Extending Massoth Wireless Range

supagav

supagav

USA standard gauge in the late 1960's, in 1:29th.
Hi Folks,


We're currently having some problems with the range on our Massoth wireless system. Our line stretches the full length of our garden and some of the track work at the very top seems to be just too far for the wireless signal. We've moved the RC receiver around and most recently we installed an external aerial outside our shed to help boost the signal. I've also tried changing the frequency too to see if that would make a difference. All have helped but unfortunately we still have problems with range as the Navigators lose contact as the walls of our house get in the way.


I should also mention that the shed which houses our workshop, train yard and Massoth central station/RC receiver is right at the very bottom of the plot with the house located about 2 thirds of the way up.


It may seem slightly overkill but I was just wondering if it would be possible to run two Massoth RC receivers at the same time? One at the bottom of our garden and one at the top? Is this possible? I have seen it done on large US OO/HO indoor club layouts where the track can run between two or more rooms and repeater senders are used to boost the signal. I was thinking of running the Massoth bus cable through a conduit up the garden and mounting the second receiver in a waterproof enclosure of some kind thus giving full coverage of the whole area.


This is just a provisional idea but any thoughts or suggestions would be gratefully received!


Many thanks, G
 
I have exactly the same problem. My garden is some 80ft Long but around 60ft to where the Railway runs alongside of the House. It is this location where the signal goes fuzzy. So I spoke to Glendale Jcn about the problem and they confirmed that you can indeed have a second Arial. However they suggested a cheeper option. This was to put the Massoth Arial on to a Buiscuit Tin lid as this helps to amplify the signal. Now I have not tried this as yet as the logistics of how my Shed is built does not allow this to be done in an easy way. However you may be able to try it to see if it helps.


Oh yes it must be a Tin Lid, a plastic one will not cut the mustard. Let us know please how you get on.
JonD
 
or buy the extended range navagature? :o
 
Thanks for your thoughts Jon.

I will try that and see how it goes. The second RC unit is a more expensive way to go but we really need to find a long term solution as we are beginning to get fed up with constantly losing the signal at the top of the garden.

Just as a side thought, we currently have 3 navigators. Would it be more cost effective to retrofit the extended range RC board to replace the existing RC chip? I hadn't thought about that? How much extra range would we get? Would the walls of the house still pose the same problems?

Thanks again for your input, I really appreciate your ideas.
 
seen a new extended range nav in action on diggle vally railway ,young philp bought one from P+S hobbies
it wasincredible.. the normal navs lost signal at the ends of the line.. the extended navs had no problem , even up the lane, across a road, over a bridge.. i kid you not.. :o
 
mike said:
seen a new extended range nav in action on diggle vally railway ,young philp bought one from P+S hobbies
it wasincredible.. the normal navs lost signal at the ends of the line.. the extended navs had no problem , even up the lane, across a road, over a bridge.. i kid you not.. :o
Click to expand...


not as much fun as having to eat a tin of biscuits first though................. :D :D :D
 
I remember the tin lid suggestion from back in the days of CB radio. A good 'ground' was required to get a good signal out and a large biscuit tin seemed to do the job. In the CB case the airiel was grounded electrically to the tin though!.
 
I was looking into the extended range retrofit board and I was reading it can be up to 600 feet distance as opposed to the standard 300 feet. Is this correct?


If so, this would be ideal for us just to re-fit the navigators with the new cards but I guess my only thought is just the cost. Does anyone have any idea what these are selling for at the moment. Might consider trading in the old wireless boards against the newer ones.


Again these are just ideas so any other thoughts or suggestions are always gratefully received!
 
You could always eat the biscuits whilst fitting the upgrade card..
8)
Then you would have a 'ground plane' and souped-up navigator..
 
supagav said:
I was looking into the extended range retrofit board and I was reading it can be up to 600 feet distance as opposed to the standard 300 feet. Is this correct?


If so, this would be ideal for us just to re-fit the navigators with the new cards but I guess my only thought is just the cost. Does anyone have any idea what these are selling for at the moment. Might consider trading in the old wireless boards against the newer ones.


Again these are just ideas so any other thoughts or suggestions are always gratefully received!
Click to expand...


I sell them for £89 + £4.95p&p. None in stock at the moment, will need to order them in if you require one.
 
Thanks Mark for the info. I will have to have a wee think about that one! Many thanks for all your help guys :)
 
Stockers, yes I seam to remember talk about CB range, but mo mention about earthing the Aireil to the lid. I doubt this would be a problem though.,must experiment with this. Got to be cheeper than the 600ft Massoth Bard if it works. Sorry Mark, I may still be asking you for a couple of Boards yet. I wonder if I could swop a couple of Blue Ones for Red ones with new Boards so that I know which ones are long range?
JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
Stockers, yes I seam to remember talk about CB range, but mo mention about earthing the Aireil to the lid. I doubt this would be a problem though.,must experiment with this. Got to be cheeper than the 600ft Massoth Bard if it works. Sorry Mark, I may still be asking you for a couple of Boards yet. I wonder if I could swop a couple of Blue Ones for Red ones with new Boards so that I know which ones are long range?
JonD
Click to expand...

The long range transmitter has a wire antenna, the normal range one does not so you will be able to tell regardless of case colour.
 
By putting the antenna on a biscuit tin, you would be creating a refector, which would increase the forward gain,
 
Just to say another quick thank you for your input folks, much appreciated! Any more thoughts, please keep them them coming!
 
Have you been playing today, Gav?
 
Just another quick thought folks, if I did decide on another RC receiver, does any know what type of cable the Massoth control bus uses? Is RJ-12 the proper name?

I was thinking of maybe using the special crimp tool to make my own data cables for the wire run up the garden, but not sure about cable lengths. What would you think about a long run? Is there any kind of realistic maximum length? Agin this is all still just ideas so any thoughts are much appreciated.

Thanks again.
 
Hi Gav
Ask 'bigjack' as he has done this with his receiver using security system cable.
 
Long cable runs are possible. I have red someplace that Massoth have tested with a cable of 100m! Unshielded cables should not be run parallel to track tho.

http://forum.massoth.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=264&p=876&hilit=bus+cable#p876

I can make bus cables to any (reasonable) length. How long do you need and I'll quote you.

I have also read (Massoth forum someplace) that 2 RC receivers would clash.
 
I could easily knock you up something in Cat 5e (twisted pair data cable) for the cost of the connectors and postage..

It would need protecting from UV really, though I know of a run lasting 5 years just strung down a fence. - Not telling where though!!
8) :D
 
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