gunrunnerjohn posted:Don't know why Greg, it was generated yesterday and the USPS has the package.
All good then. Thx.
John,
If you don't get the balance on some of those I'll take one.
Brad
Mine also arrived in this afternoon's mail. Everything looks great. Thanks again GRJ!
Yea baby mine arrived this morning. Hooked it up and it works great. Vision Legacy GG1 use to have problems with flickering lights and it would stop in a area with overhead tracks and metal bridges. Now with the booster it runs right along with no flickering lights. Thank you John!
gunrunnerjohn, John Will
I want to thank you so much. I have had an area on my large layout that at times gives me a PITA. I have been messing with this part of the layout for over a year. Some days it works when it wants to and other days not at all. I have been down at the layout, installed your Buffer and that area has no problems at all...in fact the trains run better than ever after I installed your Buffer. I have NO problem with the costs of this little jewel, it is a miracle for my layout. Thanks so much for your and Dale's knowledge.
I am going to build a building for the layout and name it Dale & John's Buffer Company. 
My experience with the booster:
Connected the booster as shown.
Powered up the system.... Legacy base dead... Oh No! Must be a bad power adapter... Happen to have another... Changed the power adapter... Same problem! Checked the adapters, no power..!
Ok so what is the problem... Checked the earth ground adapter cable...SHORTED
SOOO... Replaced a blown fuse in the Legacy Power Adapter, and repaired the shorted earth ground adapter cable. ( red center wire melted to the outside frame of the connector during soldering.)
OK... So lets try again!
Reconnected all and the Legacy base comes alive... The status indicator on the booster shows green! YEA! Read the DC reference voltage on the input side... It is 1.6V and on the output side, 5.9V.
OK Now lets runs some trains! Trains that previously had experienced problems in certain areas appear to function normally..!!! YEA it works.
Thanks John for a great addition to the hobby
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But as an aside, you might want to check the adapter cable before powering up to prevent a blown TMCC adapter.. (Luckily the Legacy adapter comes apart and you can change the fuse.)
Terry
The initial problem was the shorted ground adapter cable which blew the fuses in the legacy power supply!
Great that it's working, I'm clueless to what your problems were, so what caused the initial problems!
Installed my booster today. Got red led light indicating bad signal. Checked base in voltage 0 .166 mv and buffer out of .661 volts. Interestingly, problem locomotives ran better. Will call Lionel tomorrow, hope they will repair it.
Marty
martind posted:Installed my booster today. Got red led light indicating bad signal. Checked base in voltage 0 .166 mv and buffer out of .661 volts. Interestingly, problem locomotives ran better. Will call Lionel tomorrow, hope they will repair it.
Well, the red light appears to be working correctly, with those readings you do have a bad signal! 
BlBillboards posted:Ok so what is the problem... Checked the earth ground adapter cable...SHORTED
Bummer about the earth ground tap, sorry about that. All of the cables did actually test good before they went, but obviously that was marginal. I'll blame that one on my assistant... Wait, I didn't have an assistant!
Well, at least it came to me and I was able to repair!
Terry
Hi John,
Just to let you know I received my TMCC buffer yesterday, and installed this afternoon on my layout. Getting a green light all the time as indicated on the buffer . I have not done any actual signal voltage measurements yet. My layout is approx. 35 x 12 with 2 track loops around; had a few minor problems with the old setup without the buffer-- the new buffer signal seems to be perfect!!!
Thanks again for doing all the follow-up design to Dale's original design and getting the new boards made and shipped out. That was a very large undertaking!!! I am going to be anxious to hear feedback from some of the large layouts on how the buffer is helping their TMCC signals. I suspect a few of the large layouts I see at the Milwaukee Train Fest every November will work much better with more reliable operation too.
Thanks so much!!!
Regards,
Carl J
We love success stories! Since the NJ-HR use it and apparently it solves most of their TMCC/Legacy issues, I suspect most layouts will work well with it.
96 of the first 100 units have been shipped, so almost everyone that was in on the initial batch should have one within a couple of days.
I received my TMCC Buffer, however, haven’t installed it, but, I do have a HUGH SUCCESS Story, Farmerjohn, a Kentucky friend of mine, has a really large layout, 50 by 70, with an an adjoining room, who has had multiple signal issues, running TMCC/Legacy, Atlas O. Third Rail/Sunset Models, through many bridges, multiple levels, says All his engines Run Fine Now, Do to the TMCC Buffer. Dale Manquin came to visit me here in Tennessee in 2007, prior to York, and we went to see many layouts, one being Farmerjohn’s in Kentucky. Dale was a very fine gentleman and stayed at my home for a week. We had a great visit. I congratulate Gunrunner John for taking his concepts and making this wonderful product available to us Operators. Thank you John....I will install my Buffer in the next few days. Happy Days are here again. (Pictures are of Farmerjohns latout)
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Wow, 50 x 70, now that's a LAYOUT!
Hi Larry-
Thanks for posting all those pictures of FarmerJohn's huge layout!!! And the fact that the TMCC booster/ Buffer original design has been working so well on his 50' x 70' layout in Kentucky!! I can only imagine the length of time and number of people needed to get the layout to the point that was shown in your pictures!! Fantastic layout!!!
Carl J
Got my DM buffer, now looking for a place to put it, anxious to get it hooked up.
Thank you John
Ray
Hi Carl, Farmerjohn has been working on this layout for probably 7 or 8 years, with a really great wood worker and Friend. He works many hours daily on this adventure and keeps everything clean as can be. They have devised many neat features on his wonderful layout. 10 stall roundhouse with individual opening doors. A MILLHOUSE 34 inch TT. A signal system overhead signals, track level signals. A wonderful Oil Refinery, and new Mining System, above and below ground. One feature is 4 or 5 trains can be running and there’s is no way to figure out their route. Amazing thinking, and a fun to visit friend. Always something new to view and enjoy. He runs TMCC- Legacy Cab1L, Cab 2.....His wide radius curves, 0120 and more, no less than 080, allows for long freight and passenger trains to interwind with each other. Thank you for your comments and someday, come to see us. 
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That's the kind of layout most of us can only dream about. 
I really have to thank John again for pursuing this project and carrying on where Dale left off. I also want to thank him for donating back in Dale's name. It's just another reason I find most train people are mostly made up of the good stuff.
Speaking of that, I almost have all the payments in and the buffers shipped, so I will be sending out the contribution in the next few days, I'll post when it's completed.
I'd still rather have Dale around to see his great project finally cross the finish line.
leapinlarry posted:I received my TMCC Buffer, however, haven’t installed it, but, I do have a HUGH SUCCESS Story, Farmerjohn, a Kentucky friend of mine, has a really large layout, 50 by 70, with an an adjoining room, who has had multiple signal issues, running TMCC/Legacy, Atlas O. Third Rail/Sunset Models, through many bridges, multiple levels, says All his engines Run Fine Now, Do to the TMCC Buffer. Dale Manquin came to visit me here in Tennessee in 2007, prior to York, and we went to see many layouts, one being Farmerjohn’s in Kentucky. Dale was a very fine gentleman and stayed at my home for a week. We had a great visit. I congratulate Gunrunner John for taking his concepts and making this wonderful product available to us Operators. Thank you John....I will install my Buffer in the next few days. Happy Days are here again. (Pictures are of Farmerjohns latout)
Look at that scene! In the famous words of Mr Barone, "HOLY CRAP!!!"
And as mentioned a big thanks to John for seeing it through to completion for all of us!
Larry,
thanks for posting the additional pictures and comments on FarmerJohn’s layout. The pictures continue to blow me away!!
Do you know where the TMCC signal was originally weak or intermittent and did the newly designed Buffer/ Amplifier installation immediately resolve all the operational TMCC signal issues?? I hear from others that track going across bridges or going through secenery made with wire screen or track going over / under other tracks are “weak signal points “ that seem to get solved with the TMCC Buffer??
Carl J
Carl J, the answer, from what I am hearing from Johnny, he gets a great signal in the entire room and the adjoining room now. Before the Buffer, only partial TMCC signal intermittent in the main room, but would allow some trains to run ok, others not ok, however, no legacy signal in the adjoining room. Its very discouraging to buy a top of the line Locomotive, or Diesel and it not run good do to signal. This is the best answer I can give you until I go to visit Johnny. Now he can run everything that’s TMCC/Legacy with great control anywhere in his train room. This TMCC Buffer is the best thing, since sliced bread.....
Another satisfied customer! Connected the DM TMCC Buffer and got a green light! ALL my TMCC/Legacy engines run everywhere on my 1000 sq. ft. multi level layout. I had talked to Dale about the buffer before he died and I am so appreciative to gunrunnerjohn for picking up the project. The recognition given to Dale is so appropriate.
Don
The larger the layout, the more benefit you can expect from the DM TMCC Buffer. It's good to hear success stories.
Thanks Larry!!
John, hooked mine up 10 minutes ago and the indicator light is green. Hooahh.
Put the loco I had the most signal problems with, blinking lights, stopping, etc., my Lionel UP Veranda.
It runs perfect through all the previous problem areas.
Thank you John and Dale.
You have turned my problem locos into great performers.
One question, can I leave it powered up 24/7 or should I turn it off between operating sessions?
Getting some encouraging feedback. I hope the kit we be available soon, with a candidate to assemble mine! Of course for a fee.
Jeff, other than using a few watts of electricity, I can't imagine why you can't just leave it on.
ironman1 posted:Getting some encouraging feedback. I hope the kit we be available soon, with a candidate to assemble mine! Of course for a fee.
I'm actually gathering parts for the kits, and I have the PCB blanks already. We'll have a solution for folks that missed the first production run. I just have to figure how they'll be packaged. Right now my thinking is that I'll prep the cases as I already have the tooling to do that, and individuals would probably take a lot more time to drill the holes in the proper places as well as make the slots, etc.
There will be an option.
Hi John,
Thanks again for this project. I just hooked the buffer up and got a RED light. I did run some engines that were always susceptible to interference like my K-line 2-6-6T and it had NO flicker at all with good response of commands.
The readings I got were: base signal - 1.085, output signal - 10.37. Any thoughts on what I should do/check?
Thanks,
Greg
The base signal is low (reason for the red light), but the output is uncharacteristically high. Based on your input, the output should be about 3.6vdc.
Something wrong with your metering? And things run better because 3.6 is an improvement.
Gregcz1 posted:Hi John,
Thanks again for this project. I just hooked the buffer up and got a RED light. I did run some engines that were always susceptible to interference like my K-line 2-6-6T and it had NO flicker at all with good response of commands.
The readings I got were: base signal - 1.085, output signal - 10.37. Any thoughts on what I should do/check?
Thanks,
Greg
First off, is this a Legacy or TMCC base? The TMCC base will usually get a red light and a few of them get the "no light". A good Legacy base should give you a green light.
I agree with Chuck, something is very wrong with the readings, with a known good Legacy base I got 1.88 volts DC for the Base DC reading and 5.4 volts for the Boost DC reading. Given the circuitry there, that's about what you should see. 10 volts on the Boost DC reading is knocking on the door to impossible! What kind of meter are you using?
I have a question about the light being red for lower output. What is drawing down the output signal 3.810volts to the track? When I unhook the track wire I get a green light and 6.15 volts out of buffer.
I'm confused. The lights are telling you what the base track output is doing, not the buffered output. If you're using the buffer, you shouldn't have the base track output connected to anything but the buffer input!
I'm getting 2.077 Base INP and 6.85 Boost OUT. I looked right down into the blue LED and after a half hour I can see again . So I ground the tops of the LEDs off on the sander. Diffused now.
Thanks again John. Great stuff and hard work for you. I appreciate you.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I'm confused. The lights are telling you what the base track output is doing, not the buffered output. If you're using the buffer, you shouldn't have the base track output connected to anything but the buffer input!
The instruction is an excellent pictorial of the hookup. That should clear things up for him.
I have to admit, the clear LED's were possibly a mistake, those suckers are bright! I wanted to make sure they could be seen, I guess I did accomplish that goal.
They're fine. I thought about little opaque booties...or maybe an opaque lens snapped into the enlarged holes. But the sanding tamed them right down.
Well opaque booties would seem to really tone them down, easier would be black electrical tape. 
Sanding the ends will certainly diffuse the light and save the eyes, probably the easiest method.
