Anyone who has / wants old fashioned DCS and Remotes... CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ

I would buy 1 TIU and 1 Remotes.

There is not a whole lot of new information here that we all don't already  know. The new WTIU will still have a "remote" port on it to tether a DCS remote with a curly phone cord... not ideal but it does retain some compatibility.  With this in mind, I wonder why they couldn't continue to add the little 900MHz receiver board inside the WTIU. Also, perhaps (but unlikely) the new WTIU may retain the pin header to simply pull the 900 MHz receiver board from a TIU and install it in the WTIU.

Then there is also the app which has more flexibility than most will give it credit for. I developed a way to run the app without using the touch screen by a game controller that I bought from amazon. This controller is one of thousands that would work:

The app provides the most flexibility and offers way more future feature enhancements vs a static button remote that requires an entire redesign to include newer features. All the while, designed with little to no customization support on a "one size fits all" package.

As a new empty nester, I have been bequeathed another empty room to build a second layout.  Although I love my TIU and remote, I figured I'd pick up the new WTIU for this new layout.  Like H1000 said, I can still tether a remote to it, which for me works just fine, since i usually operate my bedroom sized layouts while sitting in front of a control panel (I don't ever walk around). I can see the benefits of each form of control (app or handheld) and am willing to give the app a try. Who knows, I may like it better. Surprisingly, a couple of die hard DCS guys i know now tell me they love the app and now rarely use the handheld (their grand kids love it and they don't care if the grandkids drop the phone like they did with the handhelds). If those old geezers can get with the times, I figured maybe it will be ok for me.

I'm also planning on buying one extra handheld to tether with the WTIU if I ultimately don't like the app.

Sadly I think the ship has sailed on the remote.  Why the OLD/NEW MTH stubbornly holds on to the belief everyone is just happy using their phone to run trains is beyond me.  I hate the app and only keep the WIU around in case my remote dies.  With that said if there is a USB port or telephone port to plug in your old remote.  Maybe just maybe, Someone can come up with a plug in module that will talk to the remote.  That way if our TIU dies we can upgrade and still use the remote.

@H1000 posted:

There is not a whole lot of new information here that we all don't already  know. The new WTIU will still have a "remote" port on it to tether a DCS remote with a curly phone cord... not ideal but it does retain some compatibility.  With this in mind, I wonder why they couldn't continue to add the little 900MHz receiver board inside the WTIU. Also, perhaps (but unlikely) the new WTIU may retain the pin header to simply pull the 900 MHz receiver board from a TIU and install it in the WTIU.

Then there is also the app which has more flexibility than most will give it credit for. I developed a way to run the app without using the touch screen by a game controller that I bought from amazon. This controller is one of thousands that would work:

The app provides the most flexibility and offers way more future feature enhancements vs a static button remote that requires an entire redesign to include newer features. All the while, designed with little to no customization support on a "one size fits all" package.

Really nice.  How does it work?   Is there a link?

Thanks,

John

@Craftech posted:

Really nice.  How does it work?   Is there a link?

Thanks,

John

I intend to shoot another video on how to set this up. It's easier to show you vs. type it all out in a long article. This may be while as planting has started this week and we are pretty much running 16 to 18 hours a day right now.

What I can tell you is that the cost to do this is nothing other than the purchase of a remote controller of your liking. The controller in the video is linked to my tablet via a Bluetooth connection. The controller I used in this video is made by ipega.

Currently I've only played around with this on the Android platform and haven't yet experimented at all with the iOS devices.

My ultimate goal is to have MTH/DCS to take notice and to adopt an API to allow easier integration of these controllers into their app.

@H1000 posted:

I intend to shoot another video on how to set this up. It's easier to show you vs. type it all out in a long article. This may be while as planting has started this week and we are pretty much running 16 to 18 hours a day right now.

What I can tell you is that the cost to do this is nothing other than the purchase of a remote controller of your liking. The controller in the video is linked to my tablet via a Bluetooth connection. The controller I used in this video is made by ipega.

Currently I've only played around with this on the Android platform and haven't yet experimented at all with the iOS devices.

My ultimate goal is to have MTH/DCS to take notice and to adopt an API to allow easier integration of these controllers into their app.

Thanks,

That sounds great.  What is doing the receiving?

John

The mini iPads are ideal for running both Lionel and MTH apps.

No remotes for me, thanks!  The DCS remote is too confusing and cumbersome, especially for train show demonstrations.

I can lock a mini iPad or my iPhone in “guided access” turning it into a dedicated kiosk, which only allows the user to blow the whistle / horn, and ring the bell.

Thanks!

-Mario

Looks like it takes two hands, and now my controller is 3 times larger.

I agree with Gary, this ship has sailed.  It will be the after market crowd that will have to come up with a solution only if there is enough interest.

@clem k posted:

Looks like it takes two hands, and now my controller is 3 times larger.

Screen sizes on phones and tablets range from 4 to 12 inches, you can pick whatever size you want. This particular tablet in my video is 7 inches. See the difference in size of my 4.3 inch xt907 vs the DCS remote.

There are one handed versions of these app remotes available also.

It's a far stretch to consider the current stock of DCS and CAB2 remotes fully one handed. The CAB1 is close but lacks ergonomic buttons with unique feel and differing tactile feedback responses. Even the newest lionchief remotes (with the fewest buttons) are not one handed.

You'll also notice that I am able to use more than just my thumb to operate functions on app remote where as it takes 4 fingers just cradle an hold the traditional remotes. The buttons are fully customizable to your liking on the app remote, and not set in stone like traditional remotes.

@superwarp1 posted:

  Maybe just maybe, Someone can come up with a plug in module that will talk to the remote.  That way if our TIU dies we can upgrade and still use the remote.

Good idea. Would it be that hard to come up with a circuit that converts the data from the 900MHz signal from the remote to something the WiFi receiver can understand? Like Gary said it would plug in to the TIU and converts the signal from to the other.

Although I like the DCS remote, the idea of a hand held remote hay day is passing.  The king of remotes, the TV remote is on the way out.  We talk to the TV through the remote now.  Some interfaces like Google Home have no remote, just talk to it.  Pretty soon we will be saying "All Aboard" and the whole layout will fire up.

Depends on the price.  Myself If it's reasonably priced I'd buy 1 TIU and 2 remotes.

Keeping with the o p request and staying on topic......2 tiu's....2 remotes for me......

I will never us a phone or an Ipad to run trains. Never is a long time.

Al

I agree with the others that the DCS TIU & Remote ship has sailed. I seriously doubt if those items will ever return, MTH is are app only now and I don't see that changing. But I'd possibly buy 1 TIU and a Remote or two if I am still using DCS if, and/or when these ever become available. Tried the WIU and app and I just don't care for it at all. Last I heard the app still doesn't do everything the remote does and as far as I know hasn't been updated in quite some time now?

Almost my entire fleet is PS3, I've been wanting to try DCC for a long time, I like the NCE system....

I’d like at least one remote spare and I guess one tiu.

I agree with Gary and others that I think it is too late for whoever markets DCS to keep producing the traditional TIU and remote technology.  It costs companies money to keep producing older technology.  However, I will answer John's initial question; I would purchase one TIU and remote if offered.  I had been thinking of purchasing a spare TIU for my 11x11 layout room, but didn't do it before they were discontinued.  I did get a spare remote in this last batch that were produced.  I tried the WIU when it first came out, but didn't like using the phone touch screen.  After a couple years, I sold the WIU to a Forum member.

All that said, I certainly wouldn't have an issue plugging the remote into a WTIU in such a small room as I have.  That may be the route I take as long as I have remotes.  Push come to shove if I outlive my remotes, then I'll go back to a touch screen on a phone or tablet. 

@Craftech posted:

Thanks,

That sounds great.  What is doing the receiving?

John

The ipega is connected to the the tablet via a Bluetooth connection as an HID (Human Interface Device), the app sends commands to the TIU via WiFi to the WIU & TIU.

One of each as a spare .

I have a lot of MTH One Gauge (no O gauge DCS ) and for me my Ipad and Iphone are very hard to see outside in the sunlight sometimes and that's why I prefer the remote. I currently have two TIU and two Remotes.  It's just a PP.

The whole thing is  still so disappointing MTH !!

Larry

I would purchase 1 spare remote.  I got a spare TIU in the last batch of Rev L.

That said, I thought there was one more run of remotes due this summer?

I have a spare TIU and 2 spare remotes so I don't think I will need any more.

I don't know that I am into buy spares, but I am very disappointed in this development.   One of the best things about dcs has been that it has always been backwards compatible.   Moving to a combined interface unit always seemed like a logical step.   I simply have a hard time understanding why the new unit wasn't made to be able to communicate with the existing remotes.  Perhaps we will say a change, or a plug in module that will allow for use of the original remotes via the dcs plug, as mentioned above.   Software updates though would stall, so the remotes would still be on borrowed time.

I am going to build a shadow box and install the two DCS remotes I have in it. I will call it 'When trains where fun"

I would buy 1 TIU

I think the way forward is the box that plugs into the remote cord connection and communicates using the 900mhz band with the remote.  That would seem like a development that is quite possible.  If the existing DCS Remote works well with the port on the "new" TIU, I can't see why this isn't the way to keep using the existing remotes.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I think the way forward is the box that plugs into the remote cord connection and communicates using the 900mhz band with the remote.  That would seem like a development that is quite possible.  If the existing DCS Remote works well with the port on the "new" TIU, I can't see why this isn't the way to keep using the existing remotes.

Seems very doable.  Part of me wonders if the ability to plug in a 900 MHz transceiver somewhere in the signal path might already exist.  I thought I read somewhere there is little difference to the signal that the remote sends to that of whats on the center rail, just modulated differently.

This has come up before, but I can't imaginethat the signal that comes from the remote looks anything like what is on the rails, and I'm not talking about modulation!  However, I'm not sure we really need to know all that much about the actual data, we just need a 900mhz link.

@Susan Deats posted:

I would buy 1 TIU

Susan,

I want to personally thank you for that fantastic project on your website:

Sound Activation and Block Protection Box

I built it to replace the Lionel one and it works great.  Thank you so much.

Regards,

John

I would buy 1 remote and 1 TIU

Back in the 70's we ran a club layout with a control system one of the members designed.  One of the features of this was phone plugs located around the layout where we would plug in remote controllers.  Sounds like this is now an option for the WTIU.  I would be ok with this based on my experience with that 70's HO layout.

Rolland

This is why I purchased two new, older TIUs and 2 spare remotes.

The remote gives me nostalgia for when I was very young and my LHS tech. would let me run the trains on the store layout. That's what really got me into DCS!

Bryce

Last year I bought a new second remote and several cradle/wheel assembles.  Last week I bought a second TIU new from The Railyard in Ronaoke VA . I also have the stand alone WiFi but prefer the remotes but have used the app on both my phone and iPad. My granddaughter has the app on her iPad and loves it. So yes I would by another TIU and remote just to have them. I must say my current TIU and remote I bought shortly after MTH introduced the system and have had no issues during that 15 or so years I have been using the first 10 or so was with 2 PW ZW’s.  

I will keep my remotes and TIUs for as long as they work, and I expect that to be a long time to come yet. Only when they die and there is no alternative will I use the phone app.  

Answer this survey so we can get the facts.

I'd buy two of each.

@Oman posted:

Answer this survey so we can get the facts.

Good idea Keith!