star wiring clarification

Each block should only have one feed point, and there should not be a connection between the blocks.  The thing you're trying to avoid is a large loop consisting of the drops and track, that will degrade the DCS signal.

Only the center rail needs to be isolated between blocks.

All of my track is connected together and I have 10's all the way around on both loops.  I put a power drop about every 4th section of track and connected these to a terminal block.  I have three terminal blocks connected in series to the TIU and Transformer.  My Fastrack measures out one scale mile on a 15' X 28' walkin platform.

domer94,

   Both Guns and jmiller are correct, I have found using the older TIU it does as Guns points out, have an effect on the signal, if the ctr rail is not isolated.  With the Rev L TIU however, I have found that jmiller's set up technique works just fine also.  For the life of me I still can't figure out what the difference really is, however the Rev L TIU is definitely a more powerful signal provider.  So if you have the Rev L to the latest updates, the signal stays strong thru out the complete layout, no block isolation necessary, if you use the 12 track join discipline, engineering with one transformer (power supply) and numerous drops.

domer94 I also run FasTrack, same as j.

PCRR/Dave 

All on one channel? It seems you've broken all the rules and everything works. Can you tell us more? Old tiu or the latest L

I broke the rules before I knew them…my layout was finished before I got DCS.  I have about 100 feet on each loop with 4 drops per loop in a star pattern so that’s about one drop for 8 sections.  With a REV L TIU, signal strength is mostly 9s and 10s with a few spots less than 7.  Once in a while I get an ENGINE NOT ON TRACK message, but I would rather tolerate that than start tearing up track.

I think John answered the OP’s question about isolating drops.  The answer to the switch question is on the Ross and Gargraves FAQ pages - restated below: 

RossReady is the name we use for our remote switch. This has the lighted DZ1000 machine mounted on the turnout and a lighted push button controller in the box. The turnout is wired for power throughout the entire length (the center rails are connected and the two outside rails are connected) so your trains will have power from one end of the switch to the other

GarGraves switches are not wired through for continuous power through the center rail. The user will need to provide track power to each end of the switch (three places). This can be done by adding jumper wires to the center rails of the track leading into the switch. A drawing of this is available on the diagrams and instructions page of the website.

The purpose of isolating the center rail between blocks is so that the DCS signal (which travels on the center rail) doesn't become a mishmash of duplicate signals that arrived at the track at different times owing to different lengths of power feeds.

When I added a power feed to the opposite end of my 11x17 "test track", I didn't provide an isolation between the two connections. Result is, (for example) if I tap the horn/whistle button, the loco sounds its horn/whistle twice. Mystified me to no end till it was explained how extra power feeds could create phantom signals racing about the layout and causing their own special brand of mischief.

---PCJ

I have two isolated loops.  One inside and one outside.  There are two crossover's that have the small fitter section isolated.  Fastrack has a premade gap in the track section that all you need to do is unhook the wire.  When I wired my layout I put a drop every forth section of track.  I used #14 stranded wire and a crimp on connector on the Fastrack tabs underneath.  I used a terminal block to connect all the power wires in a section and the same for the ground wires.  I used Red for the outside loop and Orange for the inside loop.  Black was used for ground on each loop.  I hooked up one loop at a time so I wouldn't cross connect the grounds.  My TIU is a REV L.  Both loops are hooked to the fixed voltage ports and controlled by a Z4000

I wish our modular layout worked as well! 

Thanks for  the update.  Interesting for sure and it doesn't really surprise me.. Sometime we just have to try different methods as see what happens.

Gregg, there's just no way to tell as every layout will differ.  Many years ago I installed a temporary secon center rail drop to a block because of a poor connection through a UCS track.  The UCS has been fixed, the tempo connection is still there, and I get 10s through that block.

My layout, 23 years old, always had short insulated toggled  blocks because it was designed to operate many conventional locos.  But I also used #14 wire.