Think I will try restoring TIU to factory settings.
Picture of wiring?
No camera. Verbal description above.
Restored TIU to factory settings. Temporary success. Powered test track via Fixed 2. Placed deleted loco on tracks, was able to add. Powered system down. Powered up, back to old problems. Same loco on test track, "No Active DCS Engines." Tried to select it, "Engine not on track."
Try re adding the engine to test track. When the engine adds. Hit start up. Now shut the power from the brick off. Don’t shut the engine down with the remote. Do the sounds continue for 5 seconds or so. Or do they go off immediately.
While you are at the test track. First get an engine that will add to the remote and be able to shutdown and restart consistently. Once you figure out you have a good working engine on Fixed 2. Try all the other channels on the TIU. Set them all to Fixed fixed with DCS on in each one. Let’s see what works and doesn’t as far as the TIU with the same source. The test track.
Then tackle the 2 loops. Then you are dealing with just the 2 loops as you should know what works as far as engines and TIU channels.
Go figure. I have changed NOTHING about the wiring. I did swap power on the test track back and forth between Fixed 1 and Fixed 2. Locos on the test track began to behave themselves on both Fixed 1 and Fixed 2. Put them on the layout. Behaved themselves! Will see if they continue to behave tomorrow. Maybe it got tired of fighting!
At least you are making progress. If everything works tomorrow. Once you get an engine running on the layout. See how it responds to throttle settings and horn blowing. I fall seems good. Then you can get really bold and do a Track Signal test and see where you are at and if the layout needs tweaking in any spots.
Well, The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy describes The Earth as "Mostly harmless," and I now describe the DCS as "mostly functional." It now usually detects a PS2 locomotive, but not always, and it can fail to detect a PS2 locomotive, and detect it a few minutes later with no apparent reason for the difference. One locomotive, a RailKing NKP Bershire from the mid-90s which was converted from conventional to PS2 by Eastside Trains, is detected fine on the test track but not on the layout. One consistent pecularity is upon sending a command, it immediately displays "Check Track," sometimes followed by "Engine Not On Track" then executes the command. I will try the Track Signal test and see what it tells me.
I do think that restoring Factory Settings on the TIU is what started real progress.
