Bachmann Dynamis Issues

[nockynose]

Hey all,

 

I have a Bachmann Dynamis system for a while now but havent used it much due to my slow modelling skills. Now that I have the controller in operation I notice that unless you very frequently push a button, or excellerate / decellerare, or press one of the function keys, then in a few moments (30 - 60 secs), the system trips into the "stop" mode and the loco comes to a halt and you have to de-select the stop button to resume operations. It could be that I face away from the receiver thus breaking the signal between the hand control to the receiver???

 

Either way its annoying and I didnt expect this from the supposedly all super system that it is meant to be. My layout is square so I am forever facing away from the receiver so it just may be a short coming of the system.

 

I'd love to know if anyone has had a similar issue and how they overcome it. I am tempted to trade it in on the back of this but I do like the user friendliness of the dynamis system and dont want to make a rash decision if there is a simple explanation to the problem.

 

Help!!!

 

Simon

[Beacon]

I think you may have answered your own question!

 

In my experience it is turning away from the receiver that causes the STOP function to kick in. Yes it can be annoying - I guess even more so if you have a layout shape that necessitates turning away fairly regularly. I have not personally found that it stops if inactive for any length of time and certainly not in under a minute.

 

Doesn't help your situation much I'm afraid. I, like you, have also found it a very user friendly system but then I only have a plank type layout so turning around isn't a problem except when I forget!

[Guest 009matt]

If you read the manual, there should be a section about controller time outs/ delays and you can change it in there.

[Piemanlarger]

you can set track time out to 0 seconds, this will stop you loosing your signal /control.

[dave_long]

Yes I agree with the above two posts, but just remember that if you are turning away from the reciever it may take your handset a while to reconnect (obviously not too long) and if you do need to hit the stop button it may not work straight away, same also goes when your back is turned and you try and use the stop button.

 

 

hth

[craigwelsh]

[snip] same also goes when your back is turned and you try and use the stop button.

hth

Unless you have nice white walls like me and the signal bounces off the wall, off the ceiling and over my shoulder back into the receiver .

 

I do think the IR sensors on different Dynamis are a bit variable from the spread of results people are getting from the units along with the known issue of interference sources.

 

Anyway, timeout is in the manual, I also have it set to infinite and you can then turn off the handset when you leave a loco running in on rollers.

[CovDriver]

I'm having similar problems with my dynamis handset I point the handset in the general direction of the power pack and the IR signal is very weak if any signal at all I've tried getting the hand set close to the power pack (2inches upto 6feet) and its still the same. I've tried new batteries but that doesn't work either any help would be appreciated.

[Piemanlarger]

I'm having similar problems with my dynamis handset I point the handset in the general direction of the power pack and the IR signal is very weak if any signal at all I've tried getting the hand set close to the power pack (2inches upto 6feet) and its still the same. I've tried new batteries but that doesn't work either any help would be appreciated.

 

Do you have low energy bulbs or strip lighting in the same area as the reciever?

[dave_long]

The batteries you've changed to are they rechargeable batteries?

[Dagworth]

It's also possible that wifi equipment or mobile phones near to the receiver/base unit may cause problems, the unit is not very well screened against radio frequency interference.

 

Andi

[CovDriver]

Many thagks for getting back to me on this one the new batteries aren't the rechargeable type there is a couple of low energy light bulbs I use for lighting the layout and my blackberry phone is always near by I'll try changing all the above and see what happens many thanks guys

It's also possible that wifi equipment or mobile phones near to the receiver/base unit may cause problems, the unit is not very well screened against radio frequency interference.

 

Andi

[Piemanlarger]

Many thagks for getting back to me on this one the new batteries aren't the rechargeable type there is a couple of low energy light bulbs I use for lighting the layout and my blackberry phone is always near by I'll try changing all the above and see what happens many thanks guys

 

Try turning the low energy lamps off first, they interfere with my signal if close to the recever.

[CovDriver]

^{Well what a transformation without the fluroescent tube lighting being switched on the signal was on full signal strength I could even sit on the other side of the room and drive the loco's around.}

 

^{Many thanks guys for all your hints an tips}

[the fuzzler]

^{Well what a transformation without the fluroescent tube lighting being switched on the signal was on full signal strength I could even sit on the other side of the room and drive the loco's around.}

 

^{Many thanks guys for all your hints an tips}

 

 

Have to say all this is making me feel better for not choosing a Dynamis. I didnt like the feel of the unit in my hands, nor the thought of relying on batteries. My layout will be based in a flourescently lit loft, and I dare say a good many others are in the same boat. A very interesting comment about switching off the handset when running a loco on rollers, as I hadn't thougt about this "feature". Hmmm.

[Ron Ron Ron]

....A very interesting comment about switching off the handset when running a loco on rollers, as I hadn't thougt about this "feature". Hmmm.

Yes, that's a useful tip for saving the batteries.

Otherwise the handset will either....

 

...carry on chatting away with the Command centre, using up battery life (Timeout still set to specific time - assuming there is a two-way signal, otherwise the loco will be shut down at Timeout )

 

...or simply waste power being switched on and not being used (Timeout set to infinite)

 

.

[Piemanlarger]

Have to say all this is making me feel better for not choosing a Dynamis. I didnt like the feel of the unit in my hands, nor the thought of relying on batteries. My layout will be based in a flourescently lit loft, and I dare say a good many others are in the same boat. A very interesting comment about switching off the handset when running a loco on rollers, as I hadn't thougt about this "feature". Hmmm.

 

 

I think the flouresant lamp thing is dependant on type of tube? I used a dynamis for two days the other week at a show, strip lighting 4 foot above the layout no probs.