These are not just marketing words.  They represent the philosophy behind the design of  Set-02.  This set is based on the LH200 knob throttle. We designed the LH200 and Set-02 to be very intuitive to use. while maintaining the most advanced features DCC users desire. Our goal was to produce a system where unnecessary model railroad or technical thoughts were removed to the maximum extent possible. We want you to concentrate on operating your train and not be concerned with DCC technology or "techno babble". To do this we have changed many of the steps the modeler has traditionally needed to perform to interact with their DCC handheld.

I do not understand, what is a model railroad thought and why is this bad?

We, like you, are model railroaders. Most of us are not computer operators or desire to be. We want the most advanced and most reliable technology. but we do not want this technology to interfere with our enjoyment with operating our railroad. Each time you have to interrupt your concentration on your operation of your railroad to remember something necessary to operate your system, that is a distraction we are trying to minimize. An ideal DCC handheld is one that is totally intuitive to use allowing you to concentrate on your trains.

Why so much emphasis on a custom molded case?

The look and feel of the device in your hand is your primary interface into your DCC system. Our belief is this is the key component of any DCC system. If this device is uncomfortable or hard to use, your DCC experience will not be as enjoyable as it should be.

The LH200 is a custom designed from the ground up. The design starts with a custom molded case designed specifically for model railroad use. The look and feel of the handheld was carefully designed so that the common functions for operation are right there in front of you. It was designed to be comfortable in your hand and also comfortable to use even if you hold your handheld by your side of behind your back. The LED display clearly shows you the locomotive being controlled and the custom knob clearly indicated the speed of your locomotive. Under the display are four buttons that in operation allow you to easily control the most common F1-F4 functions. F5-F8 are controlled by pressing the shift key first.

A three position direction switch rounds out the simplicity of the interface. Its located up at the top, easy to use or see.

How many trains can the Set-02 operate?

So long as you have sufficient power, Set-02 can send  DCC commands to 15 trains at the same time.   A train in this context is a single locomotive or a set of locomotives in a consist.   Many more DCC locomotives and trains can be on the layout..  When you enter your 16th train address, one of the older unused addresses is removed from the active queue. This way you can continue  to add new locomotive addresses and operate new trains without being concerned with the internal system workings.

Won't I get poor performance if I operate this many DCC locomotives?

No, Set-02 has implemented dynamic queuing.  The newest commands are always sent first.  We did this so that you could have optimum performance functions such as those available on sound decoders. This means that with Set-02 you always  get the optimum performance of your DCC layout. The whole idea behind Set-02 is to build the complexity inside the system and let the user be concerned only with operating trains on the railroad.

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How do you operate the locomotive?

Place the decoders address in the display and turn the throttle knob. This knob has been customized for model railroad use. It has over 256 values for the smoothest operation and has positive tactile feedback, to let you know the speed of the locomotive simply from the location of the knob. This is not a knob from Radio Shack but a custom molded knob designed to be extremely comfortable to use. The direction is set by a simple direction switch, up is forward and down is backwards. What could be simpler?

How do you select a locomotives address?

The LH200 supports 4 digit addresses. To select a locomotive you select the address menu, press the desired digit key and move the knob until the digit is seen in the display. To change the next digit simply press the next appropriate digit key and spin the knob again to the desired digit. Any combination of a 4 digit can quickly and easily be entered into the handheld.

The LH200 also allows you to sequence between your 6 most common locomotives through the use of a single key press. These 6 locomotives are remembered along with your other settings across all power interruptions. This means that you can shut down your layout and when you return a day, week, month or year later, your handheld is ready to use just as you left it. Another plus is that the stack can be limited from 2-6 locomotives if you like.

My decoder does not support 4 digit addressing, can I still use it?

No problem. The LH200 supports both standard and extended address decoders. We have just hid this from you, as it is only an issue if your decoder is not an advanced decoder. From a model railroad perspective there are just locomotive addresses and this is how the LH200 presents its interface.

Addresses 1-99 are implemented by using the decoders short address. Addresses 100-9999 use the decoders extended address. If your decoder does not support extended addressing simply assign it an address between 1 and 99.

Configuring a decoder to work in extended addressing is difficult, how does the LH200 do this?

The LH200 does this all for you. To set a locomotive decoders address place the locomotive on the programming track and switch off the layout. Unplug the LH200 command station and replug it with the emergency stop button pressed. This combination tells the LH200 to enter address programming mode, select the address the some way you select it in operation. The LH200 understands what is needed and sends the appropriate commands to the decoder.

Yes,  but I understand that when you program the decoder configuration the existing configuration can be messed up?

No, we program using what the NMRA calls Direct CV Mode. This advanced mode allows you to set individual configurations in the decoder without effecting other decoder configurations. What this means is that we can change only those portions we need to and leave everything else alone.  Its all done for you so you do not have to be a DCC wizard.

How do you set other decoder configuration variables?

We support full operations mode programming which allows you to set all the decoders CVs while the locomotive is on the operational layout. The programming track is only intended to initially set the locomotives address.

But my decoder does not support Direct Mode or Operations Mode Programming. How can I program it?

In 1994 the DCC manufacturers all agreed that direct mode was the future. All our version 4.1 and higher decoders support this most advanced Direct Mode programming mode. All XF and XS series decoders also support full operations mode programming.

For legacy decoders, the LH200 programming track mode also supports complete Direct mode and Register mode programming.  All 1024 decoder CVs can be programmed if desired.  But the good news is that for the most part CVs need only be set once, when you initially customize your locomotive.  And if you only set the address, the LH200 will provide the smoothest operation possible.

How often must I change the Battery?

There is no battery in the LH200 so it never needs to be changed or charged. Like your decoder the LH200 remembers everything it need to so you can plug and unplug it whenever you want.

I want to take my LH200 over to my friends layout to run. How do I configure it to go between the command station and a handheld?

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Do you support consisting, and if so how many locomotives can be in consist?

Yes Set-02 supports the full advanced consisting and provides a very simple method for adding or removing locomotives to or from a consist. Up to 24  locomotives can be in consists that you want Set-02 to manage.

Why the limit on locomotives in Consists?

Set-02 has implemented a new approach to handling consists. When you operate a consist you can easily switch between all locomotives in the consist for function control without reentering the locomotive number.  Operating the speed of any locomotive in the consist also controls the speed of the entire consist. The 24 locomotive limit can be bypassed but in so doing you loose the ability to quickly address each locomotive in the consist.

Do you support head to head and head to tail consisting?

Of course, it would be very short sited to design it any other way.  When you are ready to add a locomotive to a consist simply put the direction switch in the desired position.  Forward and the locomotive is added in a consist elephant style (lead to tail), backwards and the locomotive is added in a head to head configuration.

What if I forget the consist number  that a locomotive is in?

This is not a problem.  Your LH200 command station remembers  information about the consists.  Simply call up the locomotive and the consist number that the locomotive is in will be in your locomotive stack for you to see.  All the locomotives that are in that consist are now available for you to see.

Do you support consisting for decoders that do not support advanced consisting?

A single legacy decoder that does not support advanced consisting can be added to a consist that uses the same address. We thought long and hard on this and concluded that since the norm for several years has been for decoders to support advanced consisting, it was better to support one mode very well than provide several different modes which would add complexity to the interface. This was a compromise on our part to provide maximum simplicity and power to you, the user.

How do I set the speed steps?

Speed steps is another DCC thought that we are trying to remove. We designed the LH200 to have superior performance in 28 speed step mode which is the default. Superior performance is obtained through use of a knob that has over 256 positions. Our testing indicates that most modelers will use 28 speed step mode without changing it which is why this is the system default.

The LH200 also supports 14 and 128 speed step modes, which are easily set through a simple to use menu. Once set the new mode is set it is remembered for the locomotive for all subsequent use until reset again.

You mention configurations, what all can be configured?

The default factory configuration is likely best for most modelers. We carefully selected this to be what we felt most modelers would want. Our more sophisticated users have indicated the desire to customize several parameters which we have provided. We think this is a growing set and we expect to add additional customizations is subsequent releases.

You mention new releases, does this mean I have to have a costly upgrade to contend with?

Absolutely not. We have designed the LH200 with built-in value in mind. We know that what is state of the art now will evolve in the future and we want to preserve your investment. Like our other system components the LH200 can be upgraded by replacing the installed software. We listen to our customers we fully expect additional capabilities will be desired in the future. Every few years we expect to release low cost optional upgrades that contain the latest features, which ,if desired, can be installed.

How do I operate accessory decoders?

After extensive discussions with model railroaders we concluded that adding the ability to control accessory decoders from the handheld was a complexity that could confuse the simple operations concept we wanted to achieve. Accessory decoders can be controlled by adding a LH100, a Tower Cab, or in the future a simple accessory controller. These XpressNET devices simply plug into the XpressNET network.

What about computer control?

If you want to use a computer with your Set-02 you simply add an LI100 computer interface. Software is provided form a number of fine software manufacturers.

How many handhelds will Set-02 Support?

I only need a Set-02 now but later may want much more, what is the upgrade path?

Set-02 is part of our overall DIGITAL plus family.  Should you ever need more capabilities, (such as the ability to control more handhelds or layout feedback) you can upgrade a Set-02 to our full professional series by installing an LZ100 command station. When the LZ100 is installed it becomes the command station and the LH200 used as a command station in Set-02 becomes an additional handheld for use anywhere on the installed XpressNET.

What about NMRA Conformance?

We strongly believe in the NMRA C&I process and fully intend to achieve a NMRA warrant for Set-02.  Set-02 has been submitted to the NMRA for formal C&I testing and we will publish all results.  Should problems be found they will be documented on our version problem page and fixed.  If necessary, a minor software update to correct identified problems will be issued in the Spring 2000.

When can I purchase a system?

Both Set-02 and the LH200 have now been released. They are expected to be introduced into the North American market by  mid December.

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