Table of Contents Plus Table of Figures - The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition

I know it goes against everything published by Lionel and conventional wisdom on wiring legacy TMCC, but the  video explained why. Lionel expects you to use their brand  track.. The one wire connection  is for tinplate and fast track and both track systems has both outside rails connected already.
I was surprised myself, this is must see video for any gargraves - Ross track owners that want the best results.

Watch that video they explain it.

One wire, one side for tracks that connect both put side rails.

Other tracks that not made for legacy needs  out side rails to broadcast the signal as the drawing shows that I posted

No misread or misunderstanding... again it from a lionel on line video.

Atlas track folks might want to see it too.

Zigmont,

I use Gargraves track and connect the command base to my TIU's channel out commons terminal, and from there the common goes to one outside rail. I also use lots of insulated rails for trackside accessories. I've been doing it this way fot ten years with TMCC and for the past 3 hers with Legacy. I have never had any issues at all with operating anything TMCC or Legacy. Period.

You can follow the dogma if you desire, or you can understand that all that a Legacy or TMCC engine's antenna needs is a clear signal being transmitted by the one rail that broadcasts the TMCC signal. My layout will provide the proof.

After all, Lionel's catch-phrase is "just hook up one wire".

Zigmont,

I just finished viewing Mike's video in it's entirety. Mike makes a valid point of saying that the Legacy signal needs to be in both outside rails in order for it to be strongest, with matching sink points, for best reception by a Legacy/TMCC engine. However, he makes no mention of what happens if that is not the case.

Common sense tells me that when only one of the two rails is carrying the Legacy signal, the signal strength is halved. Based on my personal experiences with TMCC and Legacy, going back 12+ years, I'd have to say that half of the maximum signal works just fine.

Perhaps it's because Lionel is the only major manufacturer of track where the two outside rails are tied together that Lionel is stating that the Legacy command base must be connected to both outside rails in order to obtain the best Legacy performance. Obviously, Lionel would prefer that we all use FasTrack rather than any other track system, which makes Mike's statements regarding using both outside rails somewhat self-serving.

Based on all of the above, my take on the situation is as follows

• Connect the command base to one outside rail
• If you experience problems at a specific place on the tracks that is due to parallel tracks canceling out the Legacy signal, install a ground place
• If you experience problems at a specific place on the tracks that is not due to parallel tracks canceling out the Legacy signal, jumper the two outside rails at that point
• If you experience problems in many places on the tracks that is not due to parallel tracks canceling out the Legacy signal, connect the command base to both outside rails for the layout.

Working on the theory that "if it ain't broke don't fix it", I'm leaving my layout just the way it is. I believe, based on personal experience, that while having the signal in both rails may, indeed, be strongest, one rail is plenty for my railroad.

Our layout has the TMCC wire connected to the ground loop for the layout track, which is connected to both outside rails at the primary junction block just after the TIUs.  That said, one outside rail is broken at every turnout for non-derailing (not wired yet) and the other outside rail is broken occasionally.  Both outside rails are wired together at every drop.  This is Gargraves track.  The TIU does have the connecting piece going to the TMCC but we don't use the DCS to control the TMCC.

The TMCC works great, in some cases in the past it's worked fine when we have had to sort out problems with the DCS.

There is one spot of two mainlines coming close around a curve and one visitor's locomotive "stuttered" at that point, possibly due to lack of a ground plane anywhere on the layout.   We will be installing one when the upper loop goes into place, and will include that one spot as well.

All in all, if it's working for you ... there ain't a problem regardless of how it's all wired.

That's pretty much my take on it as well.  I have FasTrack on my layout at the present time, although I may change to something else in the future.  For now I'll just be going with one wire from the track to the Legacy base (and will report here how it works for me).

The book arrived today.  I'll have ample reading to do.  I also plan to change over my old DCS for the new Rev L version this weekend and hook-up Legacy at the same time.  Neither of those activities should take all that long, and hopefully, after entering the motive power in both new systems, there will be plenty of time left over for a good bit of running.

I switched out my older DCS for the Rev L version today with no problems.  Thus far I have only added three engines to the new remote, but that very simple process went well.

My new Legacy system just needs the one wire to the track added and then it will (hopefully) be ready to go.  I'm charging the batteries in the remote now, and will get things up and running tomorrow with my new Legacy RS-11 as the guinea pig for testing things out.

At this early stage, I still prefer the smaller DCS handheld over the larger Legacy unit, but I'm anxious to spend much more time with Legacy to give it a more fair evaluation.

I've included a view of the table of figures, as well.

We seem to have a crop of newbies joining us so I thought I'd bring this back to the first page.

Barry, your "The DCS O Gauge Companion" saved the day again.  My remote transceiver board had to be reseated and thanks to your comprehensive instructions all went smoothly.  Thank you.

Susan,

I'm happy the book helped you!