Station Stops

A sensor track can be recorded to simulate a station stop.

Thanks CJACK.   Does running over the sensor track start the recording ?

Yes. You run a loco over the sensor track after starting the record and then just use the cab2 to do what you want it to do. Then push the record button again. So whenever the engine passes the sensor track again in that direction, it responds as you controlled it when recording. You can also record a specific engine or any engine to respond to a recording.

Thanks again CJACK !!    Seems like Lionel's sensor track and new sensor cars add significant functionality to LCS.  How does the sensor track communicate with LCS:  over the air or send data through the track ?  I'm thinking of the impact of integrating the sensor track with ballasted Ross track and how to give the sensor track the "same look" as ballasted Ross track.

I assume that you have to buy the sensor car & another sensor track if you want to use it on a different track than the one the current sensor track is on?

Ken M

shorling posted:

Thanks again CJACK !!    Seems like Lionel's sensor track and new sensor cars add significant functionality to LCS.  How does the sensor track communicate with LCS:  over the air or send data through the track ?  I'm thinking of the impact of integrating the sensor track with ballasted Ross track and how to give the sensor track the "same look" as ballasted Ross track.

The sensor track is on the serial daisy-chain cable that connects all the LCS devices.  There have been several threads on integrating a sensor track with other track systems, you can either strip the rails and just hide the base, or you can actually rip the guts out and mount them independently, whichever gets the job done.  As long as the sensors are in the correct position, none of the other stuff is chiseled in stone.

Thanks gunrunnerjohn !!  So, the sensor track data stream is totally hardwired to LCS except for the IR interface with the engine or new car.  I've seen the thread on stripping the rails.  I'll have to look for the thread on ripping the guts outs.  I'd probably do that.   As a DCS operator the easiest would be for MTH to come out with a sensor track equivalent.  I've inquired about that a number of times in the past and went away with the impression of not to hold my breath so I'm considering alternatives as the years past by and my longevity becomes a consideration.   Maybe the sensor possibility is changing now that the app is here.

Remember that the Lionel LCS sensor track isn't going to help you with DCS locomotives.  You could use the new sensor boxcar to give that capability to DCS, but of course the LCS couldn't actually control the DCS locomotives, so you'd be limited to stuff like route changes, etc.

gunrunnerjohn,  it looks like in the photo below you stripped the rails from the sensor track and placed the remaining sensor track below the Atlas track after removing the Atlas ties and then ballasted.  How'd that work out ?  Between the roadbed and tie height you must have had enough space to accommodate the sensor track ?

With the cork roadbed and Atlas track, it was a perfect fit for the sensor track base. This is a very easy mod, you just remove a few screws (take the boards out to avoid damaging them).  Then remove the rails, and knock all the little alignment nubs off the top of the plastic roadbed.  Remove enough plastic tie and cork roadbed for the sensor track.  Reinstall the electronics into the track section and slip it into place.

I also saw someone took the guts out and integrated them into either Ross or Gargraves track, which is another option.

gunrunnerjohn- your solution looks pretty easy and once its ballasted you can hardly tell its there.  My cork roadbed along with the Ross ties mostly likely provide head room similar to your Atlas solution.   As you mentioned previously, I do realize the the sensor track isn't going to talk to my DCS.  I was considering adding a Legacy engine with IR to drop off tourists at my vineyard station.  Another thought I had is that I should be able to use the sensor track to make conventional engine station stops (with sensor car) using traditional blocking techniques and relays.  I'd have to have a way to initiate this blocking when desired.  Also, I may not want to have the train stop every time it passes the sensor track.  Is there a way to switch the sensor track off other than putting it in the "no action" mode ?  

You can always turn off the power to the LCS by pulling the power supply.

Actually, if I did that it would also solve the station stop problem too 

I just figured out the sensor track can be put to sleep (turned off) via the LCS controller.

It can be but it requires pressing the program button, however there is an app for your idevice to do it from a remote location called High Rail.

cjack posted:

It can be but it requires pressing the program button, however there is an app for your idevice to do it from a remote location called High Rail.

Oh you said LCS. I didn't know that.

Thanks CJACK - for passing that along. Not quite sure I understand yet.  I'm guessing High Rail is a Android/IOS app for LCS that does in part control sensor track functions such as sleep/awake with having to access the buttons on the sensor track ?

I was reading a little more about High Rail.  Great app !!   After reading I wasn't quite sure that the app supported the sleep/awake functions referenced in the sensor track manual reprinted below:

SLEEP One SensorTrack Press and hold PROGRAM and RECORD for 2 seconds. Both LEDs flicker and go off when buttons are released. This SensorTrack will: • no longer play preset actions or user recordings when locomotives roll-over, • terminate a currently playing user recording, • exit record-armed or program mode if active.

SLEEP ALL SensorTracks Press CAB buttons ACC, 99, AUX1, 0

Wake One SensorTrack Press and hold PROGRAM and RECORD for 2 seconds. Both LEDs turn on until buttons are released. When you WAKE a SensorTrack, all normal operation is restored, but activities interrupted by SLEEP are not resumed—they must be re-triggered.

Wake ALL SensorTracks Press CAB buttons ACC, 99, AUX1, 1

Yes, I looked at it and looks like you can record, but not program...so far?