Low signal strength

I would suggest that you "jumper" the two outside rails together in a couple places and see what happens.  This would give the signal return path both outside rails to us, not just one.

It might be especially useful given the number of switches.   

I feel that is one reason why Fastrack  gives me such good signal strength(compared to other track I have used).

Mike is right, since switches will often break outer rail continuity.  My person view, after long experience with Lionel tubular rail, is that is not optimal as far as electrical distribution goes.

You might also try placing light bulbs on some of the sidings while a loco sits on inner track powered up in signal strength reporting mode.

of all those 15 breaks for yards and so on are you powering them all from the same power feed?

or is each switched track have its own power and common wire?

DCS doesn't like multiple power drops using same power wire.

example you run a paired set of wires one hot one is common to a terminal strip and then daisy chain from there to 5 different blocksDCS will balk at this big time.

does that help? 

$oo

$00:  Ref your example:  My layout is wired by hot wire going from TIU to control panel, going from toggle to toggle for each block (15+) on that circuit, with wire from each toggle going to block, with one feed per block.  Common is fed from a bus wire running around the layout. DCS is quite happy.

2032-- to use a terminal strip what your doing if your using the radio shack type is breaking the original wire into multiple feeds and in doing so degrades the DCS signal.

if you get a MTh type terminal strip the hot wire and common feed up to I think 12 power blocks and so in DCS eyes you haven't made multiple feeds I'm no electronics guru but basically this is what the DCS folks told me when I was having problems with low signal strength. if you care to call out to barry he really knows dcs and he can explain it way better than I can $oo

RJR 

only thing strikes me on your approach is in dcs eyes you haven't broken the main hot wire it see's it as one wire least wise thats what my brain says.

I had same issue as 2032 once I undid my wiring and powered each block with its own power and common wire I went from 4-5 to solid 10's and only a light bulb at the output from each tiu channel, $oo

I use the MTH 12 port terminal strip and it works get.  

You need to run PAIRS of wires from there to your blocks.  

Not sure why you have so many toggle switches(blocks). Almost sounds like you set it up for conventional, not DCS. 

I only have one 18volt light on the terminal block, with 9-10 signal strength. 

My entire layout(10x36) is composed of just two blocks on the main and a 3rd block for the small yard area.  I have two tracks in the yard area that can be turned off where I park engines. Everything else is "live" all the time.  Since I only run PS2/3, this simple set up works great for me. 

Having many toggled blocks is not only essential for conventional, but it gives many benefits even in DCS---like being able to stop locos anywhere with no chance of stealth starts, being able to isolate area for troubleshooting, & more.

2032,

   Let me suggest a different engineering way of controlling your conventional engines along with your DCS engines.  The best way to do this is with the Z4K transformer and the side receiver, using the DCS hand held remote, you can then run both type of engines on all your track, even on the same track at the same time.    Completely eliminating the problems you now have.   You can find this information on the Video Guide to DCS and in Barrys Companion book.  Its not hard to set up and controls both conventional trains and DCS trains from the DCS hand held remote control.  A way cool option for controlling the entire layout.

PCRR/Dave

The Z4k and receiver is undoubtedly a best way to run conventional (walkaround control is a whole new & satisfying way to run yrains, but to have 2 or more conventional locos on the same power circuit ALSO requires toggled blocks.  I have both. 

I should note that since getting a stable of DCS locos, I never run my large number of conventional locos, most over 50 years old, because they are simply not as much fun.

Whenever running both conventional & DCS tains on same power circuit, be sure to have the conventional train heavier, since you can slow down the DCS loco without affecting the conventional, but not vice versa (unless you use a toggle awitch to kill power to  block and allow the DCS loco to get away)

(I think we're getting off the thread).

RJR,

  You are correct sir, I did stray a might, but I wanted to let him know there was a way to eliminate his problem with the Z4K and the side receiver, I doubt being new he

knew the hand held remote could be used to control both conventiaonal and DCS trains at the same time. 

PCRR/Dave

Pine Creek, I willingly strayed right along; in fact I may have been leading you astray.

As you note, anyone who hasn't tried walkaround control on conventional locos is missing a great experience.