Adding a second TIU

Your first TIU most likely blinks one time so change that to TIU 2. Then add the new TIU which should blink once for TIU 1. Then put them both into super mode. If you are religious, say a prayer. 

Bobbie,

From pages 118-119 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Adding Additional TIUs

Using more than one TIU allows more DCS signal to be allocated for larger layouts. Up to 5 TIUs may be used on a single layout and each one must have a unique TIU ID#. 

First, increment the DCS ID# of all TIUs currently on the layout as follows: 

• Press Menu to enter the DCS Menus 

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to SYSTEM and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to TIU SETUP and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to EDIT TIU ADDRESS and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• A list of currently available TIUs is displayed. Use the thumbwheel to scroll to the highest numbered TIU currently in service on the layout and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• A list of available addresses to which the TIU may be changed is displayed. Use the thumbwheel to scroll to the next higher TIU address and press the thumbwheel to select it. The TIU Address is changed and the Engine Control Screen is displayed.

Second, physically connect the new TIU to the layout. It will have DCS ID# 1. Each TIU that has been renumbered will also have any AIUs associated with it remain associated with it, however, their path will now start with the newly renumbered TIU.

Third, re-add TIU#1 to the remote: 

• Press Menu to enter the DCS Menus 

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to SYSTEM and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to TIU SETUP and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to ADD TIU and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• A list of all TIUs not currently in the DCS Remote is displayed. Select TIU #1 by scrolling to it using the thumbwheel and pressing the thumbwheel to add it to the DCS Remote

Finally, add to all other layout remotes the number of the new TIU as follows: 

• Press Menu to enter the DCS Menus 

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to SYSTEM and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to TIU SETUP and press the thumbwheel to select it

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to ADD TIU and press the thumbwheel to select it

• A list of all TIUs not currently in the DCS Remote is displayed. Select the lowest numbered TIU by scrolling to it using the thumbwheel and pressing the thumbwheel to add it to the DCS Remote.

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

then say another prayer

then say another prayer

Very helpful!!

Barry,

To be honest, I believe that Don and I were expressing some frustration.  We have worked on implementing DCS on Don's large layout, on and off for months now.  Step by step, followed all the "rules", made changes as we discovered a few aha moments, and the quality of signal is unpredictable to say the least.

Recently we spent a few hours putting a cut in the center rail to isolate each block on one of his loops.   Almost all 9s and 10s... next day, same setup, except we get out of range errors, engine not on track errors.  2 different remotes, 2 different tius, new batteries.  Moved tius, cleaned track, tethered or not, unpredictable results.

Even the process Don and you described above didn't go smoothly.

Seems like even when you follow all the rules, DCS is not always an exact science, as evidenced by the large number of posts on this forum.  A few prayers couldn't hurt!

We've tried everything else.

IMHO,

ed

okay so I am supposed to move current Tiu to new address then attach New tiu to layout and then go and add this TIU back into the remote.

Does it matter Which TIU is 1 and 2 ?

we are using a combination of Variable and command on both TIU's

for a grand total of 4 Variable and Two Fixed outputs each of these are going to seperate loops of track

2. Do I need to operate these in Super Mode?

Is this correct

Bobbie,

okay so I am supposed to move current Tiu to new address then attach New tiu to layout and then go and add this TIU back into the remote.

Yes. Just follow the instructions as stated.

Does it matter Which TIU is 1 and 2 ?

No, it does not

2. Do I need to operate these in Super Mode?

Yes, if you want all engines to be able to operate on all tracks.

Don & Ed,

Unless you're encountering defective hardware or a bad load of DCS (not likely, however, I expect that's possible), you may be doing something fundamentally wrong in the wiring or track topology. It's also possible that one of a handful of known DCS bugs is rearing its head in a not-so-obvious way. There are one or two that come to mind.

DCS is much more tolerable of different wring schemes that you might expect and, if you're getting sporadic issues in its operation, it's possible that something you think is true, may not be.

If either one of you would like to discuss this via the telephone, drop me an E-mail and we can setup a mutually convenient time to talk.

Thank you Barry. I need to do a summation of what I have and how I did it. The fact that I tested both TIUs separately, on an isolated loop (two feeds and two cuts) and it worked, leads me to believe it is the track or other interfering item. No 900 MHz phones but fluorescent lights and track lighting.

"Say a prayer??" Oh right it's Sunday,

now how do I put these in super mode

get Barry's Book!

I have Both of barrys books but i cant locate them

Bobbie,

From page 113 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Turning on Super TIU Mode

In order to operate properly, Super TIU mode must be turned on for each TIU on the layout, from each DCS Remote used with the layout. This is accomplished as follows for each DCS Remote that is used to operate the layout: 

• Press the Menu key on the DCS Remote to enter the DCS menus 

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to TIU SETUP and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to SUPER TIU and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• A list of all of the TIUs in the DCS Remote is displayed. Use the thumbwheel to scroll to the first TIU to change to Super TIU mode and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Press soft key S1 (SPR) to place the TIU into Super TIU mode. A message "Super TIU Mode" will be displayed 

• Repeat the above process for each TIU listed 

• Press the Menu key to exit the screen 

• Repeat the above process for all other DCS Remotes

To change back to normal TIU mode of operation, repeat the above process for all TIUs and DCS Remotes, however, press soft key S2, NRM, to place each TIU and DCS Remote back into normal TIU mode.

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Barry Thank you

for all the help

I have tore the house apart looking for the books and then realized I loaned them a a friend that was interested in getting DCS so I let him read them.

So I will have the Books back when i go to the other layout on Wednesday to hook all this up

Thanks again

ID10T Error

UPDATE: Barry helped me scrutinize my track and hook ups. Even though I got one TIU and remote to work, it was not perfect but doable. I decided to purchase a new TIU and remote. I ran four different tracks on four fixed channels and everything worked fine, even around a wall that blocked the line of site. I only tested one track but got 10's all the way around.

Thank you Barry and OGR forum for your help.