MTH Terminal Block used with Legacy wiring.

Should be just fine, Legacy doesn't care. I have a terminal strip as well as a mix of buss and home run wiring.

That's what I'm doing. It works fine, except frequent "red lights" from the LED on the Legacy remote. This occurs while loss of control happens. It appears to be a loss of "connection" between the remote and base. I've had it happen when the remote is literally not right next to the base. Occurs when blowing whistle, using various keypad commands, etc. 

Have never really been able to get a straight answer on a cause. Would like to resolve as there is a night/day difference in Legacy operation in command vs conventional, which is the preferred method of train running. 

Wiring won't cause that SJC.  A communication problem between the base and handheld is just that.

Have you tried changing the channels on the handheld and base?  

The general concensus is that the higher channels work better.

RickO posted:

Wiring won't cause that SJC.  A communication problem between the base and handheld is just that.

Have you tried changing the channels on the handheld and base?  

The general concensus is that the higher channels work better.

Rick,

Thanks. I will try different channels, have not tried that. A larger antenna over the stock unit was suggested but I haven't tried it. I had another thread going here a few weeks/months ago. I plan to bring that back up once I get to mess with it a bit. To be continued......

See page 78 in the owners manual "Remote to Base Binding"

RickO,

   Thanks for the knowledge, after running the Legacy Signal wire on my layouts right to the Base all the time, I did not want to do all the wiring, on the new Train room layouts using a  large MTH Terminal Block and find out it had a big negative effect on the signal.  Glad it does not degrade the Legacy signal to use one.

Thanks again,

PCRR/Dave

I have found that the first thing I do when I am having communication problems, I change the batteries in the hand held unit.  99%  of the time my problem disappears.  Also I am using the MTH pcba with no issues, I have even wired in toggle switches for sidings and spurs with no ill affects.

Don,

   Please understand I have no signal problems, I am in the process of building a new over head Train Room layout and wanted to make sure the use of the MTH Terminal Blocks would not degrade the Legacy Signal.  

I do agree many time the Batteries are the problem and should always be checked 1st!

PCRR/Dave

Legacy Shay with a Tin Plate Consist, on an over head FasTrack layout,  ya got to love it!

Dave,

From what I can see I don't believe you will have any issues.  I have the Legacy Base wire going to the Variable 1 Out (-) post on the TIU.  (Since it is a common (-) it doesn't matter which Line Out post it is connected to.)  Then I have the appropriate Line Out (+ & -) going to the A & B terminals of the MTH PCBA.  Then run both + & -, wires to each "block" of the desired track.  (Coming from the terminals of the PCBA.

On my "table" layout I have done the same thing for 4 different areas.  I have three sometimes four seperate tracks in one area.  If in that area I need 2 track connection points for 1 track, and 1 track connection point for the other three, then I cut the etch on the back of the PCBA, and essentially create four pcba's.  Example: Track 1 needs two connections.  Will have the input wires to the PCBA coming from Variable 1 of the TIU.  Then connect two sets of wires coming from the PCBA to the two sections of Track 1.  Then connect a set of wires coming from Variable 2 going to "say" terminals 4a/b, then run a set of wires from PCBA terminal 5 to Track 2.  I cut the etch on the back side of the board between terminals 3 and 4.  And cut it again between terminals 6 & 7.  I used terminal 6a/b to run a set of wires to the NEXT area and the distribution PCBA for THAT area. And continued the process.

Hope this makes sense if not send me an email at dbaker48@live.com.