Can I run two TMCC base units at same the time with one hand held. I was thinking of having the two units so I could run TMCC trains on two separate sets of track on the same layout. If I can't use one hand held will there be a communication problem: "A" hand held sending it's signal to the "B" base and visa versa?? Can this be resolved by engine numbering?? Is this too many ?? Thanks.

dawkil,
if i understand the question correctly you want to operate two separate tmcc locos on two separate loops on your layout? If this is correct you can do that with one base and one handheld.

All you need to do is connect the common (outside) rail from each loop together and connect the TMCC base to the common connection.

Just like cz said,one base will control several loops.

Same with Legacy!!

You can also use multiple cab-1's or2's with one base.


Doug

I (we?) have four CAB-1's all talking to one Command Base. Not a problem.

I do (or at least did) have two TMCC bases connected with only 1 having the wire to the track. The 2nd directly connected to the gantry crane.

dawkill,

Use only 1 base.

Connect the U terminal from that base to the outside rails of both loops.

You can use multiple cab-1's at the same time with that one base.

Each engine should have a different TMCC ID number.

PS: If you try to use two bases at once you will have problems with the multiple signals from the base to the engine colliding.

quote:

Originally posted by winrose46:
I do (or at least did) have two TMCC bases connected with only 1 having the wire to the track. The 2nd directly connected to the gantry crane.

I am curious - Why 2?

Thanks everyone. As expected you OGR guys are the BEST.

All properly wired layout ONLY needs ONE CommandBase ever, regardless of the complexity of the track plan. Good Luck, Don

Ok lets breakdown his question.

Yes you can run 2 command bases if the loops are completely isolated (No inter-connecting track.
Yes you can if you have 2 separate layouts in the same room
Yes you can if you have a test track and a layout.

This how my layout is setup, it allows total control of 2 separate layouts and a test track at the same time.

I also have a DCS base at each location.

This setup allows me to run all 3 areas with one hand-held or many hand-helds.
It also allows me to shut down one layout and still have control of my second layout, or shut down both layouts and use the test track, without ever losing communications with a TMCC engine OR DCS engine.

Ernie

quote:

I am curious - Why 2?

Having had one base fail, I have a 2nd base. By connecting it directly to the gantry crane, I did not have to purchase another cable so that one base would operate the track and have the DCS DB9 plug and the other would operate the grantry crane with the other DB9 plug.

All you needed to connect to that separate piece of track for the gantry crane is power and a CommandBase ground wire to the outer rails. No need at all for DB-9 Cable sets.

quote:

All you needed to connect to that separate piece of track for the gantry crane is power and a CommandBase ground wire to the outer rails. No need at all for DB-9 Cable sets.

Unfortunately Don you are incorrect. If you go to http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/72-4114-250.pdf page 5 of the manual it states that "you must connect the Crane to the Command base (available separately, 6-12911)...... If you have other TMCC Controllers connected, you will need to daisy chain". Because I have a back up command base, I just connected the back up to the DB9 plug and left the ground wire off of that command base.

For the price of a second command base you can install a TAS command board inside your crane and eliminate all the extra hardware. Only power and ground are needed. For total "wireless control" add our power wheel kit.

Ernie

winrose46 already had a spare base so for zero cost he sidestepped having to connect both the DCS and Crane cables to one base. If you only have one base and are faced with the same challenge it can be sorted out with a simple cable for much lower cost than buying another base. DCS feeds into the base on one pin while the crane takes an output from the base (DAT) on a different pin, both tie in to the same COM pin. You may even be able to hack the DCS cable.

quote:

It also allows me to shut down one layout and still have control of my second layout, or shut down both layouts and use the test track, without ever losing communications with a TMCC engine OR DCS engine.

But - as I have no doubt you actually know being a TAS engineer - all you have to do is keep the Command Base (and DCS) itself powered separately from the layout's switched AC.

In any case your train room sounds way fun, for sure! Sounds almost like (per the "total control" remark) that you are a guy who might actually have found the 99 addresses limit problematical....

quote:

But - as I have no doubt you actually know being a TAS engineer - all you have to do is keep the Command Base (and DCS) itself powered separately from the layout's switched AC.

You are correct Cap, however my layouts are on different "A/C" legs.

quote:

In any case your train room sounds way fun, for sure! Sounds almost like (per the "total control" remark) that you are a guy who might actually have found the 99 addresses limit problematical....

I'm Close

quote:

quote:
In any case your train room sounds way fun, for sure! Sounds almost like (per the "total control" remark) that you are a guy who might actually have found the 99 addresses limit problematical....


I'm Close

Hello Marie,
About those trains that Ernie has.........