TMCC with SuperSnap?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Hello-

I have a SuperSnap layout running in conventional mode. Is it possible to use TMCC with SuperSnap track, or is DCS a better choice because it’s track independent?

Thanks for your assistance.

Lashup50

2

[#welcome]Lashup !! If it’s 3 rail track, you can use TMCC or DCS !!

Thanks, John

PS : even Flyer 2 rail can be TMCC !!

3

John, much obliged, thanks for the info.

Lashup50

4

I was under the impression that DCS was more “track dependent” than TMCC is (DCS “commands” go through the track, TMCC through the “air”). I’m running TMCC on FasTrack. Joe

5

Depends on your engine manufacturer not your track . Why they did’nt make them more compataible … well we know why … is costing us alot more .

6

The track is usually not an issue, how you wire the track is. DCS likes paired wiring as the command signals are transmitted along with the power. Bus style wiring tends to lead to signal loss/degradition so paired wires andd “star topology” is recommended. TMCC uses radio waves and needs a good earth ground for a reference plane for the radio signal and works best if the signal is comming off of both outside rails.

7

I was using supersnap track with TMCC. It was on a 16’ X 6’ layout. I was having problems etc. with tmcc engines and the way they responded to commands, etc. When I made the two ovals inner and outer I only had two wires leading from the transformer to the track. So there was only one feed for every 8 feet if you follow what I am saying. I think my operation would have improved with the tmcc if i had more feeds placed closer together. What I ended up doing was replacing the supersnap with fasttrack and the tmcc engines have been operating since without any problems. On the supersnap layout the conventional engines operated without any problems. Thats been my experience. Dan

8

TMCC is a radio signal. It only needs one connection. If you chose to use hi-rail track like Gargrave/Ross/Atlas that does not tie the two outside rails together you will need two wires, one for each rail. The radio signal is propogated throughout the layout by “induction”. The signal will jump isolation pins and can on occasion jump several feet to affect what are supposed to be isolated test tracks.

Signal issues are usually related to ground plane problems. This is why the three prong wall wart transformer powering the Command Base is so important. If there is not a good connection back to earth ground, the base station will not be able to broadcast a decent radio signal. Over under tracks require a groundplane reference between them to prevent signal problems. Occasionally metal structures on the layout or in the layou area will affect signals as well and on one occasion a user in a very dry climate had problems with his system when the surrounding soil moisture levels dropped to low.