ERR PROGRAM/RUN UPDATE

The Cab1 talks to Command base, not the engine. If you have to hold your hand over the engine to improve the signal it indicates a poor ground plane. You can verify that is the problem by setting the cab1 next to the base and simply holding your hand over the engine. There are various fixes including running a wire from the ground pin (green wire) on an electrical outlet under your mainline.

Pete

Another thought. Did you re-connect the antenna lead in the locomotive when you re-installed the boards? If the antenna is not correctly connected it can give similar symptoms to a 'ground plane' problem. 

Hi N.Q.D.Y. I have put the antenna on both the pin and on to port number 1on the board, no change.

Norton Hi,I do know that cab1 to command base. I not really understanding the setting the cab1 next to the base and hand over the engine?

Nicole, what the heck is a ground plane???????

Steve, if what I think is your problem is correct, using your hand without holding the Cab1 should have the same effect as having the Cab1 in your hand. That would indicate no ground plane around the engine. Using a 2 wire extension cord instead of a 3 wire one also eliminated the ground plane. The U terminal on the Base is one side of the signal to the engine and earth ground in your house is the return path so to speak. Usually things like water pipes, electrical conduits in your house provide the ground path to the engine. If they don't exist then a wire from ground under the layout may be needed.

The antenna wire in the engine picks up the signal from ground so if that has not been reconnected it will give the same symptom.

Pete

Hi Stephen,

The term 'ground plane' is often used (Although somewhat erroneously.) to refer to the airborne part of the TMCC/Legacy signal. Certain track configurations, and/or large metal objects close to the track can sometimes interfere with the reception of this part of the signal by causing it to become reflected.

The most common cure for this is to run an earthed (Grounded) wire alongside the affected tracks. (Or to the offending metal object.) This wire should be connected to a good earth connection, such as the earth connection of a power outlet, a water pipe, or other earth grounded item.

Thank you Nicole. I get that.

Hi Pete, when you say, "a wire from ground under the table" are we talking a ground wire from the electric service run under the table but it's not connected to anything?

If you take a 3 prong plug and connect one wire to the ground (usually green) terminal on the plug, you can run it around under the layout to provide a ground plane. Above the layout is better but that is rarely possible unless you have many mountains or power poles. Don't connect wires to the other two terminals on the plug that actually carry power.

All that said if you have other TMCC  engines that run OK then you might still have a problem with that one engine.

Pete

Pete, I made up a ground plug that I used with a static pad while working on the dc commander boards. It was a three prong plug that I removed the neutral and hot prongs.So I plug this into a grounded wall outlet run that wire under,next to or above the main line track around the entire main line.    Steve

Pete,I did what you mention,I placed the Cab1 next to the Command Base and hand over the engine and was able to walked around the entire layout with no problem. I than placed a ground wire into the wall outlet which test ok for proper wireing and also is the power supply for the layout.                                                                                                                  I ran the ground around 80% of the track and still had the same problem.I test ran two engines around the track both from 1995 with no problems with Cab1 and Command Base.The ground I ran was right next to the problem track.It seems to be one ten foot section of track were it looses the signal. QUESTION: Is it posable to hook up the engine antenna to the engines handrails,good or bad idea ????? The trains are in a garage,the only metal are tracks for the garage doors which also have openers.

The handrails of your locomotive MUST be insulated from the shell if you want to use them as an antenna.  Measure the resistance from the handrails to the shell, you'll quickly find out if they're isolated.

Hi John,  Its a Williams Trainmaster I don't have it in front of me but I am pretty sure all the rails are secured in the plastic shell. Do you think that making them the antenna will help eliminate the my problem????

What he said.

Thank you Gentlemen, I'll give it a try in the AM.