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I am supplying power to a electrically isolated siding that is at the end of a 60' run of 16 gauge speaker wire.

The TIU is Rev L.

My signal strength is 1or 2 at best. 

Does the DCS signal degrade over long lengths of parallel  conductor? Do I need to use twisted wires for this length? Any other suggestions? Thank you.

 

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Engineer-Joe posted:

I wouldn't expect a light bulb to be needed here. 60' is not big. Something else is causing the poor signal. I would disconnect the track and try your wire to a test piece. Then check the signal strength.

 What is the power source?

I agree Joe, I'm just saying if you already have 100 feet or more  already on  the channel and a spur off the same channel, a magic bulb will probably increase the signal strength on the spur..   I wonder how CTR made out?

Gregg posted:
Engineer-Joe posted:

I wouldn't expect a light bulb to be needed here. 60' is not big. Something else is causing the poor signal. I would disconnect the track and try your wire to a test piece. Then check the signal strength.

 What is the power source?

I agree Joe, I'm just saying if you already have 100 feet or more  already on  the channel and a spur off the same channel, a magic bulb will probably increase the signal strength on the spur..   I wonder how CTR made out?

I meant no disrespect on the bulb, as I use stuff where I need it too. I just think this is probably a power drop problem. Sure a bigger gauge wire sounds like the right fix. I just have a feeling that the wire is not the issue. How can we fix a problem with 20% of the facts?

Here is where I stand.

I replaced the hookup wire with 14 gauge stranded wires--one red one black. I separated the two new wires physically from any other wires that were connected to the track on the DCS Fixed 2 Out. I separated the two new wires physically from each other. I connected the new wires directly to the TIU.

I get power to the track and I can start up and shut down under DCS. I can move the engine that I am using to test the signal and another engine that I also use to test the signal.

There is no signal. Not even a ONE. Message "Out of RF range." I get the same message when the remote is right next to the TIU.

I give up for now. I will probably have to move the TIU closer to the sidings. This will require a major rewiring job. 

 

 

 

 

 CTR, These facts are all nice for you to understand. They don't help explain what you have. If you want help here, you have to post what you have going on in full.

If you want to just make DCS sound difficult, then keep going. I would bet you are just killing the signal by an easy mistake.

You have explained that it's not the wire, so now look at the rest. If you give up, then why even post?

I have one suggestion... Did you try a bulb?  

How is the dcs signal on the other parts of the layout?

You may have to determine whether the channel is putting out a decent signal by using a small test track with one engine.   ..Should be able to get a perfect ten.  

I've also had dcs still 02 with over 8 scale miles of track and the layout runs really well. Yes we have an version L in there someplace but I can tell the difference from the L or original G. Both are working. Magic bulbs on the terminal boards.   You do know the odd TMCC engine can destroy the dcs signal?

do have the reds going to the center rail. Blacks to the outside.

Is it possible you may have a loose transceiver board in the remote or remote.?  (tether)

Some of the runs from the tiu to terminal strips are around 30 to 40 feet.

Last edited by Gregg

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