computer running TrainController™+SmartHand™ active teammates!