WiFi Throttle in July MR

Our Universal WiFi Throttle and forthcoming Command System were featured in the July 2019 issue of Model Railroader magazine. Dana Kawala's article "A Buyer's Guide to DCC Systems" walks through the history of Digital Command Control (DCC), the evolutions that the protocol has undergone in recent years, and the future of DCC before systematically cataloging the command systems and control options that are available to modelers who are beginning or expanding their DCC railroad operations. We are proud to join the ranks this year!

 TCS' Universal WiFi Throttle (UWT) is a newcomer on the DCC scene and a pioneer in the LCC space. Engineered to work with many of the existing DCC systems and solutions that modelers are contending with on their current DCC layouts, this throttle relies on the universal standard of WiFi communication and departs from shrouded, proprietary protocols. To put it simply, this throttle "plays nice with others." The UWT will also integrate flawlessly with the upcoming DCC/LCC command station from TCS, which will be the first commercially available, stand-alone, LCC command station. LCC's robust command bus and future-proof considerations will make it a great choice for modelers who are serious about operations and have a ton of signals passing through their command bus. LCC can keep track of all the locomotive and accessory decoders you need to control - without breaking a sweat.

Poised to make WiFi control for DCC a staple for every modeler, the Universal WiFi Throttle brings a new level of convenience and comfort to handheld controls. Ergonomic design and an intuitive interface allow the modeler to focus on the important things - controlling and programming locomotives - instead of learning how to interpret their throttle and manual. The throttle is built for both operators and programmers, with easy-to-understand on-screen prompts, and innovative programming displays that make modifying CVs and manipulating bits a quick and simple process. Something this good should last the test of time, and we've made sure that the UWT is updatable. Users can update their throttles with the latest software updates and tools and in just seconds (not minutes!), guaranteeing that their investment will not become obsolete in a few short years. It's our hope that the TCS Universal WiFi Throttle is the last throttle you ever need to purchase for your layout. 

Head to your local hobby shop and pick up a copy of the July Issue to check out the "Buyers Guide to DCC Systems" featuring the TCS Universal WiFi Throttle. You can visit our FAQ page for some answers to our most common questions, and check out the benefits of preordering a throttle for your home or club layout. 

TCS Visits the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley RR

In June of 2019, the TCS crew was invited to the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad in Milford, NY to record their ALCO units. We spent two days there recording prime movers, horns, bells, and an abundance of other great material that might just find it's way to a WOWSound decoder near you. The weather was great, the scenery was beautiful, and the locomotives held up to the paces we put them through.

The Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad Company (reporting mark CACV) is a heritage railroad in New York operated by the Leatherstocking Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) since 1996. They operate 16 miles of track throughout the beautiful Susquehanna River valley, and run many themed excursions for holidays and special events all year. Regular trains run between June and August.

This year, the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad is celebrating their 150th year of rail transportation! Steam power will return to the CACV for the first time in 30 years, and there are many exciting events, activities, equipment demonstrations, and more! Learn more about the festivities here: CACV 150th Anniversary Celebration and Railfan Day

TCS would like to extend special thanks to CACV Vice President Paul Sternitzke and CACV President Bruce Hodges for their hospitality and assistance on this recording adventure. We hope to return to the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad again soon! Check out the video below for a behind-the-scenes look at our trip!

Throttle FAQ Now Available

We've received a lot of great questions over the last few weeks regarding our upcoming Universal WiFi Throttle. We've collected some of these questions and put an FAQ page together to serve our curious and excited users. We'll keep adding to it as more information about the throttle becomes available!

Head there now and check things out! 

Pre-Order Announcement: TCS Universal WiFi Throttle

TCS is now accepting pre-orders for the Universal WiFi Throttle! We're more and more excited to be able to share this throttle with you as it gets closer to final production. 

This revolutionary handheld uses WiFi communication and has been designed with ease-of-use in mind. Because it's compatible with the WiThrottle protocol, it can be used like a cell phone app throttle on any compatible layout. It's packed full of technological innovations and user-friendly interfaces that enhance the enjoyment of railroading for seasoned operators and newcomers alike.

When you place a pre-order you'll receive a discount off the final price and become eligible for several different gifts based on your preorder tier.  

Now Available: NEW Keep-Alives®!

Those of you that visited us at the Amherst show got a firsthand look at our reintroduction of the KA1 and KA2 line of Keep-Alive® devices. We're excited to announce that these new Keep-Alive® devices are NOW SHIPPING!  ORDER HERE

Almost perfect for our N-scale faithful, the redesigned KA1 and KA2 Keep-Alive® modules are smaller than our existing KA3 and KA4, but still hold a powerful charge - enough to keep your HO and N scale locomotives running across dirty and faulty trackwork. 

The new Keep Alive® devices are considerably smaller than the KA3/4. Considering the overall cubic volume of the devices, the KA1 is 55% smaller than the KA3, and the KA2 is 49% smaller than the KA4. At roughly half of the original size, these miniaturized devices will enable modelers to fit Keep Alive® in smaller spaces and use them for a wider variety of installations - especially in N scale!

Though the new KA devices are smaller, they still pack a powerful punch! Both the KA1 and KA2 sport roughly one third of the power of the KA3/4, which is enough to keep even HO-scale sound decoders cruising across dirt, dust, gaps, and anything else your rough rails send its way. Remember: the number of lighting functions in use and motor activity will drain the Keep Alive® at different rates. 

These new Keep Alive® devices are available now! Head to our store to place an order today!

Dimensions:

See a clip of our announcement at Amherst here: