SPDTs can be momentary or bi-static, depending on the switch. If your existing SPST switches are momentary, then you should replace them with momentary SPDTs (w/o center-off position). Twisted pair wire can be purchased, but it can be made from two separate, insulated wires with a simple jig that employs a pair of fishing swivels (one per wire in the pair) fastened to a short bar (wood, metal, plastic.) The swivels allow the wires themselves to not twist while wrapping around each other. You clamp one end of both wires together to the edge of a bench top, etc., and connect the other end of the wires to the swivels on your jig. Now, start twisting the wires together with the jig in your hands. You could even put a screw through the middle of the bar (between the two swivels, but on the opposite side of the bar,) then chuck that screw up in a hand drill, and let 'er rip! Twisting insulated wires together increases their mutual inductance, without adding overall inductance. This helps reduce any generated noise from emanating from the wires, as well as reducing the ability for external noise to couple onto the wires. Direction of twist does not matter. In a pinch, zip cord (like used for small appliances) will work too, even though it is not twisted. Just keeping the signal and return wire uniformly close together over the distance spanned helps.
Why I said it’s not in the near future isn’t because I don’t know what they are or how to make them, it’s because I have no more wire in stock in my collection and bills need to be covered and what not before I can buy more. I understand the mutual inductance and why it’s important. My current career path is IT and the CAT 5 and 6 cable we use for networking. So I talked a great deal with Nate from Digitrax and we came to the conclusion that the DS64s auto power up feature may be playing a part and that some inductive noise could be playing a part as well. He was impressed how I wired it up do be used in both DC and DCC but did say the layout wiring was beyond the scope of what they could help with, but he didn’t think it was the cause of the problem. He agreed that a filter blocking the DCC frequencies would be a big help, and he told me the DCS210 produces a frequency between 5khz and 9khz. That’s awesome as I now know what I need to build a filter to cover. Before I go the build a filter route I’m gonna try the ferrite cores I have first.
Those are likely the fundamental frequencies of DCC, but the harmonics from the square(ish) waveform are more likely the issue, being higher frequencies from the corners and edge rates. Let us know when you get back to it. Hobbies are what we do between life's necessities.
I wish my o scope had a memory function. Hell I forgot I even had it, and could have used it to find the required freqs. I will let you know, right now I have my 3d printer out and it’s taking up the room I will need for the command station and modules. I will be working on it here soon.
