use the track rails as wires

G'day all, I wish to connect a  sound unit located at the control panel and use the track rails as “wires” to send the filtered audio impulse [ Train noises ] to a speaker on board the loco. Will this work with DCC or will it throw a spanner in the works.
Thanks in advance, Jeff.

Hi Jeff,


I am no expert on anything  never mind DCC but it sounds like you are going to send a sound signal down a length of track that your DCC command signal is already traveling on to give running instructions to your decoders. personally I think you would have problems doing this. This could only potentially corrupt your DCC decoder signal creating erratic running I would think.


Max or Sol would be the chaps to give you a more qualified answer I would think. I'll watch with interest as you have me curious now.


hope you find your answer


cheers


toto

Good question !  I too know nothing about DCC.. How does the controller "talk " to the chip in the loco . electronic pulses that the chip recognises ? ( think Morse code ) and how would your sound travel along the same rails..electronic pulses again ? And how will your speaker interpret the signal ?   Too many bloomin questions !!  I too am intrigued. Come on you hegsperts. Let the discussion begin ! ( sitting ready to watch with popcorn and drink )


Cheers

   Matt

Interesting question Jeff,
When one looks at German DCC systems they dont use BUS wires but connect directly to the track with dedicated track/power connectors.Of course they use a higher voltage than the US/British systems probably to counter voltage drop though rail joint connectors ?.So the loco decoders pick up sound and instructions through the rails.
Now I am not sure on splitting the system through BUS wires and rails ?.Moe experienced users could come up with an answer.
Derek.

PS:The rails would have to be kept very clean at all times one would think with this system.

as far as I see it the only thing that will corrupt a dcc signal is a high freqency signal as in electronic track cleaners,the decoders only pick up the signal intended for them so it should all work ok, I have a sound decoder that uses the track for ops but an ifra red signal for instruction,that is ok too
:thumbs;-):cool:

Hi Jeff

There is not enough info in your question to give you a sensible answer.  Without asking you many questions about your DCC system and the proposed unit.  My initial feeling would be for you to put a sound decoder in your loco and play the sound in the conventional DCC manner.  It sounds like you would be heading into unknown territory.

Not that's a bad idea -coming from someone who's pushing the boundaries of Railroad & Co. 

I know of a forum where there are boffins who love this kind of stuff and who will probably be able to help.

It's a closed forum.  Membership by referral only.

PM me for further info.

Cheers