Large Scale Central

Range Conundrum

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

This one is so bizarre, that you will think I’m making it up just for controversy. Believe me, I am not!
At my layout, we get 100 feet of range for all the AirWire/Phoenix P5 commands and functions.
At a friend’s layout, we get 100 feet as well.
This includes inside tunnels, behind mountains, etc.

At a third friend’s layout, we get 15 feet or less of range!
We still get forward, reverse, and stop and go at 100 feet.
However, all Phoenix functions, except the diesel idle go away.
We cannot blow horns, ring bells, or use any functions.

Here is the only difference:
Mine and layout 2 are raised.
Layout three is on the ground.

Any comments or input on this one?

I’m going to post this on other boards, as well.

John

#2

John talk to Mike Reiley, we had this discussion over on the other site the other nite on chat, and you can ask him about any nite as he is pretty much always there! He can explain this to you in great detail has something to do with radio waves, and a example he used was am/ and I believe fm radio stations in your car. If you dont want to join in on the chat just ask him the question through his email, he can explain this fully to you so you will understand!!! Airwire has best range because of working on 900mhz better than the 27mhz more range, and up off of the ground has something to do with it also. My layout is on the ground and I am having the same problem with my airwire T9000 even!! So as Mike Der Ya Go would say. The Regal

#3

I use the airwire T9000, my layout is on the ground and i get well over 100 feet. Actually come to think of it my yard is 265 feet deep and i can almost do the whole thing. Now at another layout i visited, they had a eight 8 foot chain link fence on three sides and i was lucky to get 15 feet. If i put fresh batteries in the controller, i get about 50 feet at that same place but nowhere near the range in my yard. At another friends layout I get about 100 feet. His layout is elevated but he uses metal posts.

#4

Mine has a 6 foot chain link fence on three sides as well. The layout is three feet away from the fences.

No problems with range.

It all has to do with interference, radio waves absorbing into the ground, the type of ballast, your neighbors remote phone, your garage door opener, Sun solar flares and you have to hold your tongue just right when operating! :slight_smile: :slight_smile:
And other ancient Chinese secrets!

What a load of BS!

You spend all this money on the systems and it won’t work on every ones layout. Including the poor sap who owns the third layout.

j

#5

Jerry,
Talked to Mike via e-mail.
Thanks for the introduction.

My head is still swimming after reading his thesis.

j

#6

When I was installing the RCS gear in my locos it was suggested that I run the antennae in the receiver to one side of the trucks and through the wheels so the signal would travel through the track. It works pretty well. If your on the other side of the layout, you can hold the transmitter down near the track and the receiver will pick it up pretty good. The track acts as a large antennae or maybe just a booster. It’s all “Freakin Magic” to me anyway…:wink:

#7

Ken, I have done the same thing with great results. Nick Jr

#8

Sometimes you lay awake at night pondering different things.
Last night this was one of those things.
And then I remembered this:

Two years ago, one of our club members introduced us to RC/Bat for the first time.
On this particular layout (#3) he only had about 2 feet of range with his RCS!. He had to put the transmitter right down next to the loco!
It works fine elsewhere.

2 feet of range!

Numerous discussions were held with TOC, among them the track was the antenna, etc etc.
I responded with something about insulators on the track. (This is a track powered layout with enough wiring underground to put the space shuttle to shame!).

Apparently this poor guy lives under a black cloud!.

Jonathan Bliesner and Mike Reily have responded to my other posts on other fora with responses.
Batt/RC is not an exact science!
You have air planes, boats, cars, and trains. All RC controlled with various means of transmitting and receiving.
Trains, being their environment, are the hardest to pin down as to the “quirks.”
http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/forumid/35/postid/24625/view/topic/Default.aspx
There is no fix at layout #3, short of digging up the entire layout, refilling it with none conducting material. And raising it up, and…

RCS got 2 feet of range.
Airwire 15 feet.
Haven’t tried an onboard Aristo te. I have one. I might just install it and see what happens.
Haven’t tried Loco Link–No one around here has one.

On to other things…
j

#9

Oh, I forgot to add:
With the Airwire, we can stop, go, forward and reverse on this particular layout–#3.
It’s the Phoenix P5 that won’t respond after 15 feet.

The RCS wouldnt respond to any command.
j

#10

I can solve that problem! Go to Track Power!

#11

Sounds like this layout is in a very hot RF zone. Is there a transmitting tower of any sort (cellular, radio, TV) close by? How about an airport or weather station? Does the cable TV wire run overhead near the layout? There are tons of other potential interference generators including home appliances.

Not the fault of the R/C equipment if it works elsewhere.

And yes, it is a black art.

#12

jb, sounds like Steve’s layout…

#13

you guessed it!

#14

I don’t get very good range in my yard. I have too many pecan trees !

#15
Fred Weigold said:
I can solve that problem! Go to Track Power!
I would, Poss, but I can't bend over to scrub track or install Hillmans anymore. :) :)
#16

They’re getting our rooms ready in the old folks home now. Mine will probably have padded walls. Hope I get a good rocker its about all I’m good for!

#17
John Bouck said:
Fred Weigold said:
I can solve that problem! Go to Track Power!
I would, Poss, but I can't bend over to scrub track or install Hillmans anymore. :) :)
Wait a minute! I thought your stuff was elevated?
#18

It is.
Still a bitch to kneel down and work on track electrical stuff.
j

#19

Problem was solved with motor chokes.
Range is fine now on layout three.
Or should I say within tolerances.
jb