Dual 990 Legacy with Dual DCS

I'm glad the two Legacy units work well together, Dave!!

Just a little helpful info for you:

Unless you have 2 separate layouts, you only need one Legacy base.  If you wanted an extra CAB2, you should have bought the 993 set.  The 993 set is just a CAB2 and Charging ONLY base.  Its also cheaper.  You said the second base is not connected to the track.  But if it is on, and just near the layout , it can still affect the engines on the track.  Setting the channel on the base only configures its communication with the remote and not its communication with the engines.  A Legacy base can talk to multiple CAB2s at the same time.  I would turn off the second base.  Its not needed at all for just one layout.

I have to agree with Joe, the second Legacy base could cause issues if the signal couples to the track.  However, if you want to minimize the possibility of that happening, a .1uf capacitor connected between the track connection and pin 5 of the serial connector will damp out the track signal so that it won't affect your operations.

OTOH, having a spare base is never a bad idea, I have one that I simply keep in a box, I have a #993 charging base to charge my remotes.

Gentlemen,

   If the 2nd Legacy Base ever causes problems I will let you know, otherwise it stays on and not connected to the tracks, the antenna is not on that Base unit either.  Could does not make it, it either does or it does not interfere with operations.  Now if the one Base unit can damage the other because it in the same area and turned on, that would be a different situation.  So far everything works perfectly.

The reason for the 2nd 990 is that my 990 legacy has been repaired twice now, I never intend to loose the ability to run my FTCC Switches thru out the full Train Room again, not to mention running my Legacy/TMCC Engines.   The 993 does not give me that ability, however the 2nd 990 does.

PCRR/Dave

Dual Legacy 990 and Dual DCS working well thru out the new Train Room.

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Gentlemen,

   If the 2nd Legacy Base ever causes problems I will let you know, otherwise it stays on and not connected to the tracks, the antenna is not on that Base unit either.  Could does not make it, it either does or it does not interfere with operations.  Now if the one Base unit can damage the other because it in the same area and turned on, that would be a different situation.  So far everything works perfectly.

The reason for the 2nd 990 is that my 990 legacy has been repaired twice now, I never intend to loose the ability to run my FTCC Switches thru out the full Train Room again, not to mention running my Legacy/TMCC Engines.   The 993 does not give me that ability, however the 2nd 990 does.

PCRR/Dave

Dual Legacy 990 and Dual DCS working well thru out the new Train Room.

 

 

sooner or later you will probably have issues.

it is a waste of money to have two operating 990's on at the same time

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Gentlemen,

 The one thing that surprised me was the fact that any Cab2 HHRC can take control of any Legacy/TMCC Engine with out a special access operating code, just by being in the operating area of the layout.  I can see how the HI Railers with the big Kennywood Layout could have problems, with people bringing their own Legacy HHRC into their layout area.  

 

That is a concern and I've seen individuals bring remotes to shows and control trains on the layouts. It is a nice feature when a guest at home suddenly needs assistance to avoid a collision, and a reason all the remotes have all the engines. Saves on pressing the emergency stop button as that may not be the system controlling track power.

BigDodgeTrain,

   I worked hard and earned every bit of my money, never wasted a dime of it.  I do use it as I see fit however.  One man's excess is another mans pocket change, depending on his economic position. 

PCRR/Dave

The antenna on the base is the communication link to the remote not to the trains, so you aren't gaining anything by not having it mounted to the base if the bases are already on different channels.

At the very least, make sure you have a dust cap on it, but ideally it should be terminated in a 50 ohm load (like the antenna) or an actual load, but you'd need to order one from an RF house for the connector type (I seem to recall it's a reverse SMA connector from when there were discussions about using other antennas to get better remote to base communications for large layouts)

-Dave

Dave,

  What you are advising is that I should just put the antenna on the Legacy Base unit to eliminate any contamination problems.  Sounds good to me.  

PCRR/Dave

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Dave,

  What you are advising is that I should just put the antenna on the Legacy Base unit to eliminate any contamination problems.  Sounds good to me.  

PCRR/Dave

That too. 

I was actually more concerned with an un-terminated RF port that expects to see 50 ohms, and/or the uncovered port being susceptible to ESD discharge if it is accidentally touched.

Being a piece of consumer electronics, there is probably some level of protection built in.  But the design may also assume the antenna is hooked up.

-Dave

Dave45681,

Good advise I appreciate it, will install the Antenna to eliminate any accidental problems also.

PCRR/Dave

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

BigDodgeTrain,

   I worked hard and earned every bit of my money, never wasted a dime of it.  I do use it as I see fit however.  One man's excess is another mans pocket change, depending on his economic position. 

PCRR/Dave

based on others that have answered about esd discharge, I have decided to add some more.

just because you have " I worked hard and earned every bit of my money, never wasted a dime of it." you are wasting money now!

the system is trying to work and you have it sitting there trying to do its job heating up and cooling down each time you start up your layout yet it can not do its job, this is waste.  whether you see it or not an electrical devise is made to work not sit there plugged in doing nothing.

so whether you see it or not you have wasted a good device.

Big Dodge Trains,

   No sir, the 2nd 990 unit is a back up, just like my generator for my home, neither is a waste of money, just because they are not fully operational until I need them, and I picked up the 2nd 990 Legacy unit for less than I could purchase a Cab1L with Base1L.  A win for me IMO.

Now if one 990 damages the other by having them in the same area, that is a different matter.

PCRR/Dave

I have to agree with Dave on this one.  Picking up a used 990 set with Cab-2 at a good price to be used as a backup is not a waste, IMHO.  Did the same thing myself.

should something happen to the primary base, you can recover the latest base backup to the backup unit and it is up and running in a few minutes.  Access to engines, accessories, lashups, switches, routes (basically everything on my layout) continue without interruption while the primary gets shipped off for repair.  And while it is sitting there as a backup, why not have it charge the batteries in the second Cab-2?

so you are saying you leave your generator run all the time?

didn't think so,

but you leave your second 990 plugged in and trying to put out a signal all the time. 

do you leave your second tv turned on all the time so if you walk into the room you will not have it turn it on?

you are missing the point. 

having a second unit is one thing,

having plugged in trying to do its job working the components is another.

you can not see the forest for the trees.

MrMoe50 posted:

I have to agree with Dave on this one.  Picking up a used 990 set with Cab-2 at a good price to be used as a backup is not a waste, IMHO.  Did the same thing myself.

should something happen to the primary base, you can recover the latest base backup to the backup unit and it is up and running in a few minutes.  Access to engines, accessories, lashups, switches, routes (basically everything on my layout) continue without interruption while the primary gets shipped off for repair.  And while it is sitting there as a backup, why not have it charge the batteries in the second Cab-2?

 

you are missing the point!

he leaves it plugged in and running all the time.

bigdodgetrain posted:

MrMoe50 posted:

I have to agree with Dave on this one.  Picking up a used 990 set with Cab-2 at a good price to be used as a backup is not a waste, IMHO.  Did the same thing myself.

should something happen to the primary base, you can recover the latest base backup to the backup unit and it is up and running in a few minutes.  Access to engines, accessories, lashups, switches, routes (basically everything on my layout) continue without interruption while the primary gets shipped off for repair.  And while it is sitting there as a backup, why not have it charge the batteries in the second Cab-2?

 

you are missing the point!

 

he leaves it plugged in and running all the time.

Actually, I believe you are missing the point!  He is using the charging capabilities of the base......since he can, to charge his second Cab-2, not usng the Legacy signal.  It is on a different channel, no antenna and not attached to the layout.

We will have to agree to disagree.  That’s the great thing about this hobby, not everyone has to be of the same mindset.

MrMoe50 posted:

bigdodgetrain posted:

MrMoe50 posted:

I have to agree with Dave on this one.  Picking up a used 990 set with Cab-2 at a good price to be used as a backup is not a waste, IMHO.  Did the same thing myself.

should something happen to the primary base, you can recover the latest base backup to the backup unit and it is up and running in a few minutes.  Access to engines, accessories, lashups, switches, routes (basically everything on my layout) continue without interruption while the primary gets shipped off for repair.  And while it is sitting there as a backup, why not have it charge the batteries in the second Cab-2?

 

you are missing the point!

 

he leaves it plugged in and running all the time.

Actually, I believe you are missing the point!  He is using the charging capabilities of the base......since he can, to charge his second Cab-2, not usng the Legacy signal.  It is on a different channel, no antenna and not attached to the layout.

We will have to agree to disagree.  That’s the great thing about this hobby, not everyone has to be of the same mindset.

I understand fully what he is doing.   the 993 would give him the charging ability with out hurting the command components.

my only point is he is wasting the components and he came back with a comment he is not wasting anything.

if you can not understand that I can not help you either.

you have to remember lots of people read these forums.

I am only pointing out you do not need to have two 990's plugged in charge your remotes. a 990 and a 993.

having a spare 990 in case you have to send one back is not the issue, lots us do that.

BDT,

   I do not remember asking for any help, there is no problem using the 2, 990 Legacy Units in the manner I am using them.  If a problem actually occurs I will let everyone know.  Using the 990 Legacy units in a manner you happen to disagree with, does not make it wrong or bad advise.  I engineer a lot of projects that do not absolutely need to be completed, however they sure make life a lot easier. 

MRMOR50,

It seem we are both using the 2, Legacy 990 units in the same manner, have you ever experienced any problems with running in this manner.

PCRR/Dave

bigdodgetrain posted:

MrMoe50 posted:

bigdodgetrain posted:

MrMoe50 posted:

I have to agree with Dave on this one.  Picking up a used 990 set with Cab-2 at a good price to be used as a backup is not a waste, IMHO.  Did the same thing myself.

should something happen to the primary base, you can recover the latest base backup to the backup unit and it is up and running in a few minutes.  Access to engines, accessories, lashups, switches, routes (basically everything on my layout) continue without interruption while the primary gets shipped off for repair.  And while it is sitting there as a backup, why not have it charge the batteries in the second Cab-2?

 

you are missing the point!

 

he leaves it plugged in and running all the time.

Actually, I believe you are missing the point!  He is using the charging capabilities of the base......since he can, to charge his second Cab-2, not usng the Legacy signal.  It is on a different channel, no antenna and not attached to the layout.

We will have to agree to disagree.  That’s the great thing about this hobby, not everyone has to be of the same mindset.

I understand fully what he is doing.   the 993 would give him the charging ability with out hurting the command components.

my only point is he is wasting the components and he came back with a comment he is not wasting anything.

if you can not understand that I can not help you either.

Never asked for your help with anything.  I understood your point, I just don’t agree with you.  Doesn’t mean I need your help.  As I said, it just means we disagree.  If that frustrates you, I cannot help you.

Not to the point ... but a little bit of a different spin.

I have used Legacy since Year One of the Legacy Era.  About 8 months ago, I bought a 993 unit for the "exclusive" use of our 5-year-old grandson.

Best investment I've made in a long, long time!

I assume that a nicely operating 990 along with another 990 would serve the same purpose.  If it works, sounds great to me.  

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

BDT,

   I do not remember asking for any help, there is no problem using the 2, 990 Legacy Units in the manner I am using them.  If a problem actually occurs I will let everyone know.  Using the 990 Legacy units in a manner you happen to disagree with, does not make it wrong or bad advise.  I engineer a lot of projects that do not absolutely need to be completed, however they sure make life a lot easier. 

MRMOR50,

It seem we are both using the 2, Legacy 990 units in the same manner, have you ever experienced any problems with running in this manner.

PCRR/Dave

Dave,

I have had a similar setup as you for years without any issues whatsoever.  Only difference is that I have the antenna connected to the backup base.  It is only used to communicate with the Cab-2, and since the backup base is on a different channel than both my Cab-2’s that connect to my primary base, there is no fear of it interferring with the Legacy signal.....at least it hasn’t in the 6 years I’ve had it this way.

I picked up the second base and Cab-2 several years back for less than $200.  I couldn’t pass it up.

Gary

Gary,

  Thank you sir, I recently picked up my 2nd 990 Legacy unit from Mark at a very reasonable price and could not afford to pass it up either.  I may even purchase a 993 from one of the other OGR forum members if the price is right.  

Glad to hear you have never had any problems running in the manner we are.  I did install the antenna to keep the contamination out of the unit, definitely good advise.

PCRR/Dave