Spent the day installing Switch Commanders

There could be some proximity issue with placement of the errant command switches...I take it they were all installed in the same way with the antenna wires laid out similarly inside the switches. I did think about the proximity issue of the antenna and place it as well away from the rail area and not under the outside rail as best I could. But physically, it's not easy.

A picture of the layout area might bring some other issue(s) to light, there are some issues with parallel tracks sometimes and of course with track under track. 

You might also try moving the antenna lead inside the switch, or even extending it.

cjack posted:

There could be some proximity issue with placement of the errant command switches...I take it they were all installed in the same way with the antenna wires laid out similarly inside the switches. I did think about the proximity issue of the antenna and place it as well away from the rail area and not under the outside rail as best I could. But physically, it's not easy.

A picture of the layout area might bring some other issue(s) to light, there are some issues with parallel tracks sometimes and of course with track under track. 

Here is an old photo taken when the layout was first started, it shows the four switches in question (almost.) There are two O-36 switches just out of view at the bottom, you can just see the frog of the left one, the right one is not visible, but that is one that works flawlessly!! Track nearest you is elevated. The RR-Track screen shot gives an idea of the complete layout, the reversing loop and the "spur to nowhere" do not exist.

I think I will just string a ground wire under the layout between the middle two sidings and run it to the near edge of the layout. All the Switch Commander antennas were installed the same way, I don't think it is worth the trouble to pull the switches out and fiddle with the antenna leads if the ground wire will do the job.

Sounds like the best plan. If they were all made the same, then the ground fix is probably the best.

Obviously, if a simple earth ground wire does it, you wouldn't open the switches.  My suggestion was if that didn't do the job.

Ran some #30 wire wrap wire from pin 5 on the Base-1L to the general area of the problem, that seemed to clear it up just fine.

Just talking, but was wondering about using the whole bottom plate of the Fastrack switch as the antenna for the Switch Commander. The bottom plate doesn't appear to be connected to anything, not intentionally anyway. Will explore next time I have one apart.

CJACK, in a previous thread you gave me some guidance on reversing the operation of the Switch Commander, followed your instructions and that worked fine too!

Thanks to all for your continuing support!

PLCProf posted:

Started out as strictly conventional, then Lionchief Plus crept in, now TMCC, who knows what is next.

The powerful and all knowing '8 Ball' sees DCS and Legacy in your future...