Stacked yards - will I get myself into trouble with TMCC signal?

I helped two friends of mine build layouts with exactly that arrangement: stacked yards.  One of them has a 7-track staging yard at the lowest level, a 6-track staging yard 7 inches above that, and 4 tracks of a double folded dog bone main line 7 inches above that. 

We used aluminum window screen (buy a roll of it) laid on top of the support risers but beneath the plywood on the main line and upper staging yard levels.  This screen was attached to Earth ground (the ground wire in the house wiring).  The attachment was via a stranded Earth ground wire clamped to the screen using a screw and washer.

A locomotive on a staging track sees half of the TMCC radio signal coming from the track it is sitting on and the other half coming from the window screen directly above it.  TMCC operation is flawless.

Bob nailed it. We had to do the same thing at AGHR when we added a second level in the staging room. If you're building outdoors, you need to put in an Earth ground wire along your main to keep the earth ground reference for the signal.

@Bob posted:

We used aluminum window screen (buy a roll of it) laid on top of the support risers but beneath the plywood on the main line and upper staging yard levels.

Thanks so much Bob!!  I'm not 100% sure what you mean about "support risers" though...  I'm thinking that the main visible surface of the platform will be 3/4" plywood.  The main operating yard tracks will be laid directly on this surface.

Would it be sufficient to staple the window screen mesh to the underside of the main surface?  I would love to know, because it would be easier to do that BEFORE both surfaces are installed!  It might be necessary to cover much of the underside with mesh.  The lower-level track makes a meandering reverse loop before entering staging to avoid backing up the grade, so it's under the upper main line for quite some distance.  

Also, do you know whether the screen wire will prevent locos on the lower level from receiving LionChief Plus or other "direct R/C" type signals?  Thanks again,  It's encouraging to know that others have done this before!

When you have one level directly above another level, the upper level has to be supported by something (I believe you mentioned aluminum angle pieces.).  Bob is suggesting you attach aluminum window screen (connected to ground) to those supports before you attach whatever material (foam, plywood, etc.) will actually support the track.  And, yes, connected aluminum window screen anywhere you have covered track in the lower level would be appropriate.

Chuck

Ted, I sent you an e-mail.

Run a TMCC ground plane on the underside of your upper yard.   Could be as simple as a wire stretched around screw heads on the underside of upper yard.

A simple thin wire is all that is needed above the lower track.

If you get OGR Magazine....look at my layout this month. I have 2 levels stacked on top of each other including yards. 7” minimum of separation. I do not have a problem with the TMCC signal and do not use an additional ground wire.

I also have the signal “booster” built by Gunrunner but never installed. No need. 

BTW...my TMCC signal travels nicely thru walls (2 layers of drywall and studs) on my upper level that goes thru a storage room and my HVAC room.

Donald

As far as horror stories go it’s an easy fix as described above by cjack.