Mth DCS system fails when downstairs Ho DCC Layout is on

Robert,

Are there two layouts, one upstairs and one downstairs?

What gauge layouts are we talking about?  Are the two layouts tied together in any way other than using electricity and being in the same building?

Is DCC being used at the same time as DCS?  Are handheld remotes being used on both systems?   If yes, it may be that the remotes are broadcasting on the same frequency.  (We did have this problem.)

I have been to their building, the O -rail layout is right above the larger two floor level HO layout.

The building is very old but the wiring has been updated.

They may have to add a ground shield to the floor to block unwanted signals.

Have you gone into the menu and changed the addresses of the remotes and the TIUs? (to make them different).

If you don't have many TIUs ( 5 or less total) between both club layouts, maybe that could work?

I don't really see many details to go on what you have at the club.

You are saying that the club portion downstairs uses DCS also right?

roberttrains925 posted:

 i have gone through all CCTV footage between both clubs and lined up on our log and it all lines up....

I really don't understand what you did here?

Have you tired to tether the remote to the tiu just for a test when this occurs?

Only one club has dcs.  they are two separate layouts. In the same building One is DCC and the 3rail layout is DCS and TMCC. The building is  built on top of a hill side  so the layouts are not on top of each other they are lack of better term next to each other on two different floors.   We share the same electrical system.  The building has mostly been rewired.  At least all the train  equipment  on the newly wirked portion of the building.  The theory behind the security footage was to figure out why some days it is your system worked and why the DCS system failed on other days.  On all the days that the DCS system failed.  The layout downstairs was on.  With somebody running. 

Oh. I jumped to the wrong conclusion. This is interesting to me. I have different systems but I don't run them together.

I would think we need to know the facts about the DCC system. Brand, models, etc. Dallas's reply now fits to me.

Robert,

Contact Jacques Verdier.  He is a CTTOM member.  Jacques is an expert on radio interference and will tell you much more than you want to know about frequencies.  He has access to all the test equipment you may need to determine if interference is happening.  

You are probably going to have to change the channel that your TIU and the remotes broadcast on.  We had similar issues at the SLHRS which have been mostly resolved.  The SLHRS HO layout uses the NCE DCC system.  I believe that the HO club in your building also uses NCE DCC.  Both clubs use WIFI and cell phones to control trains.  

You may have another more difficult DCS problem to solve.  I have been told by several CTTOM members that your 3-rail layout uses bus wiring with a drop to every track section.  The DCS manual and most DCS experts recommend star wiring for DCS with only one drop per block.

The G&O layout at the SLHRS is wired with star wiring with one drop per block as is my home layout.  The DCS on my home layout works fine.  The DCS at the G&O works but not as well as we would like.  It may have something to do with the G&O being outdoors.  The G&O is going to start a DCS improvement project in the next several months.  

NH Joe (Joe Barker)

Robert,

If the DCC system is NCE and they are using wireless remotes there is a very high probability you are both broadcasting on the same frequency.  Out tests some years ago indicated the NCE signal usually was stronger.

In our situation (and at least two others we discovered) the DCC and DCS systems were within 100 feet of each other.

Unfortunately there is no way to change the DCS "channel/frequency" and when we had the problem there was not yet a way to change the NCE DCC "channel/frequency".  NCE had considered having such a feature but did not yet have a prototype circuit.

I would suggest first step is to verify that NCE equipment is what is being used.

DCS can have it's own set of issues on a large layout.

Let's first verify what equipment is at your location.

The good news is that there are solutions!  (although getting there may not be the most fun you have ever had.)

Dallas Dixon

Paradise & Pacific Railroad, Scottsdale AZ

Well we have a open house I will get all equipment tomorrow and post.

NCE can change the frequency used...they've done it for a friend of mine.