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LESSON LEARNED: I installed Gunrunner's TMCC signal booster.  I was having trouble with some steam locomotives.  It works great and cleared up the issues I had.  However along the way I learned a valuable lesson I'd like pass on.  The Signal Booster has  a knob that's an amplitude adjustment. I just turned it to the MAX thinking "more is better."  Not so. Too much of a good thing can cause problems.  In my case, the 4 Fastrack Sensor Tracks I installed worked fine for a while then, stopped triggering train dialogue or identifying new engines.  After much sweat and tears  (Here's the string if you're interested in the details:  https://ogrforum.com/...7#183311597494949277

John explained that the amplified signal can interfere with the sensor tracks if it's too high. So, I dialed it back just enough to stop the interference and from then on, no problems.

TMCC Booster_Annotated IMG_9220

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  • TMCC Booster_Annotated IMG_9220
@ToledoEd posted:

LESSON LEARNED: I installed Gunrunner's TMCC signal booster.  I was having trouble with some steam locomotives.  It works great and cleared up the issues I had.  However along the way I learned a valuable lesson I'd like pass on.  The Signal Booster has  a knob that's an amplitude adjustment. I just turned it to the MAX thinking "more is better."  Not so. Too much of a good thing can cause problems.  In my case, the 4 Fastrack Sensor Tracks I installed worked fine for a while then, stopped triggering train dialogue or identifying new engines.  After much sweat and tears  (Here's the string if you're interested in the details:  https://ogrforum.com/...7#183311597494949277

John explained that the amplified signal can interfere with the sensor tracks if it's too high. So, I dialed it back just enough to stop the interference and from then on, no problems.



I was hoping you'd chime in.  This is a very important piece of information.

I have version one which has worked flawlessly.

However, two months ago I tried installing a sensor track, and despite suggestions from experts on the Forum, I could not get it to work.

It looks like the adjustment kit might help.

Gunrunner, is there a modification kit for my version one or is it better to get on the list for a new unit?

@LT1Poncho posted:

Wow, I must have version 1.0, don’t think mine has a knob for adjustment. It’s been under the layout working flawlessly for years, I’ll have to check.

@Jeff2035 posted:
Gunrunner, is there a modification kit for my version one or is it better to get on the list for a new unit?

Yes, the original version didn't have the amplitude adjustment feature.  It was only after the first big batch went out that I started getting the feedback about the sensor tracks as well as affecting MTH DCS.  The amplitude adjustment was added to fix that, and I have the parts to install it on older units.  It's just a couple of parts, but it does require a little work on the PCB, and of course, drilling a hole for the pot.

Send me an email and I'll get you both fixed up with the amplitude adjustment kit if you want one.

@Adrian! posted:

If anyone here wanted to build the AGHR "too much legacy" booster here's the diptrace files...

I only see one board in your picture.

You included the schematic capture for one board and the PCB layout for another board.  The two don't match, so I'm assuming there are two boards and we only have half the files.  I loaded the PCB and did a verify to the schematic and came up with a ton of errors, so I'm assuming they're not the same board.

CLASS_AB_STAGE Schematic Verification Errors.txt

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I only see one board in your picture.

You included the schematic capture for one board and the PCB layout for another board.  The two don't match, so I'm assuming there are two boards and we only have half the files.  I loaded the PCB and did a verify to the schematic and came up with a ton of errors, so I'm assuming they're not the same board.

CLASS_AB_STAGE Schematic Verification Errors.txt

Ew sorry... a valuable lesson in what happens with bad revision control.



The schematic is the right one, the associated layout is missing. 

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