Mobile Control II. ESU 50113

Since smart phones with touch screens have almost completely replaced the conventional mobile phone, model train enthusiasts and manufacturers face the question how to employ more powerful devices for controlling model trains. As a result of this, many apps have been developed lately, which can be uploaded onto your mobile phone and used for running your trains.

This concept, however, has one disadvantage, namely that smart phones have not been primarily designed for running model trains. Due to the lack of suitable input elements the operator is forced to spend most of the time looking at the display. The limits become quickly obvious, once the battery of the phone has been discharged and nobody can reach you by phone anymore.

We at ESU had a look at the question on how to utilize the advantages of the smart phone technology and combine it with the needs of model train enthusiasts.

It is with great joy that we now present the results of our considerations. With the new Mobile Control II you have wireless control of your locomotives, accessories and routes simply by radio control! Open Platform

The completely new development of the Mobile Control II is based on Android. We have created a powerful basis for this open, globally used operating system: The ARM® Cortex® A8 micro processor clocked with 1.3 GHz can access 1 GB RAM and controls a high resolution 3.2 inch TFT colour display. There are 4 GB flash memory for storing apps and data. A capacitive touch screen assures touch-free data entry. For communicating with the “outside world” there is an USB port and a WLAN interface. Thanks to the standardized radio control interface, trouble free operation of your layout can be assured at any time. The range can be extended with WLAN repeaters, if necessary.

The permanently installed, powerful Lithium polymer rechargeable battery will serve you right through the most extensive operating sessions. Recharge the batteries of your Mobile Control II simply by using the USB battery charger of your mobile phone or any other USB port. Due to the open platform design you may add further apps for the Google Play Store at any time.

When you hold your Mobile Control II in your hands for the first time you will immediately notice its excellent ergonomics: all data entry elements can easily be reached with one hand, the most important functions you caneven reach “without looking”: you may still look at your layout and your trains.

This is due to the central, motorised throttle knob with end stop. With this knob you can delicately control the speed of your trains and change direction.

For activating functions simply touch the pictograms on the display. The display also serves for changing functions – exactly the same way as you know it from your telephone. Finally two buttons each on either side serve for changing direction or triggering the most important functions. Teamwork

The Mobile Control II is perfectly tuned for the interaction with the ECoS command stations: the ECoS synchronises all data with the radio controlled throttle. Therefore you do not have to enter any data locally. Of course, the correct names and symbols will also be displayed for accessories and routes.

In principle the Mobile Control II is as an open platform basically open for operation with other digital command stations. One requirement is, of course, that these command station have a WLAN interface. Furthermore additional software (apps) by others has to be installed on the Mobile Control II. ESU invites all software developers to adapt their apps for the Mobile Control II. The apps provided by ESU currently only support the ESU command stations.