My first exposure to Legacy is with the Base3. My layout spans 3 rooms in a basement and I'm having reception issues in a few spots. Might be a Dave question - can I just get an extension cable to put the antenna in a more centralized location? Splitter with multiple antennas? It is a brave new world...
(I'd pay cold hard cash for a book much like the DCS Companion!)
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Nevermind, I know what I must do...
@Rollsington posted:My first exposure to Legacy is with the Base3. My layout spans 3 rooms in a basement and I'm having reception issues in a few spots. Might be a Dave question - can I just get an extension cable to put the antenna in a more centralized location? Splitter with multiple antennas? It is a brave new world...
(I'd pay cold hard cash for a book much like the DCS Companion!)
Just FYI, the Antenna on the Base 3 is for the TMCC/Legacy Cab-2 and Cab1-L communication only. It is not for the wi-fi connection between your mobile device and the base.
@Sean's Train Depot posted:Just FYI, the Antenna on the Base 3 is for the TMCC/Legacy Cab-2 and Cab1-L communication only. It is not for the wi-fi connection between your mobile device and the base.
Bottom line is if you have a poor WiFi signal in your train room to start then the connection to Base3 won't be any better. Nice video Sean!
Yes, lots of learning to be had. The app is, uh 'suboptimal' right now so I think I'm going to go for a Cab1L for a better experience. Ordered my capacitors for isolated rails last night too. @Sean's Train Depot I just noticed you have Part II on the tubes. Will be watching this morning. Thanks all
@Rollsington posted:Nevermind, I know what I must do...
The infamous TMCC "Force Field" video surfaces again. Mike's description of TMCC track signal and interference is very wrong. Lionel's original TMCC patent illustrations showed the TMCC signal "halo" broadcasted from the outside rails to the engine antenna, thus creating a myth of how the track signal RF works that still persists. Dale Manquen, an Electrical Engineer with extensive HAM radio experience, published (Trainfacts.com, August 2011) his "TMCC Signal Basics" article that describes how the TMCC track signal really works. Dale's description in short:
The ouside rails carry half of the RF signal component via the engine's wheels and chassis to the receiver.
The engine's antenna(s) carry the other half of the RF signal to the receiver. The voltage difference between the two sources is the received track signal.
The Command base transmits a track signal component out the common wire post to the outside rails.
The Command base transmits the other half of the signal, via the power supply's ground pin, to the electrical ground wires of the house/building's 120V wiring. The track signal radiates from the house wiring and is picked up by the engine's antenna.
Mike's description of where to add a ground plane wire is OK even though he confuses the issue with force fields and the like. Dale's article sent me in the right direction; I approach weak TMCC track signal problems by asking "what is keeping the house wiring's signal from reaching the engine's antenna?" Typical culprits are overhead or adjacent tracks that overwhelm the house signal (this is an unwanted "halo" broadcast from the outside rails), metal bridges that block the signal, and metal accessories that are connected to the common rails. Adding a ground plane wire resolves the problem.
I have never needed to add capacitors to improve the track signal.
@Tracker John posted:The infamous TMCC "Force Field" video surfaces again. Mike's description of TMCC track signal and interference is very wrong. Lionel's original TMCC patent illustrations showed the TMCC signal "halo" broadcasted from the outside rails to the engine antenna, thus creating a myth of how the track signal RF works that still persists. Dale Manquen, an Electrical Engineer with extensive HAM radio experience, published (Trainfacts.com, August 2011) his "TMCC Signal Basics" article that describes how the TMCC track signal really works. Dale's description in short:
The ouside rails carry half of the RF signal component via the engine's wheels and chassis to the receiver.
The engine's antenna(s) carry the other half of the RF signal to the receiver. The voltage difference between the two sources is the received track signal.
The Command base transmits a track signal component out the common wire post to the outside rails.
The Command base transmits the other half of the signal, via the power supply's ground pin, to the electrical ground wires of the house/building's 120V wiring. The track signal radiates from the house wiring and is picked up by the engine's antenna.
Mike's description of where to add a ground plane wire is OK even though he confuses the issue with force fields and the like. Dale's article sent me in the right direction; I approach weak TMCC track signal problems by asking "what is keeping the house wiring's signal from reaching the engine's antenna?" Typical culprits are overhead or adjacent tracks that overwhelm the house signal (this is an unwanted "halo" broadcast from the outside rails), metal bridges that block the signal, and metal accessories that are connected to the common rails. Adding a ground plane wire resolves the problem.
I have never needed to add capacitors to improve the track signal.
Same here, shouldn’t be necessary to add capacitors.
No capacitors here. 
Dale was a gem, and a very smart fellow, I miss him. 
Good to know! Good thing Amazon takes everything back... but seriously, there should be a book. I read "Barry's book" cover to cover and the information was priceless for DCS
@Rollsington posted:My first exposure to Legacy is with the Base3. My layout spans 3 rooms in a basement and I'm having reception issues in a few spots. Might be a Dave question - can I just get an extension cable to put the antenna in a more centralized location? Splitter with multiple antennas? It is a brave new world...
(I'd pay cold hard cash for a book much like the DCS Companion!)
You can try a high gain antenna... here's a 12dbi pulled off an old ASUS router ...works great.
@Rollsington posted:Nevermind, I know what I must do...
Terribly inaccurate video
@Rollsington posted:Good to know! Good thing Amazon takes everything back... but seriously, there should be a book. I read "Barry's book" cover to cover and the information was priceless for DCS
When Legacy came out, many people clamored for a book. The reality was it just wasn't needed. I think one came out eventually, but didn't offer much. For better or worse, Legacy/TMCC just isn't as granular as DCS.
Base 3 still uses the same systems that have been out for years. It's just a new package and an all in one place for all of Lionel's command systems. As for setup, Dave has built a great site to check out, something we didn't have when Legacy arrived. Back when Legacy was introduced if it weren't for MartyE, Jon, and NY, many would have been real frustrated
@Rollsington posted:Good to know! Good thing Amazon takes everything back... but seriously, there should be a book. I read "Barry's book" cover to cover and the information was priceless for DCS
The system has been out less than a week. Why don't we just see how it goes. The Lionel Power and Control website has a lot of good information that can be update on a moments notice. Changes have been updated since Base3s started appearing. I think a book would be redundant.
T&M put out a decent Legacy book. Bob did a wonderful job on it but we didn't have the Power and Control website like we have now. Sean has been doing a wonderful job on the videos and a lot of questions are being answered here in almost real time.
Just my opinion.
As far as antennas go, this was posted a little bit ago and then deleted. It's pretty creative and gets the Base3 up along with the antenna. The Base3 looks like it belongs on the Lionel themed building.
Photo used with permission from DSlie.
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