Interesting DCS Signal "Problem"??

Wheels and pickup rollers clean?

Bill, have you been following the post that directly concerns with DCS Signal Loss.....It's a long one, and I believe, it's at least 9 pages long if not 10......

You may want to check it out, as there could be some answers in it, that may help you......Brandy!  

Thanks for the suggestions. I will follow up on both.

Bill

Bill,

I'd consider using more power drops to your mainline loop and as mention before, cleaning the pickup rollers and wheels of the offending engines.

Which revision of TIU are you using and which firmware version is installed?

Bill scroll down as there are 2 different, but sounds like the same problem, and a fellow that's an electrical Engineer who posted both, with some interesting info, and how he acquired a fix for the problems with DCS Signal Loss..

The 1st one is the original from Adrian  (Weak DCS Signal Loss)

The 2nd post also is talking about signal loss, and is down the list about 8 or 9 posts from yours at the top...!...Tutorial concerning the use or non use of the Magic Bulbs........!

Try cleaning out the pick up roller axles with a few drops of alcohol, let dry, then add a little fresh oil.

FWIW, a 12 x 15 layout should have more than one power drop.  Even with my old Christmas temp layout around the tree and room that was about that size needed three drops to get reliable operation.

Didn't some Diesels have a issue with signal due to a wire needing to be re-routed around one of the boards?

Early PS/3 diesels did have an issue with a wire that went too close to one of the choke coils, the fix was simply to move the wire away from the coil.

Gary,

Both of the OP's "problem" engines were PS2.

Thanks, all, for the comments and suggestions. I cleaned the pickup rollers and did some more test runs. Signal strength was pretty inconsistent so I will add more power drops. I will try to attach the layout plan (kudos to "Moonman" for all his help last year) with my intentions. The red circles are for the power drops and the black X for insulating breaks. I have had Barry's book from the original issue and have read so many DCS topics that my head spins, but I tried to figure it out anyway! Hopefully, my plan makes sense. Any comments, corrections, or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Basically, I broke my mainline loop into 3 power districts and am treating my branch line and sidings as separate entities needing their own power. One final note, the layout is about 12' x 15'.

Bill

Bill, you want to avoid any loops in a power district where signal collision could occur. I see a loop created between two switch tracks near the bottom of your diagram.

Dave,

I assume you are referring to the drops on either side of the passing siding. What would be a better way to do that? Or, should I just have one drop for that whole branch line trackage?

Thanks, Bill

Bill,

There were some engines that had way too much black coating on the wheels.  Try taking it off.

Although I agree with most of the comments above, I have a 21'x10' layout with a pretty complex track plan in my shop that only has two drops.  It gets 10s all around. 

I would look at the offending engines FIRST.  Then add a few more drops as needed.

Dave

Some of you guys need to refrain from just posting generic and alarming issues.  First he can run several engines with ALL 10 completely around the loop.  Therefor any of the issues Adrian has addressed do not really apply.  His TIU is functioning fine.

Anytime DCS Signal Strength is low it is a two way street.  Sending signals and receiving signals.  So the engine, the track and the TIU all come into play.

So the advice about cleaning wheels and pickup rollers is sounds.  Making sure not to much black oxide coating on wheels and also making sure solid ground connection internal to the engine matter.

The wire routing is a PS-3 diesel only issues.  Ensure above capacitor and away from Torrid (both) matter. 

What version of PS-2 could also matter.  Are these PS-2 5V?  They are getting long on the tooth and many PCB issues can effect how they respond to DCS. 

Having said all above, try adding one more drop to split track in half and see how the PS-2 engines respond.  Also makes sure both outside rails are grounded can significantly improve how engines run and respond to DCS, and TMCC too.  G

Bill, it all looks well the way it is. Just insulate the center rail somewhere between the switch tracks in the passing siding. I do like your drops before each dual siding. If you wanted, you can toggle those drops in order to kill power to any engines you park there, if you don't want to put time on them.