Advise, on MTH 2-8-0 PS2 now dead TMC or upgrade

Louie, Engine House Hobbies, does Proto1/2 to Proto3 upgrades and if your Proto 2 just needs service, he will just charge for the work performed.  I have one SMR engine converted to TMCC (ERR), and all my Kline TMCC engines have been converted to Proto2 or 3.  If I could get an engine converted to Legacy, I might consider a Legacy upgrade; however, baring that, I just upgrade my Proto 1/2 to Proto3 or have the Proto 2 fixed when an engine fails.  My Legacy EM1 sound board has failed and Louie has ordered a new board. I dislike mailing engines so I just drop them off at Engine House Hobbies in Gaithersburg MD. 

winrose46 posted:

Louie, Engine House Hobbies, does Proto1/2 to Proto3 upgrades and if your Proto 2 just needs service, he will just charge for the work performed.  I have one SMR engine converted to TMCC (ERR), and all my Kline TMCC engines have been converted to Proto2 or 3.  If I could get an engine converted to Legacy, I might consider a Legacy upgrade; however, baring that, I just upgrade my Proto 1/2 to Proto3 or have the Proto 2 fixed when an engine fails.  My Legacy EM1 sound board has failed and Louie has ordered a new board. I dislike mailing engines so I just drop them off at Engine House Hobbies in Gaithersburg MD. 

Thanks. I also hate to mail and possible damage, but would carefully pack and insure. I'm just wondering if and how much an upgrade to PS3 would compare to a TMC which I know I can install and have done 7 locos so far after seeing how easy it really is. But also like the features of DCS on these locos.  If the cost isn't to much more, I would do the upgrade.

Do they take mail in repairs?

Always look forwards not backwards and TMCC is in the rear view mirror. If the P2 board can be repaired cheaper then a P3 upgrade well there you go it has everything liked about it, if not P3 will give you the same likes with a better platform and sound quality. TMCC is like going back to your 1990's cell phone in comparison of DCS and Legacy now.

GGG seems to be the best Forum repairman.  Contact him through his forum name, GGG.  (search Members)

Hotpressmugs posted:

Always look forwards not backwards and TMCC is in the rear view mirror. If the P2 board can be repaired cheaper then a P3 upgrade well there you go it has everything liked about it, if not P3 will give you the same likes with a better platform and sound quality. TMCC is like going back to your 1990's cell phone in comparison of DCS and Legacy now.

Makes good sensible sense. Its also I am not aware of repair shops, never having to ever send anything in for repairs. This is my first MTH engine that went dead after all these years of running them every day for hours. Thanks for replying.

Had board go bad in MTH Y6B contacted GGG we talked i shipped he changed out board got it back works great.

I would contact him for your repair.

I have a wonky MTH Western Maryland H9.  Mine is the original 5-volt system.  These locos are geared low enough to run well without speed control.  If I don't just rip everything out and go conventional, I'm actually thinking about these options:

http://www.locolinc.com/photos/styled/

http://www.cvpusa.com/airwire_system.php

These systems are direct RC.  They are designed for use with an on-board battery, but a very simple helper circuit can groom the track voltage to provide what the on-board receiver / decoder is expecting from the battery.  No command base, no out of range errors, no ground plane issues, 100% compatible with everything.  Like Lionchief Plus for grownups.  Unless you're doing some kind of centralized, computerized layout dispatching system, I really don't see the advantage of a system that requires a command base.  Food for thought...

I assume this is the PS-2 5V version, if so it can be upgraded to PS-32 and you get all features of the original, including sounds, (or you can select a PS-3 sound file).

If this was the PS-2 3V version, it may be repairable at a single board or component level.  Going to TMCC will cause a loss of most functions you bought the engine for, or you need to add extra stuff that makes the cost much more than even an upgrade.  In your case it is a repair, which is less cost.  G

I would second Susan's endorsement of GGG.

MTH is great. A phone call, and a very informative conversation got me a MTH certified repair person close to home within driving distance. I never knew, nor any of my other friends that there was an authorized repair/warranty person so close by. I was impressed by how quickly the phone was answered and directed to a Technician. I appreciate all the input and post. It did make me look at a repair or upgrade, rather then a TMCC replacement.