Use ballast sparingly.
Lots of issues if you use too much! Just to top of sleepers is almost too much. Should not cover the ties at all. And keep away from turnouts!!!
If it does not touch the rails, no issues with detection.
I cannot count the issues we have had with too much ballast, and we use code 100 track. Code 83 would ne more sensitive to excess.
Another reason to twist the bus, induction and crosstalk. I am getting this third hand, so details may be shaky....
The DCC signal can jump from one wire to another if they run parallel. The longer the run together, the worse the issue.
Long runs of straight wires will 'talk' to each other.
The fix is to twist them. I am told that one twist in 6-8 inches works for bus wires, so 2-3 turns between drops is enough.
For table drops, we use twisted pair cable, red/black. No issues with cross talk.
Jameco has a good option, with their Value line twisted pair wire, at a good price point. I am using that for all our new arduino wiring.
Thomas
DeSoto, TX
