I am confused, did you do your track layout before you built the scenery, or not? Although I understand you might have put a lot of money into it, I am not sure what step you did first? Also, pictures would be nice to understand the gravity of the situation.

Thanks Doneldon,

this is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. The Dynamis system seems kind of good value at $360, It is connecting via infrared? I imagine it is used like a remote control on a TV, where you have to point it at the sensor? You can add receivers on it at $53 each without the Pro Box, but you need the Pro Box at $500 to add controllers? Or the minute you add a wireless receiver or a controller, you need the $500 ProBox?

Yeah, we could Google it, I wasn't sure we could mix and match DCC equipment.

And I am now removing the "S" curves...

Yeah, i used my personal account on flickr.  I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures.

Similar inquiry, is there any other options to have more power for the EZ-Command than to add that expensive 5 amp unit? It seems that getting another system (Digitrax, NCE, or Dynamis type of solution) might be a better way to have more amps?

How many amp is the EZ Commander? 3 amps? adding that 5 amp unit would bring everything up to 8 amp?

I think those are the details missing, what are potential upgrade paths, and how can we tell when we need to upgrade. Trains stopped working? turnouts loses their addresses? trains just start running slower when far away from the terminal rail?

I like "S" curves, even though it might cause derailments. I am trying to split the 2 tracks in the corners so I can have the outer ones going through a mountain of some sort..

So, I'll need 2 of them? And it comes with instructions?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shleds/12004805173/

Link above should be image of my layout.

Basically I have two straight tracks, ending up in loops at the end (called a dog bone layout?). In the middle of the straight tracks, I have 2 EZ-Command DCC single crossover turnout (1 left, 1 right, part number 44137 and 44138) that connects the two straight tracks to each other.

When I plug it in, the EZ-Command unit is blinking really fast, telling me something is short. If I unhook the tracks in the whereabouts of the single crossovers, it returns to normal, if I plug one side of the turnout, it is also fine, but if I plug both tracks into it, there is a short.

I have a feeling that I need something else, to prevent the shorts, like a reversing module of some sort? Can anyone provide
me with advice on what part do I need, how many of them do I need? and where should I put it/them?

He does exist !!!

I should fire them an email as well.. I just got the Super Chief set 10 days ago, with the same problem as you.

I also bought 8 DCC turnouts for my whole layout afterwards, so those 2 manual turnouts are used for two seldom-used spurs that can easily switched manually.

The extender set says that it comes with 2 remote turnouts, but they are not, they come with 2 manual turnouts, I inspected what I received again, and there are no wires/electrical components of any kind on the turnouts. just a manual throw.

I would also be interested in knowing what machines to use with this manual turnout to power it.

I am new to the hobby, as I have just purchased the Bachmann HO Super Chief Starter Set, got my basement fitted with 7 workbenches that are 2 feet by 4 feet each, and bought 8 DCC turnouts, and a good supply of tracks.

The situation I am experiencing, as a newbie, is I am not always aware if my turnouts are in a straight or diverging position. There is no feedback on the controller to let me know the positions of the turnouts, as they are just toggling.

The question is, is there an easy way to have a visual feedback of the position of the turnout? Could a Bi-LED be soldered on the track that would indicate Red for diverging, and Green for straight? Or something similar? I am not looking at this time for a prototype layout/signal implementation, since this would be on a totally different level of expertise than what I am bringing in, but if there is an easy way to get a quick indication of the DCC turnout position without walking over to check, I would appreciate a quick "How To".

My dream design at the end is to have something that would fit the era of the F7-A locomotive used in the starter set, but I want to play with the logic of having tracks down, and having the train going around to entertain my grandkids.