The bridge would only cause problems to TMCC underneath the bridge, elsewhere it would be unaffected. I don't think the bridge is the culprit. I also don't think it is the K-line shadow rail track. Both rails are connected by virtue of the ties on the bridge tracks and the modules with regular tinplate track. So while the individual section of Shadow Rail track may not have the outer rails connected they are connected by virtue of the outer rail connections in multiple places throughout the rest of the layout.
I think the signal issues are coming from something else. My list includes:
1. Possible problem with the melted-and-repaired power box plug/recepticle. Remember that the ground connection on that plug melted due to too much current (AMPS) going through one pin on the connector. This was repaired and improved but damage may be done in the form of melted plastic residue and oxidation on the pin and socket.
2. Possible problems caused by insufficient voltage to the layout resulting in reduced voltage to the track. I am talking about the 120V power here. We are drawing all of our power for the layout through a single extension cord. I have been told that we are not achieving a full 18V power output on the tracks. It has been mentioned in OGRR that the MTH system has degraded signal with reduced voltage. It has also been mentioned in a online TMCC Tech forum that TMCC also likes higher voltages. It may be a stretch here but if we arent getting good strong incoming power there may be funny things happening on the layout. In electricity if the available voltage goes down the pulled current goes up to compensate. I wouldn't be suprized if the AC waveform is getting distorted too. In an informal conversation we figured out that our layout is capable of pulling 40 Amps at 18V AC which translated into roundabout 6 AMPS at 110V AC, this doesn't include the yard transformers or accessory transformers.
3. The TMCC Tech forum recommends to use a minimum 14Gauge wire with the 180Watt power supply due to the power (current) output of that power supply. We have 20Gauge in our harness. We may have a loop under the layout but electricity takes the easiest path. The track adds to the 20Gauge wire but bad or loose track connections will eliminate that help. Small harness wire may attribute to a voltage/current starvation at the locomotive that may disrupt command signals.
4. Problem may be at the Cab 1 remotes. Weak batteries make for very intermittant signal from the cab 1. I have noticed that a weak battery will only transmit some commands, not others and will sometimes cause the Cab 1 to only transmit every few moments. It also reduces the range you can be away from the power box. This is very easy to confuse for problems elsewhere.
5. We have 4 and sometimes more Cab 1 remotes going at the same time. All remotes communicate on the same frequency to the same command base. The command base can only take 1 command at a time. I have noticed in the past if there is a lot of command activity going on that sometimes it appears that an engine is unresponsive when really the command base is just missing the command due to the high volume of TMCC activity. This compounds when we are having TMCC problems and everyone is repeating the commands several times.
6. First generation TMCC and Protosounds 2 locomotives have had issues in the command reception department. If you have one of those locomotives they will just not perform well in a weak command signal environment. Up until recently there was an issue with the Lionel R2LC receiver board where a on board component was causing interference with the signal, newer boards have been redesigned by placing a metal box over the component on the board. Also, some command boards just dont receive as well as others.
I am sure I could think of more but I have already started a novel here so I will stop. These are just things to think about.
Adrian.
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