TMCC Operating Track Controller and Command Control Switch Problem

How were the command control switches being addressed?  By the serial line or by track signal RF signal?

Chuck, AFAIK, there is no option other than RF signal for the command switches.  I've never used them any other way, and the manual doesn't mention any possibility of connecting a serial line, and the switches don't provide any connection for it either.

Why use an OTC or any TMCC box at all?   I think that is unnecessary with TMCC switches, no?  An OTC controls 4 unloading tracks or 2 operating tracks. An ASC is used to control switches, and only controls 4 switches per box.  I think you don't need a TMCC controller first of all, and secondly you are using the wrong box for the application.

Chuck, the switches are all drawing digital signal from the track. It had never occured to me to run a dta signal to the data terminals on the switches, but running 20 more wires would not be preferable. I'm thinking that somehow th OTC is shorting out the digtal signal from the command base, but I don't see anything using a volt meter. I want to try connecting the OTC to a separate power supply (separate from the one I'm using to power the operating track, my switches, and my other accessories) and see if that helps.

William:

 

I'm using the OTC to control 2 operating track sections. I want to control the switches from the signal present on the track itself. Although I have engine control, I think the OTC is somehow shorting or attinuating the digital signal. Perhaps the engines are unaffected, since they pick the signal up like the SC-2's do; via an antenna.

Unless I'm missing something there is no indication of what kind of switches are being used?  The FastTrack units receive track RF the same way most other TMCC devices do.  There are two flavors of Z-Stuff switches that use the serial output port of the command base.  Z-Stuff makes an Opto-Isolator/Line driver to deal with issues that can occur with some switches when the non-derailing function can interfere with the track RF signal and cause signal drop out for loco's and accessories.  What kind of switches are these?

You're right Chuck, I assumed these were Fastrack command switches from the first post, but it's not explicitly stated.

The switches are all Lionel Fastrack Command Control switches. Are there other Command Control switches out there?

You can get RCS switches with the Z-Stuff controllers that can be handled by the serial data line.  That's why they make that opto-isolator.  The Z-Stuff controllers can be added to other product lines but RCS is the only vendor that I know of that offers them as an option.

Ok, now I get it.  You installed an OTC and now your TMCC Fastrack switches don't work.  Is the OTC functioning correctly?

Yep, the OTC controller appears to be working just fine. I can control both the uncoupler function and the "operating"function through the Lionel remote, as expected....

Do the locomotives work or are they affected by the signal loss too?

Locomotives appear to work just fine.

I should have been more specific.  Do they work fine when they are in the vicinity of any of the affected switches, i.e. no blinking headlights? 

Yes, they travel over the switches without any change in behavior. I will try to invoke engine functions when they are over the switches and report back.