Review by CoMod JoergW of Carrera the Carrera DIGITAL 124 /132 Control Unit
(Item No. 30352)
The Control Unit replaces the previous Black Box and, in addition to its basic function, serves as a power supply and connection point for the handheld controllers used to program various digital functions—but more on that later.
The hand controller expansion box can be connected even with older ProX controllers. Equally welcome is the news that the older wireless controllers (from the ProX era with DIP switches) can also be used.
In terms of operation ,
the new Control Unit resembles the old Black Box. Significant differences are only noticeable in the details. The now-available “Speed,” “Brake,” and “Fuel” buttons are easy to assign, and you can adjust braking behavior, top speed, or fuel level without a user manual. However, things get tricky at the latest when setting “Pit Stop passage does not count as a lap.” The instruction manual is essential here, because not only
do you need to adjust the settings on the control unit (with the unit turned off, press the “Speed” button, turn it on
, and release the button)
, but the pit stop lane must also be connected directly to the control unit’s power circuit. Afterward, it can be placed where you planned it in the track layout. It sounds more complicated than it actually is, and you won’t have to do this very often later on.
The Autonomous Car’s settings are very responsive, and even after over 100 laps on a small starter track, it didn’t veer off course. Since the Autonomous Car uses the switches unpredictably and doesn’t need to refuel, it isn’t a real competitor on the track, but it is at least a game-enhancing component with a high fun factor. Good to very good lap times are then much harder to achieve, and even in multiplayer mode it’s no walk in the park, since human predictability is lacking here as well! The third driver on the track practically forces you to use the chicanes, even if it means straying from the ideal line.
The pace car really only makes sense with two pit lanes—one for refueling and one for the pace car. The latter is set via the "Code" button on the control unit and then enters the pit lane.
During the race, the vehicle leaves the pit lane at a pre-set speed after the "Pace Car" button is pressed and remains on the track until the "Pace Car" button is pressed again.
CoMod Joerg
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Review of the CoModCarrera 124 for Carrera DIGITAL 124 the /132 Control Unit
(Item No. 30352)
The Control Unit is the main component of the new digital components and is required for the new components to function. And first things first: the Control Unit is compatible with the old wireless controllers featuring DIP switches on the top.
Connections
The available connections largely correspond to those already familiar from the Blackbox. Only the module socket has been omitted, so the following connections are available:
Lap counter
, PC unit
, handheld controllers 1–4 (the first two of which are also used to connect the wireless receiver towers)
, handheld controller expansion box (for 6 wired handheld controllers),
power supply
, buttons
There have been a few more changes here compared to the Blackbox:
On/Off slide switch
Start button
Pace Car
slide switch for refueling function with a new mode: Off/On/Real
In addition, there are four new buttons for:
Speed adjustment
Braking behavior adjustment
Fuel level adjustment
Vehicle coding
Functions
If you look at the control unit on its own, the additional buttons for the vehicle settings are the first thing you notice. Assigning a vehicle to a handheld controller is thus significantly easier than with the Blackbox, as are the settings for maximum speed, fuel capacity, and braking behavior.
Furthermore, the two sensors on the road surface stand out—features previously seen only on the lap counter. Consequently, the Control Unit takes over at least some of the lap counter’s functions here. However
, the full potential of the Control Unit is only realized in combination with the new accessories.
Some important settings for the new accessories are not configured on the accessories themselves, but rather via a programming sequence on the Control Unit. These programming sequences are summarized in the Control Unit’s user manual.
CoModCarrera 124
(Item No. 30352)
The Control Unit replaces the previous Black Box and, in addition to its basic function, serves as a power supply and connection point for the handheld controllers used to program various digital functions—but more on that later.
The hand controller expansion box can be connected even with older ProX controllers. Equally welcome is the news that the older wireless controllers (from the ProX era with DIP switches) can also be used.
In terms of operation ,
the new Control Unit resembles the old Black Box. Significant differences are only noticeable in the details. The now-available “Speed,” “Brake,” and “Fuel” buttons are easy to assign, and you can adjust braking behavior, top speed, or fuel level without a user manual. However, things get tricky at the latest when setting “Pit Stop passage does not count as a lap.” The instruction manual is essential here, because not only
do you need to adjust the settings on the control unit (with the unit turned off, press the “Speed” button, turn it on
, and release the button)
, but the pit stop lane must also be connected directly to the control unit’s power circuit. Afterward, it can be placed where you planned it in the track layout. It sounds more complicated than it actually is, and you won’t have to do this very often later on.
The Autonomous Car’s settings are very responsive, and even after over 100 laps on a small starter track, it didn’t veer off course. Since the Autonomous Car uses the switches unpredictably and doesn’t need to refuel, it isn’t a real competitor on the track, but it is at least a game-enhancing component with a high fun factor. Good to very good lap times are then much harder to achieve, and even in multiplayer mode it’s no walk in the park, since human predictability is lacking here as well! The third driver on the track practically forces you to use the chicanes, even if it means straying from the ideal line.
The pace car really only makes sense with two pit lanes—one for refueling and one for the pace car. The latter is set via the "Code" button on the control unit and then enters the pit lane.
During the race, the vehicle leaves the pit lane at a pre-set speed after the "Pace Car" button is pressed and remains on the track until the "Pace Car" button is pressed again.
CoMod Joerg
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Review of the CoMod
(Item No. 30352)
The Control Unit is the main component of the new digital components and is required for the new components to function. And first things first: the Control Unit is compatible with the old wireless controllers featuring DIP switches on the top.
Connections
The available connections largely correspond to those already familiar from the Blackbox. Only the module socket has been omitted, so the following connections are available:
Lap counter
, PC unit
, handheld controllers 1–4 (the first two of which are also used to connect the wireless receiver towers)
, handheld controller expansion box (for 6 wired handheld controllers),
power supply
, buttons
There have been a few more changes here compared to the Blackbox:
On/Off slide switch
Start button
Pace Car
slide switch for refueling function with a new mode: Off/On/Real
In addition, there are four new buttons for:
Speed adjustment
Braking behavior adjustment
Fuel level adjustment
Vehicle coding
Functions
If you look at the control unit on its own, the additional buttons for the vehicle settings are the first thing you notice. Assigning a vehicle to a handheld controller is thus significantly easier than with the Blackbox, as are the settings for maximum speed, fuel capacity, and braking behavior.
Furthermore, the two sensors on the road surface stand out—features previously seen only on the lap counter. Consequently, the Control Unit takes over at least some of the lap counter’s functions here. However
, the full potential of the Control Unit is only realized in combination with the new accessories.
Some important settings for the new accessories are not configured on the accessories themselves, but rather via a programming sequence on the Control Unit. These programming sequences are summarized in the Control Unit’s user manual.
CoMod
