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RailComms Wiki

Everything you need to get RailComms running with SimSig and handle your first calls. This grows over time — check back as more guides land.

Getting started

RailComms is a virtual GSM-R radio for SimSig. It answers the phone calls SimSig generates with realistic AI driver voices, lets you reply by speaking, and keeps SimSig in sync — so you can run a busy panel entirely by radio.

Requirements

  • Windows 10 or 11. RailComms integrates with SimSig's native window; SimSig is Windows-only.
  • SimSig with the gateway / remote control enabled.
  • Internet for the best AI voices and speech recognition (offline voice fallbacks are included).
  • A licence key to activate (see below).
Note RailComms is an independent, fan-made companion tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by SimSig, Network Rail, or any railway authority.

Installing & activating

  1. Run the Windows installer you received after purchase.
  2. Launch RailComms.
  3. When prompted, paste your licence key — it looks like RC-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX.
  4. Activation needs an internet connection. Once activated, RailComms keeps working offline and updates itself automatically.

One machine at a time

A licence runs on one machine at a time. You can move between PCs freely — close RailComms on one and the licence frees up within about 90 seconds, then activate on the other. It just won't run on two machines at once on the same key.

Tip Reinstalling or updating does not use up an activation — your trial/licence state lives in your Windows profile, not the installer.

Connecting to SimSig

RailComms talks to SimSig over its network interface. On the SimSig "Start a new simulation – Enter networking details" screen you must enable both of these — RailComms will not connect if either is left off:

Required Tick Enable under "Run a SimSig server" and tick Enable under "Run an interface gateway". Leave both TCP ports on Primary unless you have a reason to change them.
SimSig 'Start a new simulation – Enter networking details' screen with both 'Run a SimSig server' and 'Run an interface gateway' set to Enable, ports on Primary
Both Run a SimSig server and Run an interface gateway must be enabled. (IP addresses blurred for privacy.)

Step by step

  1. Open SimSig and choose Start a new simulation.
  2. On the networking details screen, under Run a SimSig server, tick Enable and enter your initials (e.g. RC). Leave the port on Primary.
  3. Under Run an interface gateway, tick Enable. Leave the port on Primary.
  4. Click Start and load your simulation as normal.
  5. In RailComms, enter the same initials and click Connect. The status indicator turns green once connected.
Tip If RailComms can't find the gateway automatically, set the gateway host and port in Settings — they must match the interface gateway port shown in SimSig (Primary by default).

Handling calls

When a driver, signaller or shunter calls, you'll hear ringing and see the call appear. Click Answer — the caller speaks, with full GSM-R radio FX for drivers and clean audio for office calls.

Replying

  • By voice: hold the push-to-talk key (Left Ctrl by default) and speak. RailComms matches what you said to the right reply.
  • By click: pick a reply option in the comms panel.

After your reply, RailComms voices the signaller's response and closes the call automatically — no manual hang-up needed.

Train alerts

Trains held at red signals show up with a repeating notification. Select the train and choose Wait to queue a one-shot "wait" reply for the driver's next call — it fires once, then that train reaches you normally again.

Track-circuit, signal and points failures are auto-detected from SimSig and shown in the alerts panel.

Browser remote

Browser access is on by default. Open the URL shown in Settings from any device on your network — an iPad, tablet or another PC — and you get a live mirror of the panel: answer, reply, dial, alerts and the message log. Audio always plays on the host PC.

Note Settings are host-only. The browser is a display/control mirror, not a second copy of the app.

Troubleshooting

"That key isn't recognised"

Check for typos and that you've entered the full RC-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX key. Keys are case-insensitive.

"This key is in use on another device"

Close RailComms on the other machine and wait ~90 seconds, then try again.

Voices sound basic / robotic

The best voices stream from the cloud and need internet. Without a connection RailComms falls back to lower-quality offline voices — reconnect to restore the AI voices.

Still stuck?

Email support@railcomms.co.uk.