Abstract: A controller for controlling the operation of a crane has a control panel for the control of different functions of the crane, a two-way communication radio unit adapted to transmit and receive information from/to the controller, and a processing means connected to the control panel and the communication radio unit and adapted to control the function of the controller. The processing means, when in an operation mode, is adapted to communicate with the crane for controlling the operation of the crane, and when in a simulation mode, is adapted to communicate via the communication radio unit with a remote simulator device adapted to simulate the operation of a predefined crane. The communication radio unit is adapted to operate in the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth band. The same controller can thereby be used for both operation in the field and for a learning process.