A remote control unit for controlling a locomotive by transmitting signals to
a
remote receiver mounted onboard the locomotive is provided. The remote control
unit includes an input for receiving a signal indicative of a command selected
from a set of available commands. A signal transmitting unit transmits a signal
indicative of the selected command repetitively to create a succession of signal
transmission events. In a first example, each signal transmission event is spaced
in time from a previous signal transmission event by a certain time interval having
a duration conditioned at least in part on the basis of the selected command. In
a second example, each signal transmission event includes a message portion and
a header portion and the message portion of the signal has a length conditioned
at least in part on the basis of the selected command. In a third example, each
signal transmission event is characterized by a signal level conditioned at least
in part on the basis of the selected command. The signal transmitting unit includes
an RF modulator adapted for modulating data indicative of the selected command
to generate a succession of modulated signals, each modulated signal corresponding
to a respective signal transmission event in the succession of signal transmission events.
