FASTRACK SWITCH OR TURN OUTS

DCS record script feature, where I run a train and record everything I do while it is running, will my switch changes be recorded when I flip the switch?  Does DCS record only what it is wired to record, or does it record track movements as well?

Only commands that are entered via the DCS Remote or the DCS App may be recorded by DCS and later played back. DCS cannot operate Lionel switch tracks unless they are connected to a DCS AIU and so it cannot record commands to the switch tracks unless they can be so connected.

If the wireless FasTrack switches can be operated via a control panel-mounted controller, then they should also be able to be connected to an AIU. In that case, you would be able to include the switch tracks in a DCS Record/Playback session.

This and a whole lot more about DCS is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

This and a whole lot more about DCS WiFi is all in MTH’s “The DCS WiFi Companion 2nd Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Barry & YM96,

FTCC Switches can be operated both by HHRC and by the manual switch controller, that comes with each FTCC Switch.  There should be a way to (Wire) connect everything up to the AIU, however I have not done it. I strictly run wireless, in fact HHRC operated wireless low voltage, remote control switches, are the main reason I purchased my Legacy 990 units.

YM96 you will need to take the bottom off the FTCC Switch, investigate the wire connections and run the correct wires to the AIU for every FTCC switch.  There maybe somebody here on the OGR that can give you the exact wiring instructions, you need to wire up your AIU with the FTCC Switches.  

This should be a simple matter of wiring the FTCC switches to the DCS AIU.

When somebody sits down and works out the wire connections, this would be a great addition to Barry's DCS O Gauge Companion Book, in fact both of them.  Myself I have no need for WiFi or the AIU wiring any longer.

PCRR/Dave

Barry Broskowitz posted:

DCS record script feature, where I run a train and record everything I do while it is running, will my switch changes be recorded when I flip the switch?  Does DCS record only what it is wired to record, or does it record track movements as well?

Only commands that are entered via the DCS Remote or the DCS App may be recorded by DCS and later played back. DCS cannot operate Lionel switch tracks unless they are connected to a DCS AIU and so it cannot record commands to the switch tracks unless they can be so connected.

If the wireless FasTrack switches can be operated via a control panel-mounted controller, then they should also be able to be connected to an AIU. In that case, you would be able to include the switch tracks in a DCS Record/Playback session.

---

This and a whole lot more about DCS is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

---

This and a whole lot more about DCS WiFi is all in MTH’s “The DCS WiFi Companion 2nd Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

I'm not sure, but I think the non commanded switches just have a lever that you push or pull one way or the other to manually move the slider.  Like the Thomas the train switch tracks.  I didn't notice any screws to put wires under.  But the remote controlled ones are fine, just that I can't record movements in a playback session.  Bummer.

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Barry & YM96,

FTCC Switches can be operated both by HHRC and by the manual switch controller, that comes with each FTCC Switch.  There should be a way to (Wire) connect everything up to the AIU, however I have not done it. I strictly run wireless, in fact HHRC operated wireless low voltage, remote control switches, are the main reason I purchased my Legacy 990 units.

YM96 you will need to take the bottom off the FTCC Switch, investigate the wire connections and run the correct wires to the AIU for every FTCC switch.  There maybe somebody here on the OGR that can give you the exact wiring instructions, you need to wire up your AIU with the FTCC Switches.  

This should be a simple matter of wiring the FTCC switches to the DCS AIU.

When somebody sits down and works out the wire connections, this would be a great addition to Barry's DCS O Gauge Companion Book, in fact both of them.  Myself I have no need for WiFi or the AIU wiring any longer.

PCRR/Dave

I noticed in the AIU manual in the MTH site that their switch track, probably using Realtrax, have four screws on them that allow you to hook the 1,2, and N controls of the AIU.  I like the totally remote idea that Lionel has invented.  I covet wireless.  But you are correct when you say ALL of the switches will have to be hooked up, and an AIU only has 10 spots per unit.  I have 16 switches at last count.  So if I go with this method, and the switches can be hooked up, I will have to add an additional AIU to my layout.  Starting with Fastrack sort of forces me to stay with it.  I don't think Realtrax will hook to fastrack.

Does the FasTrack switch come with a manual controller or instructions for connecting it to a manual controller? If so, connect it to the AIU in that way.

Both of my books have a discussion, with pictures, of how to connect a non-wireless FasTrack switch to an AIU. If you desire to use FasTrack, just purchase those switch tracks instead of the command-controlled ones. Those will connect to the AIU without any problems.

As far as the cost of the 2 AIUs is concerned, the non-command FasTrack switch tracks are approx. $20 each less expensive than their command-controlled brethren and the savings of $320 for 16 switches will more than pay for 2 AIUs at about $100 each.

Barry,

   All of my FTCC Switches came with a manual controller, I sure hope they still provide one with the newest generation of FTCC Switches.  I use them Track Side for Switch number identification right on the layout, near each FTCC Switch.  You can still move the manual controller/light cover station from one side of the switch to the other, under the bottom of the switch on my FTCC Switches.  I have done this with several of mine, to accommodate layout space.  I do believe there was an instruction sheet in the FTCC Switch Box for connecting the manual controllers to the FTCC Switch.  However my 1st generation FTCC Switches, had the manual controllers already connected to the Switches.

PCRR/Dave

I had my Fastrack remote switches wire to the AIU and ran that way for a few years before converting all to command control.  The 3 wires from the switch motor go to the AIU ports exactly the same way as any other switch motor.  Fastrack switch motors are very low draw so no relays or anything else is required.

Danr posted:

I had my Fastrack remote switches wire to the AIU and ran that way for a few years before converting all to command control.  The 3 wires from the switch motor go to the AIU ports exactly the same way as any other switch motor.  Fastrack switch motors are very low draw so no relays or anything else is required.

Thanks Dan.  That tells me everything I need to know, and it saves me a ton.  With the money I save I can buy the second AIU I will need and maybe one or two more switches when I see how many I will actually need.  The problem, I don't think there are any O72 manually driven switches.  I have one of those mammoth DDA40X Union Pacific Whales and it requires O72 curve to run smoothly.  I bought O84 to be safe.  I guess the company thinks once you are into that size of locomotives, you can afford the command remotes.  Afford is not the issue, it's usability the way I want to use them.  The 40X is an MTH train.  But, the mission goes on I guess, I'll see if they have at least O60 and just slow down when I switch.  

I think these are what you seek...

FasTrack  Right   FasTrack Left   FasTrack Y

Barry Broskowitz posted:

I think these are what you seek...

FasTrack  Right   FasTrack Left   FasTrack Y

 

So I need the Remote only switch, not the Remote/Command?  Remote only gives me the wires I need to connect to the AIU where remote/command is wireless?  I just hope somebody sells 16 of them at a reasonable price.  Model train stuff only has the command track in o72.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

I think these are what you seek...

FasTrack  Right   FasTrack Left   FasTrack Y

 

Barry i'm confused about these remote/command switches.  When I look on the lionel website I see switches that say remote/command and they have a remote with wires attached, and some have pictures of remotes with no wires attached, and when you look at some pictures containing the box they come in, there I a little picture on the box that specifically says, no wires.  What gives?

So I need the Remote only switch, not the Remote/Command?  Remote only gives me the wires I need to connect to the AIU where remote/command is wireless? 

Yes and yes.

When I look on the lionel website I see switches that say remote/command and they have a remote with wires attached

The ones I indicated are the less expensive FasTrack O72 switch tracks that you need to connect to the AIU. They will not work wirelessly with a Legacy Base and Cab-2.

YM96,

   Better purchase the non FTCC Switches while you can, they are cheaper and Lionel is only making FTCC Switches from this point on, as far as I know the FTCC switches will continue to have manual controllers supplied as part of the switch.  No more regular manually (Only) controlled Switches will be produced.

In reality you can use either the regular manually Controlled FT Switch or the FTCC Switch.  The wiring method to connect the AIU will be the same.

Sounds like you got all the info you need to use your AIU with the FT Switches.

Have fun wiring!

PCRR/Dave

Don't settle for O60 switches (especially since you have a DDA40X in your roster) as you'll regret it later.  The links that Barry posted are exactly what you are looking for.  I bought my from Nicholas Smith Trains about a month ago.  They are a forum sponsor, and have the absolute best price you'll find on these NIB.

drelo posted:

Don't settle for O60 switches (especially since you have a DDA40X in your roster) as you'll regret it later.  The links that Barry posted are exactly what you are looking for.  I bought my from Nicholas Smith Trains about a month ago.  They are a forum sponsor, and have the absolute best price you'll find on these NIB.

Thanks drelo.  It's not that I am settling for O60, it's that Model Train Stuff where I get my track items, sells Lionel at a reduced priced, very reduced.  But you can only buy what they sell.  They are in love with the command remote track.  The only DDA40X compatible switch is the 072.  They don't have the Remote wired 072 in stock.  Any other place I've looked sells them for way more than they do.  They did have 060, but you're right, I shouldn't settle.  I'll take a look at Nicholas Smith.  Thanks again

I do understand the Fastrack CC switches do come with the manual remote control but are these prewired as the older (Non CC) switches were?  Any "pictures" I see show the manual remote control but no wires coming from it to the switch mechanism?

Thanks

Bart,

Any "pictures" I see show the manual remote control but no wires coming from it to the switch mechanism?

If there's a manual controller, there must be wire terminals, as well.

Barry & Bart1,

My 1st generation FTCC switches all came with the manual controller wired right to the switch.  6 months later when purchasing more switches, the controller also came with the switch wires included, and I had to wire the controller to the FTCC Switch myself.

I have not purchased a FTCC Switch recently to see how Lionel is Packaging & Shipping the switches at the present time.

PCRR/Dave

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Barry & Bart1,

My 1st generation FTCC switches all came with the manual controller wired right to the switch.  6 months later when purchasing more switches, the controller also came with the switch wires included, and I had to wire the controller to the FTCC Switch myself.

I have not purchased a FTCC Switch recently to see how Lionel is Packaging & Shipping the switches at the present time.

PCRR/Dave

 

I'm seeing the same thing.  I do know that the remote/command switches have "no wires" on the box.  As you said, some of the remote only pictures show wires running from the track piece to the remote switch.  Others don't.  I did find a site thanks to another member, Nick Smith Trains I think, that has what I need for less than I have seen on other sites.  I just need 18 of them.  9 right, 9 left.

Except for the radio receiver inside the Command version of the switch, they are identical to the wired remote control switch.  They can be used with a wired switch control or the AIU.

Danr posted:

Except for the radio receiver inside the Command version of the switch, they are identical to the wired remote control switch.  They can be used with a wired switch control or the AIU.

Wonderful.  So even if I get the command switch I still have the ability to hook them to an AIU.  Great to know.  Thanks Dan.

Danr posted:

I had my Fastrack remote switches wire to the AIU and ran that way for a few years before converting all to command control.  The 3 wires from the switch motor go to the AIU ports exactly the same way as any other switch motor.  Fastrack switch motors are very low draw so no relays or anything else is required.

Dan.  Didn't want to devote a whole thread to one question, so I picked you to ask.  When setting up two multiple tracks where you want the trains to run side by side or meet going opposite directions, how far apart should the tracks be to ensure the locomotives or cars don't sideswipe each other?  I'm using fastrack.

Thanks