LEGACY CAB-2 EXTENDED ANTENNA

Sure, the Legacy Command Base has the standard Reverse-SMA connector used on a zillion 2.4ghz products.

One suitable one with a base, cable an 9dBi gain.

Bingfu Dual Band WiFi 2.4GHz 5GHz 5.8GHz 9dBi Magnetic Base RP-SMA Male Antenna, $7.99

Edit: correct link to antenna with proper connector!

THANK YOU, Gunrunnerjohn, I'm gonna order it right away. -- MARSHELANGELO

Before ordering, double check that connector.  The listing shows both in text and picture a STANDARD SMA Male, not the Reverse SMA connector that John mentioned.

Maybe you meant this one, John?

-Dave

I am not sure how large of a layout you have but mine is 15x23. It has 3 levels and my Legacy base is under the table about in the middle. I have no problem with signals at any level.

Goodness, you're right Dave, picked the wrong link!

Bingfu Dual Band WiFi 2.4GHz 5GHz 5.8GHz 9dBi Magnetic Base RP-SMA Male Antenna

Cancel that order, the above link is the correct connector.

I also fixed the link in the original post so nobody gets the wrong item.  Sorry guys, slip of the finger.

@Bruce Jacobsen posted:

I am not sure how large of a layout you have but mine is 15x23. It has 3 levels and my Legacy base is under the table about in the middle. I have no problem with signals at any level.

Every layout and every environment is different Bruce, what works for you may not work for someone else in a different environment.

Gentlemen, a thousand thanks for checking in on time,  Dave, thanks for the corrective oversight and Bruce, my layout is 12x30 and I wasn't sure, so I wanted a backup source for insurance, Gunrunnerjohn, I was able to cancel the order and order the correct device.  Again, I thank you all for your expertise and support. - MARSHELANGELO

Anyone know why there is an SMA Male and an RP SMA (the one with the female center) male? I Googled...

https://www.sparkfun.com/pages/RF_Conn_Guide

@cjack posted:

Anyone know why there is an SMA Male and an RP SMA (the one with the female center) male? I Googled...

https://www.sparkfun.com/pages/RF_Conn_Guide

I was going to guess the same reason before I clicked the link and it confirmed it. 

It may help to prevent people who are less knowledgeable from simply hooking something up not intended by the designers or FCC regulations.  Obviously not impossible, but it requires more know how and/or effort to make a connection.  Some people will just look at it and say "darn, this won't fit" and give up on the idea.  If that happens, the intent of making it different worked.

If we are asking random goofy RF history, why do they call it a "UHF" connector?   (Nothing to do with trains, but it's a ham radio thing.  I always called them PL-259/SO-239 to be clear)

-Dave

I have a drawer full of UHF connectors if you want some.

I used to have an extended antenna up by the ceiling and then installed John's signal enhancer.  Now it works fine with the original antenna.

Note that the TMCC Buffer and the extended antenna have no connection either logically or electrically, each addresses a totally different and unique issue.

The TMCC Buffer is ONLY addressing track signal deficiencies, that being the 455khz signal out of the command base to the track.  The TMCC Buffer doesn't have any effect on the remote to base signals.

The extended antenna is ONLY addressing the remote to command base over the air transmission and reception.  The extended antenna has nothing to do with the track signal nor will it affect it one way or the other.

At my club, we have the legacy base, TMCC base, 2 TPC’s with 4- 180 watt powerhouses in a cabinet under the layout which is about the center of a 18’ x 38’ layout. 
We have no signal issues at all with the Legacy remote. At times, the cab- 1 does not respond if the antenna is up on a certain way but for 99% of the time, it works fine. 

@Ted Bertiger posted:

At my club, we have the legacy base, TMCC base, 2 TPC’s with 4- 180 watt powerhouses in a cabinet under the layout which is about the center of a 18’ x 38’ layout. 
We ha e no signal issues at all with the Legacy remote. At times, the cab- 1 does not respond if the antenna is up on a certain way but for 99% of the time, it works fine. 

Ted, you may want to refer to my previous post.  You're talking about a sample of one!  There are tons of variables that can affect both the 2.4ghz link as well as the 455khz track signal.  This is not one-size-fits-all.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Every layout and every environment is different Bruce, what works for you may not work for someone else in a different environment.

John,

just citing an example of command control at our club in our modern building that we are now located in. Modern is a good laugh! The place was built in 1927, is like fortress, had circuit breaker panels with fuses, but our fuse box is modern with a very good earth ground. Whatever was done for our power has Legacy/TMCC/ DCS working AOK.

@marshelangelo posted:

Gentlemen, a thousand thanks for checking in on time,  Dave, thanks for the corrective oversight and Bruce, my layout is 12x30 and I wasn't sure, so I wanted a backup source for insurance, Gunrunnerjohn, I was able to cancel the order and order the correct device.  Again, I thank you all for your expertise and support. - MARSHELANGELO

Hey Greg, how has it been working for you? I'm interested in getting it too but reading through some of the reviews people say it's a bad product or the cord isn't good. I'm also trying to relocate the antenna due to my base being under the table. Thanks!

It's Eight bucks, take a chance!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I have a drawer full of UHF connectors if you want some.

Just fyi, although I don’t like the UHF connector (SO239 and PL 259), I remember a test of the connector’s viability some years ago and it tested very well. Hardly caused an impedance bump at all and minimal loss I think from UHF and below. I though convert everything in my ham shack to BNC. It’s just easier and handles FCC rules power easily.

FWIW, I bought this one ..... https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If length matters ............ I think I have it covered. 

Since we are talking signal strength, I hope they have done some improvement on the Base3 since it does not have an antenna or a port to connect an aftermarket one.

I am not having any signal issues now, but as I expand my layout it will be U shaped around a center staircase and small room.  As an academic discussion, can you have two antennas attached to the Legacy base through a splitter/connector?  In this case, I would have one on each side of the center room.

I suspect that two antennas may end up being problematic because of multi-path distortion.  I've never even considered that option.

I'd probably be more inclined to pick as central a location as possible and then perhaps employ a 2.4ghz booster.

John,

Thanks.  Probably will not be an issue, but I was curious.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Note that the TMCC Buffer and the extended antenna have no connection either logically or electrically, each addresses a totally different and unique issue.

The TMCC Buffer is ONLY addressing track signal deficiencies, that being the 455khz signal out of the command base to the track.  The TMCC Buffer doesn't have any effect on the remote to base signals.

The extended antenna is ONLY addressing the remote to command base over the air transmission and reception.  The extended antenna has nothing to do with the track signal nor will it affect it one way or the other.

What is this TMCC Buffer?

@Texas Eagle 77 posted:

What is this TMCC Buffer?

TMCC/Legacy Track Signal Booster (Dale's Legacy Continues)

@Sean's Train Depot posted:

Since we are talking signal strength, I hope they have done some improvement on the Base3 since it does not have an antenna or a port to connect an aftermarket one.

Even though an old reply, for the benefit of those reading this thread, the Base3 does now have an external antenna connection.

My layout is 19'by 26', Legacy powered. Cab 2, Powermaster Bridge, 5 Powermasters are in the center of the U shaped layout and  operate all locos (48) flawlessly, except one, the first generation PRR T-1 #5511.  The engine has been checked out at a certified service site and operates there beautifully. That was the case on my layout, until recently.   It sometimes takes off, at other times it sits and may move a foot or two.  I have re-set the operating number, shut it down using Aux 0, cleaned and serviced it. 

Any thoughts?

The removable antenna on the BASE3 is for the 2.4ghz remotes, and the limiting factor is how much power you can pump out of the remotes used with the base.

@Goody posted:

My layout is 19'by 26', Legacy powered. Cab 2, Powermaster Bridge, 5 Powermasters are in the center of the U shaped layout and  operate all locos (48) flawlessly, except one, the first generation PRR T-1 #5511.  The engine has been checked out at a certified service site and operates there beautifully. That was the case on my layout, until recently.   It sometimes takes off, at other times it sits and may move a foot or two.  I have re-set the operating number, shut it down using Aux 0, cleaned and serviced it.

Any thoughts?

Check the antenna (handrails), and if those are securely connected, swap out the R2LC.  If this is the stock scale T1 Duplex from 2000, it doesn't have cruise, so taking off indicates it isn't getting a TMCC signal.   If this is at specific spots on the layout, consider adding an earth ground wire near those areas.

@MartyE posted:

Even though an old reply, for the benefit of those reading this thread, the Base3 does now have an external antenna connection.

With the Antenna on the New Base 3, they had “NO” problems with the final Testing with range before production!!!

@Fredstrains posted:

With the Antenna on the New Base 3, they had “NO” problems with the final Testing with range before production!!!

I doubt that insures that nobody will encounter the issue.