Jon, what is the usable range of the track sensors below the track tops? I'm interested in how close I have to mount it if we hack a couple to put into Atlas track. Obviously, I'd like it to trigger reliably, but ideally, I wouldn't have to do major surgery on the Atlas track sections to fit it in. I'm thinking of embedding the board in the cork roadbed we use.
John, I just installed the sensor electronics in an Atlas track section for a customer. I simply removed the bottom of the tie and and removed two ties where the IRDA sensor hit. The result was the PCB was set against the thin remaining tie slightly under the rails.
If the IRDA is set lower, ie an inch - it would still work, just keep in mind at higher speeds of the data beamed out of the loco has to have a clear view from an angle to catch all the transmission. If the PCB is low and the IRDA sensor is "down in a hole" the view may not be long enough to catch all the info.
