BlueRail email update

[James in FL]

Hello from BlueRail Trains!

I'm happy to report the first of our line of
plug-in boards is nearly ready for prime time, and I can give you some details
on it. You can watch a video
here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrokc9KQOHA

We've spent the last
months supporting the release of the Bachmann bluetooth trains (which should be
available the second week of November). We also put some extra effort into
enabling our boards to drive the loco motors at an ultrasonic frequency (for
super quiet operation).

I know we are slightly behind schedule. Our
commitment to simultaneously launch Bachmann's new train control system has
forced us to up our game, and we have been meticulous in our effort to bring you
the simplest and most effective train operation that will both live up to
expectations and offer added features for years to come.

I'll list the
features of our first BlueRail plugin board below. Our goal is to get those in
your hands by end of December (or early January at the latest).

Dimensions: 
58mm x 28mm
Max Voltage:        24 volts DC
Max Stall Current:    2
amp
Accessories:        4 lights (or accessories)

Other Features:
battery
connection (for dead rail or power backup)
wireless firmware updates
expansion
port (for future on-board sound options)
9 pin NMRA connector
100+ ft
range

This board dimension is suitable for an HO tender, but can be utilized
any way you see fit (including larger gauges that match the spec). We will
release a narrower version of the same board (more suitable for HO diesels)
shortly after board one.

Our target price is $75 per board. We will finalize
and confirm the price in the next few weeks.

In addition to use with a
DCC-ready train, these boards can also be wired into any non-DCC train within
spec. As in the spec, our boards have 2 connection points where you can add
wires and connect a battery of your choice. This can serve either as dead rail
or as a "support battery" (for bad sections of track). We do not support battery
charging at this time.

The free BlueRail iOS app will be in the appstore at
release time (and will be compatible with the Bachmann E-Z App). Once the
product is released, we anticipate a 2 month effort to release an Android
version of the app. I will send more detail on the control app and features as
we get closer to release.

What's next? After completing boards for HO (or any
DC-powered trains near that size), releasing boards for larger gauges (with
larger amperage needs) is fairly straight-forward.  N scale might have been
considered an impossibility a year ago, but recent reductions in bluetooth
module size have introduced some amazingly small options which are following up
on. All boards BlueRail releases do have an expansion port in anticipation of
onboard sound add-ons. There is also interest in adding bluetooth control of DCC
as well as increased layout control (all of which are on our list).

If you
are interested in the Bachmann E-Z App trains (with built-in bluetooth support)
please checkout the following
URLS:
http://e-zapptraincontrol.com/
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/ez-app.php

If
you have received this email, you are in our contact database and will be the
first to know the details and given first opportunity on these boards. I will
send a follow-up email in November in which I will confirm pricing and specs, as
well as a firmer release date.

Thank you for your interest in model train
technology.

David Rees
BlueRail Trains