gunrunnerjohn posted:rad400 posted:A temporary fix for the issue of adding an engine to a DCS handheld (no problem when using the DCS app or when the handheld is tethered to the TIU), I have installed a tether cable from the TIU to the perimeter of the layout so people can connect their handhelds directly to the TIU for adding an engine. Does anyone know why the "add engine" function seem to be harder to perform than many of the other functions?
Bob, given that you're talking about the handheld remote to TIU communication here, I'd consider something like this for each TIU.
Adrian has posted a nice tutorial about adding a reverse-SMA connector to the TIU. Add a nice 900mhz antenna and you should increase the range of the remote/TIU communications. There are also many 900 mhz amplifiers that might extend the range, but they mostly seem to be targeting cell traffic. OTOH, I'm not sure how they'd know the difference, so they might also help if a hi-gain antenna doesn't do it.
For the single Legacy command base for the layout, this would be a dirt simple addition to boost the range of it's remotes.
Sunhans Sh-2500 2500mw Wireless Signal Repeater 33dbm Wifi Signal Booster 2.5w
John - I already added the 900mhz antenna that Adrain had in his post to TIU # 1 which is located near the office (see below). I took a new TIU and upgraded it to accommodate the 900 mhz external antenna and tested it out before adding it to the layout. In testing, I was able to go ~ 80-100 feet away and have good communication (including add engine) with an engine on the test track in the office. When I added the upgraded TIU to the layout, I was not able to perform the "add engine" function and I was only one foot away from the TIU?????? Start, shutdown, horn, whistle, direction, etc, etc all worked well but not "add engine". Any thoughts? TMCC was OFF when I did the testing.
I am not sure by adding an additional signal booster would help me at this point, there is something basically wrong which I am missing and need to find. Hopefully in Adrain's new post, I can better understand how the "add engine" command differs from the other commands.
Thanks, Bob D
