Greg,
I fail to see where using a 'spectrum analyzer' is going to help resolve the problem. All it is going to allow is one to verify another source is flooding the frequency. What is the system and type of receivers that are being affected? The 900 mHz band is full of old wireless phones and other devices. Both the Digitrax 'simplex' and the NCE radio systems use this frequency. The Digitrax 'duplex' system uses the 2.4 gHz and IIRC, uses the channel select where the device finds a channel that is free. I have never had a problem with the DT402D throttles. Our club is in a building with a chiropractic office which has lots of imaging/therapy devices and we have no problem like you describe. Maybe you need to file an incident with the FCC as most of these devices are limited to the amount of power they can transmit.
The big problems with radio/wireless throttles is range and battery life. Our club has a single UR91 simplex receiver as most of the members have DT400R throttles. We are thinking about adding 1-2 additional receivers in the future. Battery life has been resolved by using 9.6v Power-Ex re-chargeable batteries. The usual 9v batteries(even rechargeable ones) last only about 2-3 hours on a full charge.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
gregci wonder about radio interference
I don't know exactly what causes it, but I have noticed that Digitrax radio reception can be hit or miss on medium sized to large layouts with a lot of throttles in use. On nearly every layout where I've run with Digitrax radio throttles, from coast to coast, I've had to plug in to re-acquire a signal from time to time. I have not experienced this with NCE or CVP (or systems using CVP radio throttles for wireless capability like Lenz). This issue was a major factor in my decision not to go with Digitrax. That being said, I have encountered satisfied Digitrax users who claim never to have experienced the problem.
*EDIT* The above is much less noticeable on newer Digitrax radio throttles with duplex capability.
Rob Spangler
jrbernier I fail to see where using a 'spectrum analyzer' is going to help resolve the problem. All it is going to allow is one to verify another source is flooding the frequency.
yes, it verifies what the problem is, rather than guessing.
and yes, i don't know how we can resolve this problem
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
The frequencies allocated by the Federal Communications Commission for ground-based radio control devices, coupled with the restrictions on transmitter power allowed on those frequencies, restrict what manufacturers can do to eliminate interference.
Digitrax has a utility that works with the UR92 to scan the various channels and find the one with the least traffic. If all of the choices are swamped, you must have some serious network geeks nearby, because a few of the channels Digitrax supports are not normally available to wireless routers and access points without hacking them.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
wigmanI am shopping for the best DCC setup for my medium-sized personal layout. The layout is 27' x 8' and has a very long mainline and many switches and accessories. I want to get a radio controlled setup right off the bat. You opinions, please?
I want to get a radio controlled setup right off the bat.
You opinions, please?
1. As the others have said or alluded to there is no 1 best. There are many systems that will be best in your circumstance in certain ways and not best in others.
2. My first question is do you really want to run switches and accessories from the DCC system. my opinion this is a big waste of DCC power and an exercise in un-prototypical operations.
3. Talking about the radio portion only CVPs new system is the best. The NCE version 3.6 is second. I've loved the old CVP system in conjunction with the Lenz DCC and the Easy DCC. The Lenz wireless "telephone for a throttle" system sucks.
4. My 2nd DCC system was the Lenz I got in 1999? The company keeps it up to date with software upgrades for minimal (basically shipping) costs. It is just as good as if I bought a new one today.
5. You didn't say anything about a computer interface. It is easier on some systems than others.
6. I believe it was Randy who mentioned this above. I had to stop using the NCE wireless system at shows because there are so many other groups/people using them. All sorts of interference and problems controlling the trains. I take the LENZ with the CVP throttles.
Just so you know I currently own NCE Pro-R, Lenz System-100, Easy DCC, a Digitrax Zephyr, and two really old MRC systems. I belong to three different operating groups that use every system imaginable.