Radio control problem/

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mikeyh

Radio control problem/

Post by mikeyh » Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:57 pm

Hi. First question from a newbie. I want to radio control my locos using the excellent stuff from Brian Jones, my question is;If I want to build a tunnel on my layout what is the maximum length it could be before losing the signal ( there will be no live track to take over)

Mike

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Post by mhlr » Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:32 pm

ooooh, thats a good point! Will you have a access point for derailments etc?
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mikeyh

Post by mikeyh » Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:36 pm

Wasn't planning one. Will just have to lie down and haul it out!
I would like to have a short tunnel basically for the effect but i wondered whether there was a restriction for the signal

Mike

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Post by mhlr » Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:42 pm

well, if it is short, it should be ok... but I wont have a long tunnel on mine...
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mikeyh

Post by mikeyh » Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:54 pm

Yes I can see problems with a long tunnel. My track will be an elongated 'dogbone' with the straight at a two platform station and the two 'circles' at each end will give it some character. I thought perhaps putting in a short tunnel under some conifers but maybe i should rethink that?

Mike

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Post by mhlr » Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:57 pm

http://www.freewebs.com/north-downs-light-railway/
look at this guys tunnel, you could just make a longer version... double it...
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mikeyh

Post by mikeyh » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:02 pm

Nice one but I would like it a bit longer. A short one like that would have been a cutting!

Mike

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Post by andysleigh » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:30 pm

hi mike.

at my club we have a tunnel that spands the width of this track

http://gmes.org.uk/photos/2007-05%20Pub ... _3388.html

you can see the little cut away on top on both sides. is that long enough or to short.

that lenth seems to work fine

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Post by mhlr » Tue Dec 25, 2007 12:04 am

hey, merry chrismas!!! (12.00)
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mikeyh

Post by mikeyh » Tue Dec 25, 2007 6:10 am

Merry Christmas to All.

That tunnel length is ideal; long enough to be believable but short enough to recover anything. No prob with R/C?

Mike

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Post by andysleigh » Tue Dec 25, 2007 7:47 am

merry christmas

theres no problem with rc, most of the locos at my club are rc .

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Post by steamyjim » Tue Dec 25, 2007 9:41 am

Ive never had problems with RC and tunnels, i think the only problem is derailments ;)

Maesffordd-paul

Post by Maesffordd-paul » Wed Dec 26, 2007 6:59 pm

Ideally if you're planning a tunnel it shouldn't be more than two arms' length (so you can reach any derailment from either end.). I have a tunnel here on the MNGR which is about 3 foot long, with approximately 3 inches of earth on top and have not had any problem with signal loss on R/C loco's, I think a lot of it probably hangs on the strength of signal emitted by transmitter, and how much of it is picked up by the receiver. a good "aerial" on the loco' makes all the difference.
Of course the other thing with a tunnel is to make sure you have plenty of clearance around the train, it's guaranteed that on your first open day someone will want to run something big through the tunnel. In my case it was a chap with a Garratt, it made it through the tunnel (just) and cleared all the cobwebs out that the other loco's couldn't reach. Much to everyone's amusement.:)
Hope this helps.

Paul.S

mikeyh

Post by mikeyh » Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:17 pm

Thankyou Paul your reply clarifies everything!

mike

ACLR

Post by ACLR » Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:02 pm

Hi paul im not sure if Ive welcomed you to the forum so welcome.
would love to see some pictures of your garden railway :D

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Post by mhlr » Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:04 pm

try this ACLR: http://www.maesffordd-railway.co.uk/ has everything on...
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Maesffordd-paul

Post by Maesffordd-paul » Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:45 pm

ACLR wrote:Hi paul im not sure if Ive welcomed you to the forum so welcome.
would love to see some pictures of your garden railway :D
I think you did, quite a while ago. Pictures??? you've already seen the video, what more do you want? LOL :lol:

Paul.

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Post by mhlr » Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:53 pm

and a very good video too!
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ACLR

Post by ACLR » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:09 pm

ahhh well getting dotty in my old age lol

Maesffordd-paul

Post by Maesffordd-paul » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:10 pm

ACLR wrote:ahhh well getting dotty in my old age lol
It get's worse as you get older, I promise! LOL.

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