Weak signal

have a 20 foot section of new gargraves

You need to remove the oily coating (not the black coating - it's OK) on the center rail of new Gargraves track. Use a cloth wetted with track cleaning solution and wipe it down vigorously.

This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site! Click on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!

http://www.mthtrains.com/content/60-1279

 I used denatured alcohol and wiped until there was no more black coming off on my rag.....I think I followed all the rules here that is what is frustrating.

I have am just starting - have a 20 foot section of new gargraves - not more than 5 or 6 sections of track on either side of the connection  1-3 and out of range for the entire section...what gives Not so good

Not so good.... Why not try one section of track with a know good engine and do a signal check again.... You should have a perfect 10 else somethings amiss. (loose tranceiver  board or poor signal generator on the channel you're using.  Seems everything worked fine at one time but not so good now..

S

Ok I have gone back a cleaned track some more....improved the overall performance some ....but what I don't understand as I sit the engine on section of track it is beeping 4s at me then it goes to out of range on the same section.

The only thing I have not done yet is the light bulb trick.....I will go for a third round of cleaning.

Did you try another channel?

MTH had a bad batch of tiu that put out a low dcs signal... model number I3a (on the bottom). I doubt if yours is an I3a but unless you try as Joe Allen  suggested a different channel or a short test track how are you going to know.  My experience with GarGraves sectional track is that it almost needs a light sanding to get it operational.... The 3 foot sections need less attention.

does a light sanding of the middle rail cause any other issues?

Probably not, however, I sincerely doubt if that would help increase the signal strength - all of my Gargraves has never been sanded and yields all 10's.

If you cleaned off the oily coating, that's all that's necessary.

Maybe it's time????

Is it true that the I3A is a bad signal TIU??? 

Alan

Is it true that the I3A is a bad signal TIU???        

Some had a problem, but not all of them. All of the ones with a silver dot after the I3a should be fine.

 Did you get a chance to try the magic bulb as Gary suggested or even a different engine or clean the rollers on the engine you're using.

Different channel didn't seem to  help much. test track (one section)?? you didn't try that so how do you know the tiu is up to par? .

If you can't get a perect signal with only 20 feet of track somethings drastically wrong.

Perhaps try tethering the remote & tiu, you could have a loose tranceiver in either the remote or tiu. Good hunting!

Ok, I have not yet tried the light bulb trick....I will ....looked for directions in the Companion didn't see it...but I will do it ....Here is what I have done.

I have three independent sections of track varying lengths, including the 20 ft previously mentioned.  2 sections on 1 channel and 1 section on the other.  No where do I get 9's and 10's with any consistency.  However there are limited places I do.  None on the 20 section mentioned above.  Both channels equally inconsistent

It will literally go from say 8 or 9 to 4 or 5 on the same section of track.  It is really all over the place.

I did just power just 1 section test track..1 gargrave....got straight 10's for about 7 or 8 seconds then went to out of range...the second time I did it stayed with 10s that is only time i get 10s i section of track not even on the layout just a test.

I went to a wired section got 8 and 9 did a second test on that same section got 4 and 5...there is no consistency.   Then I got out of range when i tried to end the test. 

I have tried multiple engines with no difference, rollers are clean, track is clean pins are tight...wire is to spec  again the first layout I built was a breeze I was wondering why people had all the issues with DCS...I moved and began to build this layout....gheez....

AGain,  1 section test 10's...everything on the layout all over the place, even inconsistent in the same place.

Could this have anything to do with the remote..

1.  the roll ball in remote is not responsive at times

2.  change direction/ start up/ shut down is sometimes not responsive...don't know if that is signal issue or a button issue

Further test on my 20 feet...getting better getting some 10's now but still bouncing around...should the engine be moving during the test I have done it both ways...when engine is rolling it can go any where from a 10 followed immediately by out of range going slow at about 4 or 5 smph.  Or I can be sitting still it showing 8's then out of range.

For the most accurate reading, the engine should be stationary while conducting a track signal test.

This sounds like a transceiver board in the TIU or Remote has floated out of its socket. Refer to The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition, pages 155-157 for details.

This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site! Click on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!

Would Rev L TIU help solve this....I know I know I need to do the light bulb trick haven't found it described anywhere does someone have link to a thread.

If Rev L is possible solution is there any market for a used Rev H (I think H) and remote?

There's nothing tricky about the light bulb test, just get an incandescent bulb hooked to the track; lighted lock-on, lighted caboose, old light tower, illuminated bumper,  etc.

WHen I push read it reads the TIU  seems that is working fine.

When i do the test stationary and move 5 feet or so and repeat I get much better results....still not all 10's but much better...

Hook up the ****ed light bulb !!!

Reading the TIU doesn't mean it's working fine.  It only means it worked at that instant in time.  Did you check the transceiver boards as Barry suggested?

You say the pick-up rollers are clean.  How are the axles they ride on????

Cleaning the track helps a bunch too.