DCS Signal Issue

Paul.

Can TIU #3 be located near the yard or do they have to be near each other for Super TIU mode? When I run the TIU power outputs to the distribution board around the layout the signal degrades. When I run them the shortest distance over the track work, the signal strength is 9/10.

You can locate TIUs anywhere you like. The best way to set things up is for the shortest runs from the TIU outputs, through any terminal boards, to the tracks.

I also noticed that is takes about 15 seconds for a DCS engine to come on all though the signal strength is 9/10.

What do you mean "come up"?  Is this how long it takes between pressing Startup and the engine starts making sounds? If so, there's definitely a problem somewhere.

 Could this be due to a presence of five TMCC engines in the yard?

Possibly. Try removing all of the TMCC engines from the tracks. If the problem goes away, add them back one at a time until you identify which ones are the problem engines.

Keep in mind the remote must communicate with the tiu  who's track    the train is operating on. Tiu do not talk to each other so  it's  kind of a range thingy.  Of course if you're in range of all the tiu at once   you're in good shape.

Paul,

Any idea what can cause this problem

Absolutely!  

From page 152 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Some, but not all, TMCC engines will degrade the DCS signal of any PS2 engine with which they are in close proximity. This effect varies both by individual TMCC engine and by the distance between the TMCC and PS2 engines. In many cases, an RF choke inserted in the Hot wire between the pickup rollers and the TMCC engine's circuit board will correct this problem.

Some lighted cabooses, most notably those manufactured by Atlas O, may degrade the DCS signal, as may some engines or passenger cars with constant voltage (CV) lighting boards. Again, an RF choke inserted in the Hot wire between the pickup rollers and the circuit board in these cars will generally correct this problem. Although a number of different RF chokes may be effective in reducing interference from CV boards, one that has an electrical value of 22uh (micro henries) is known to work well.

This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site! Click on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!

Paul,

   Purchase the soft back book, its well worth having to reference as you work on your layout.  Now if we could only get Barry to make a complete educational Video of this book we would really have something, big time.  Don't you throw that new ZW-L at me Barry, its way to heavy.

PCRR/Dave

Paul,

   Don't know if that is legal, but as long as Barry does not get up set, that sounds great also.

PCRR/Dave

Dave;

I'm recall Barry has advised folks on how to get it done at Kinko's or equivalent.

Print away.

FYI, from page 2 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

The purchaser of this book is permitted 

to print copies of this book only 

for personal use solely by the purchaser.

Maybe a little redundant, however, it should be enough to get your local Kinko's to print it for you.  

Paul,

How about a spiral bound next edition?

Unfortunately, my publisher can't handle it.

Barry,

   Now I would be interested in the spiral bound copy myself, for marking notes in, for use track side, as I build my layouts, to bad your publisher can not handle it, it would be great work book.

PCRR/Dave

Serveral printer type places can turn soft cover books into spiral bound books for not to much money.  I've done it with gaming rule books before.  You do lose some of the binding side of the page so the margin has to be large enough and the pages will be a bit "off-center"

Captain John,

   Now this sounds very interesting, do you remember how much it set you back to have this done at Staples?

PCRR/Dave

What did they charge to do that?