TMCC & DCS NOW WORK TOGETHER

Larry,

Unfortunately, any number of TMCC and Legacy engines, as well as some GGD passenger cars and cabooses from Atlas, have the effect if degrading the DCS signal. However, there is a documented fix for this.

From page 152 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Some, but not all, TMCC engines will degrade the DCS signal of any PS2 engine with which they are in close proximity. This effect varies both by individual TMCC engine and by the distance between the TMCC and PS2 engines. In many cases, an RF choke inserted in the Hot wire between the pickup rollers and the TMCC engine's circuit board will correct this problem.

Some lighted cabooses, most notably those manufactured by Atlas O, may degrade the DCS signal, as may some engines or passenger cars with constant voltage (CV) lighting boards. Again, an RF choke inserted in the Hot wire between the pickup rollers and the circuit board in these cars will generally correct this problem. Although a number of different RF chokes may be effective in reducing interference from CV boards, one that has an electrical value of 22uh (micro henries) is known to work well.

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Thank you Barry. I've asked Rod Stewart if he would help me with this fix.

Hopefully this will do the trick   If not, I'll sell the Lionel Pacific # 6-28023 and buy a newer TMCC engine.

Larry,  We were discussing this in another post that a TMCC Camel Back was causing issues.

If your willing to run a test, just place Tender on the track and see if the MTH engine works fine.  Then just try the engine.  On the Camel back, it was the engine causing issues.  G

GGG   I just did the testing.  My DCS engine works fine with the TMCC Steam Engine TENDER only on the track.

When I put the Steam engine only on the track the DCS engine will not respond or it comes up in CONVENTIONAL.

So, the  Steam Engine alone is the problem.  Does this mean that the RF Choke will fix the problem?

Good suggestion!

larry, can you try this then we can go from there.

Rod

Larry,

Does this mean that the RF Choke will fix the problem?

Yes, putting the choke in the engine should resolve the issue.

TO ROD - yes
I tried GGG's suggestion - The DCS Engine responded properly when only the TENDER was on the track.

When the steam engine was on the track with the Cab 1L hooked up the DCS engine with either not respond at all or would come up in Conventional.

So, the steam engine is the problem

Larry,  As Barry Said you only need a choke in the engine.  But if Rod has a TMCC engine that doesn't cause issues, it would be nice to swap R2LC to see if that solves the issue.  If not it would than possibly be the DCDR.  No CV boards in your engine, so the only other item is the smoke unit.   This should be an easy issue to resolve, I was just trying to find out what part of the engine kills the DCS Signal.

Did you turn smoke off with the switch by chance when testing engine. G

Just tested again. My DCS engine does not like the TMCC engine, smoke on or off.

Well, Rod installed an RF22 choke in my TMCC engine.

Now both  the DCS engine and the TMCC are running at the same time on my layout.

The choke seems to have solved the problem

Thanks Rod

Aw shucks Larry; 'twern't nothin!

Happy to help out.

Rod