Just installed the buffer with amplitude adjustment today (assembled by John).
On the one hand, all the minor glitches with blinking lights, sound dropping out, loss of control are solved with one glaring exception that I am convinced is more related to my wiring than the actual signal--therefore only cautiously optimistic at this point.
Loss of all control begins and ends at the boundaries of a single block (actually at a Ross Custom turnout on each end) A TMCC engine (Atlas) runs fine until it hits the block then goes dark but engine sounds continue. The symptoms remain the same through the entire block.
For weeks I have been jumping the ground rails trying to add the TMCC signal to this problem block. Because the DCS engines ran finein that block, I never once tried jumping both the center rail and an outer rail. I finally did that tonight and now everything works with TMCC! Never overlook the obvious! Thanks to Dale, John, and all those of you who have been paving the way for the rest of us.
I do have one nagging concern and the primary reason for this post. I am surprised to get a muted green indication using only an original Cab 1 and Base. It just seems to be too good to be true?
Following the instructions, I measured the Base and Boost voltages. All readings were made with the unit wired into the powered-up layout per the instructions provided with the Buffer. A Mercer 9370 digital multi-meter was used for all measurements:
AMPLITUDE ADJUSTED TO CLOCKWISE STOP:
Base = 1.553 Boost = 5.31 somewhat dimmed green LED
AMPLITUDE ADJUSTED TO "MIDWAY":
Base = 1.617 Boost = 2.760 bright green LED
AMPLITUDE ADJUSTED TO COUNTERCLOCKWISE STOP:
Base = 1.629 Boost = 1.811 bright green LED
I am surprised not to get a dark LED indication. Have others had been so lucky with only an original command base?
Thanks again,
Larry
