I'm eventually going to have 10 sidings (8 stub end engine sidings and 2 passing sidings) connected through an AIU for control. How do I go about getting a DCSRC unit to constantly send out the watchdog signal? Do I buy a unit and modify it or can I just use it (the RC unit) in passive mode with my sidings that I want the signal broadcasted to? Yes, I've looked at the threads. I'm using a REV L TIU and MRC Pure Power Dual for power.
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Search this forum for "Watchdog", the first item that will appear is what you are looking for.
GRJ made the little boards that fit into the controller.
The perpetual barking watchdog boards are offerred by forum member rtr12, in kit or fully assembled format I believe. They are an easy addon to the dcs remote commander and the watchdog signal is sent about once a second anytime your yard tracks are powered up. Works great.
Rod
@Rod Stewart posted:The perpetual barking watchdog boards are offerred by forum member rtr12, in kit or fully assembled format I believe. They are an easy addon to the dcs remote commander and the watchdog signal is sent about once a second anytime your yard tracks are powered up. Works great.
Rod
Cool. If he has fully assembled, I'll buy a few since I don't have any to modify.
Sorry, I meant that the addon board is kit or fully assembled format. You will have to supply your own RC.
Rod
@Rod Stewart posted:Sorry, I meant that the addon board is kit or fully assembled format. You will have to supply your own RC.
Rod
Gotya. I'll have to look for some RCs. I don't have any yet.
I started looking for a solution, and eventually Stan004 posted a hand-wired model, I made it into a PCB design that could be easily fabricated. I eventually also created the PCB's for an "improved" version using a 555 timer that didn't require calibration.
Tom (rtr12) is indeed still selling these.
I have a working design of the 555 timer version, but I don't know if Tom got any boards for this version.
Here's the original version installed into a DCS-RC.
Yes indeed, he did get boards for the new 555 version! That is the only version I have kits/parts for now. It was working quite nicely here after your redesign and I never stocked any parts for the older version, just went right to the new 555 version. All reports I've gotten from end users have been good ones, so it seems to be working well where ever it is.
For anyone interested in a PBW, all the info is available in the 'Projects' thread - Electronics Projects Developed on the OGR Forum by OGR Forum Members - it's Project #12 in the list. There you will find everything you ever wanted to know about the PBWs including links to the original threads where each version was developed, all the DIY info needed to build your own or info on ordering a kit if you prefer.
That's the right version to use, you just assemble it and plug it in! 
Tom, I hadn't actually looked at the post you made here: Electronics Projects Developed on the OGR Forum by OGR Forum Members
That's some great work, lots of detail and information. 
Thanks, but I had a lot of help. Rod and others helped a lot with the content and of course it was the developers themselves and their projects that made this all possible in the first place.
Hopefully it will help get more folks interested in the electronics part of the hobby. It's lots of fun and there is a lot of good help around here when you get stuck. If you ever think of anything else to add let me know and I'll get it added to the list.
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