Like to have one. Is it going to happen?
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It's alive and well, it's traveling around the country being tested on various layouts. One of the prototypes was at the NJ-HR club for TrainStock, I saw it. Once testing has been completed, I suspect Dale will apply any design tweaks he deems necessary and get ready to actually make the production item.
Kerrigan posted:Like to have one. Is it going to happen?
What kind of signal problems are you having that you think you need one?
The primary purpose is to raise the overall signal when you have a lot of track, which tends to drag the level down.
Hi All,
The Raritan Valley Hi-Railers did a test on their layout (42'x50' modular) a week after the N.J. Hi-Railers did theirs, courtesy of Dale Manquen (a great guy), at the Greenberg's Somerset N.J. show. Many Thanks to Bob DeGuarde for helping me to set this up properly in our layout to test it for Dale's Beta readings. This is the first time that the group has installed the Lionel Legacy system along with Cab-1 system in the layout. Our no load readings, according to Bob, were 2.2volts (antennae volts) which according to Dale is a strong signal,as I understand it. We also have DCS incorporated into the layout! The Booster/Buffer, which is just slightly bigger than a cigarette pack was applied to the layout and the antennae volts was recorded at 6.7 volts which to me is 3 times plus stronger than the start of this test. I'm still trying to grasp all of this, but understand that the signal was a lot stronger than originally started. I believe the Booster/Buffer is on it's way to the Trainmasters of Babylon Group. I don't think our group need's to apply the Booster/Buffer to our layout, but it's nice to know that there is a device out there to help you ramp up your signal, and I'm not ruling it out yet! As I see it, you may not have to run your loco around the layout with your hand over it in the future, thank God!!! I think Dale is looking for other groups to test this.
Steam Forever
John
Big_Boy_4005 posted:Kerrigan posted:Like to have one. Is it going to happen?
What kind of signal problems are you having that you think you need one?
The primary purpose is to raise the overall signal when you have a lot of track, which tends to drag the level down.
100's of feet of track, with a lot of up-and-over now ... a few distant corners seem to have a weaker TMCC signal than the rest. And Friend Phil's layout has way more and some TMCC weak signal spots. Great candidate for a test.
Carl Tuveson came up with an idea how to get the signal to two rails which doubles the signal and acts like a signal enhancer and the item can built for just a few dollars.
www.tuveson.com and enter TMCC for S on the left and then scroll to TMCC Signal Improvement. Or go to www.goldinhands.com and to to signal enhancement.
Ed
I'm sorry to have to tell you, but I think the project is officially over. Dale passed away last week.
From what you have said, it doesn't sound as if you really needed the booster anyway. With only hundreds of feet of track, your base should be putting out enough signal, if it's working correctly. Your problems are most likely related to the over - under elements of your layout.
Do all of your engines behave the same way when they reach certain spots on your layout? There are simple things that can be done to correct these types of problems.
What about the booster that Mike Reagan had developed prior to his joining Lionel ?
Big_Boy_4005 posted:I'm sorry to have to tell you, but I think the project is officially over. Dale passed away last week.
Dale had asked me to do the official PCB layout of the TMCC buffer as soon as the testing was complete and we picked the final components. Several months ago he told me about the cancer, but I had no idea it was such a fast moving type, I actually expected him to perhaps be able to beat it. We had corresponded up to about three weeks ago, it was quite a shock when it was announced he passed away.
Gentlemen,
No doubt about it Dale's loss was a very big one, especially here on the OGR. Rest well buddy, we will all miss you vey much.
PCRR/Dave
Dale's loss is tragic for us, his family and his friends.
Dale and I were in communication back in October about gathering data on a larger 2 rail Legacy layout. We had tentatively set February for the measurement visit, it would have been only a 90 minute drive for him.
Some comments and questions are posted above about Legacy on 2 rail layouts. Mine is 680' of track with multiple reverse loops, blocks and power districts. To put the Legacy signal on both rails everywhere on the layout required 18 capacitors because of all the insulated rail gaps for reverse loops. That done the base output is adequate for reliable engine operation anywhere on the layout.
