Three DCS Remote Commander Questions

1) With the DCSRC, often I push, for example, the whistle button with the remote aimed at the base and no light with flash, no whistle. Release the button and without changing the remote position, repress the button and it responds as it should. Normal? The remote has new batteries and I tried another brand new in box DCSRC set and it responded exactly the same (leading me to believe it is normal operation)

That's hard to say without seeing the path between the handheld and the recover.

The DCSRC communicates via IR so it must be an exact line of sight as opposed to radio-based devices, like the DCS Remote and TIU.

2) If I have one base and run jumpers over to another via the +/- screw terminals, can I use the second base, with no power going into it and only jumpers from the other base, as a second base to get some better range/coverage? Don't want to try it and blow up two bases...hence the question

Tjis is OK as long as the receivers are both connected to the same track, i.e., only one track power transformer is in play. You do, however, run the risk of having an engine see two copies of the same command unless the receivers are placed so that a handheld can only "se" one at a time.

3) What is the remote range? I heard 20 feet but think 10 is a bit high, even with new batteries. 

I don't know except that, as previously stated, it is direct line-of-sight.There cannot be anything between the handheld's and the receiver's IR "eyes" except empty air.

It works pretty well with a mirror, but of course that may be considered "line of sight".

Thanks John/Barry. 

The remote is pointed directly at the base. Occasionally, when about 5-6 feet or more away,  if a button is pressed, nothing. Immediately press again without changing remote location/line of sight, works fine and often will continue to do so. Just figured I'd ask, can't hurt. I've found bouncing the signal off the ceiling to work very reliably also. For what it is, it is a basic yet effective and fun little device. 

You might try cleaning the surface of the IR reader on both devices.

Barry - THanks for the tip. Didn't think of that....

FWIW, I've gotten 15 feet reliably from the DCSRC as long as I had reasonable aim.  It doesn't have to be right on, just in the general direction.  I've found that having the DCSRC a bit lower than the remote seems to work best.