quote:

But what if the problem develops mid show? I don't think our group could realistically stop all mains, separate two modules and insert pins in the middle of a show. Especially once scenery is up etc...

Bill,

I hope we don't have to stop mid show but if we have dead spots and can't run trains I guess we will have to stop and insert pins. If we do have problems I sure we will ask that member to repair their module before it is used in another show.

With most of our bigger shows we usually set up the night before. The goal is to get the modules together and run a train around both loops with no derailments or electrical issues.

Steve

Steve,

Again thanks for all of your efforts!

I know that NCT has a very busy show schedule. I suspect that NCT will do several shows before our next show in October.

Can you keep us updated with "reports from the field" as you use this live at shows?

Thanks Again, this is a valuable asset to the modular community!

Bill

Bill,

Unfortunately I will not be able to attend our next show,August 9-10, Marine Corps. Museum, Quantico, VA. I encourage any one who can travel there to do so. It is one of the more powerful and inspiring venues where we display. Highly interactive and thought provoking. Hopefully another member will report on the results/problems at the show.

I will attend the next show, August 23-24, Greenberg Train Show at Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, VA. I will report after the show.

Steve

Please make this sticky...

Bill are you winning or losing? Things getting better?

The NCT's next show,August 9-10, Marine Corps. Museum, Quantico, VA. is cancelled. <:{ The Museum has other ceremonies that conflict with running trains.

Our next layout to try our wiring approach will be Aug 23-24 (Greenberg Train Show) at Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, VA.

L and N, I'll get the light bulb harnesses over to you before then.

Cheers,
John

Too bad about this weekend :-(

Can't wait to hear about the Dulles show!

I guess we can make it sticky by bumping it!

WEBMASTER,

Please explain why you have not acceeded to BillP's request to make this thread sticky.

I would expect that exploring this frontier would be sufficiently important to the hobby as to warrant special treatment and support.

I believe that modular layouts serve as substantial ambassadors for the hobby that your publication lives off.

And I also think that BillP is one of the hobby's more active ambassador's. Witnerss the Liberty Highrailers' recent display at York.

What do you say?

Only a few days till Dulles.

And the Webmaster still ignores the importance of this thread.

What does the Webmaster have against modular layouts?

ctr,

I am not sure anyone is reading this section of the forum looking for that kind of thing. Observe that the two sticky threads are very, very dated at this time (although important 6 months ago)

quote:

I am not sure anyone is reading this section of the forum looking for that kind of thing.

Sure we are, We're interested in what you've tried and what seems to work the best. We need a progress report.

DCS is of vital importance to those of us trying to promote the hobby with our modular toy train displays. Like our 0 gauge brethren, members of the Standard Gauge Module Association are interested in using DCS to both increase the number of trains we can run on our long runs of track and to showcase the latest technologies. Until MTH takes an active role in promoting the use of DCS on modular layouts, this forum will continue to be the primary source of current information on this application.

BTW Bill, if you have some experiments you would like to do with DCS, either with your 0 gauge modules or our Standard Gauge modules, I have a 20'x40' space in my garage available just about any weekend. I live a few miles west of Paoli, PA, not far from you. I can be reached at kirklindvig@mac.com.

Kirk

Gregg,

I meant forum moderators are not monitoring for the important content. Clearly forumites care :-)

Kirk,

Wow that is a great offer. I will talk with you offline.

How did it go last weekend guys?

Bill,

I'm writing up a report. I will post it soon.

I can hardly wait for the report.

Maybe we should post an announcement for the WEBMASTER'S benefit!

Steve,

We are much obliged!

Anything worthwhile is worth waiting for.

I hope the report appears this weekend.

DCS performance at the Greenberg show in Chantilly Virginia was poor to say the least.

Oh No!

What happened?

Good thing I took a Williams locomotive just in case. It doesn't care what type of operating system you have...it just RUNS. Don't get me wrong, I love DCS and it works fine on my home layout, but at this past show, club members brought in modules that were never tested prior to the show. We had a center section set up as a yard area which has never been tested. Trains would go through portions of our layout and slow down or stop for no reason. We checked the track voltages with the multimeter and cleaned the track and at one point we had a track signal of 10s, only to have it go away. We had insulating pins between modules but we could not shake out the gremlins. We were wondering if maybe the building security system was interfering with our operation. We just couldn't figure it out. It's a shame we cannot run the latest and greatest MTH locomotives and show off all of their features. I'm in no way bashing MTH!!! This is a problem that is going to take full participation of the club to work on.


...keep the rails polished...

I am sorry to hear that everything did not go as planned. I, too, would like to be able to showcase my MTH PS-2 locomotives on modular layouts.

It sure would be nice if Mr. Wolf would help us all out by providing access to a qualified DCS representative who could help all of us modular ambassadors get by this myth that DCS cannot work on large modular layouts.

In my mind, this is a bigger problem for MTH than the lack of a "quilling" whistle.

All of the free promotion of the hobby that occurs at modular layout displays is gained by manufacturers of TMCC and Legacy compatible trains.

Under the current state of affairs, I will not bring my PS-2 engines to a modular show.

And I am less likely to buy any more MTH engines until I can run them reliably under DCS on the Libert Hi-Railers modular layout.

ctr, I do not think it is MTH problems. I think it is our miss-match of wiring, the use of wire nuts, suitcase connectors, all different brands of track and who knows what else. My home layout is 29'x58' buss wired with a few magic lights and I have 10's all the way.

quote:

I love DCS and it works fine on my home layout, but at this past show, club members brought in modules that were never tested prior to the show. We had a center section set up as a yard area which has never been tested.

Surely one tiu or perhaps 1 channel could handle the yard.

quote:

Trains would go through portions of our layout and slow down or stop for no reason. We checked the track voltages with the multimeter and cleaned the track and at one point we had a track signal of 10s, only to have it go away. We had insulating pins between modules but we could not shake out the gremlins. We were wondering if maybe the building security system was interfering with our operation. We just couldn't figure it out.

Somethings not quite right, I would suspect loose connections rather than a security system,. When you put the layout together do you test things out as you go with a few modules or do you get it all assembled and then test.

Are your power supplies all phased together with heavy wire from the "U" connections?

I'm wiring my second large permanent layout and although not the same problems as with a modular layout many of the same issues come up.

Test as you go, learn how to operate in super mode,, The more tiu the better as far as I'm concerned, With multiple tiu the dcs signal can be greatly expanded even if the track wiring is not exactly according to the rules but then again there are no rules.

I feel your pain- we 're all cheering for you guys. maybe next time.

Good luck.