I hope many people are as happy to see the new IRV2 sensor track controllers. If you add it up Lionel just reduced the cost of a sensor point to $40. That is less than 1/2 the sensor track cost. I have two suggestions that would really amp up the usefulness of this new module.
First Suggestion: Make it work with curved track.
The sensor module is fairly small, about 0.5 by 4 inches from the looks of the picture. All of the active parts seem to be in the center 1/4 inch.
size of module in an O-27 track
by trimming off the corners on one side and taking a bite out of the middle on the other...
...one could make a universal module that would work not only on straights...
... but a variety of curves as well. Here it is on an O-27 section
Here on an Atlas 0-36
and here on an Atlas O-72
I have several Sensor Tracks mounted under curved sections with a tie cut out and they work fine. I suppose that with the higher placement of the module with this proposed setup that the sensor might have to be placed on the inside portion of the curve as that is where the IR module on the engine would move as it goes around the curve.
Second Suggestion: Be able to store and activate multiple programs for multiple engines in both directions. This really only requires a minor change to the software and a little more memory.
Software change: Today when you put the sensor module in program mode It takes whatever is the next engine to cross the track, starts a program for it, and erases any program that is currently there. If instead you just start a new program for that engine or replace only the program for that same engine then you could have several. There would have to be some limit and if you tried to put too many in, the track would need to flash an error code when it was full. To delete one of the existing programs to make room for others simply run the existing engine over the track and then immediately press program again to take it out of program mode before any commands are stored for that engine.
I love my sensor tracks now but since I always run trains in the same direction it is frustrating that I can never use half the programs I might have, due to never running the engine over in the reverse direction.
