Today's problem is with an SCII. I use 2 SCIIs, an SC1, and several ascs to control my 36 O22, Ross, and Atlas switches. One ScII is located under the layout just a few feet from the Command Base which is on the table surface. The SCI is located under the other end of the layout, some twenty feet from the CB, under two tracks. The 2nd SCII is located under the yard. This is the unit which is currently not working. The unit controls six O22 switches. I had problems with it several months ago which were finally resolved by removing the SCII cover and replacing the narrow metal strip antenna with a much longer copper foil strip. I also have two windings of earth ground wire wrapped around the unit. The unit has performed flawlessly for a few months, but now does not flash when a switch command is sent from the Command Base. I am wondering if the signal from the tracks above is insufficient due to the number of insulators in the outside rails required by the O22 non derailing function.
I should note that the layout is a 14'x22' square donut with a 4'8' peninsula yard area. All common track and accessory connections are made by tapping off of a 14 gauge ground bus which circles the layout with an offshoot down the center of the yard. The signal output from the command base is also connected only to this bus and distributed through the track via the taps. Although I have never had reason to suspect this system, my problems with the SCII
lead me to wonder if there is any inherent problem with distributing the signal in this manner? I am thinking about increasing the number of common bus to outside rail connections to provide more uniform signal strength, but thought I would get some opinions o0n the subject before possibly creating a worse problem than I already have.
