Can I Control Lionel Legacy and TMCC with the MTH DCS Remote?

You need an MTH cable to connect the two. The cable depends upon which Lionel device you have. Read the DCS Companion, 2nd Ed, p121 et. seq. We miss you Barry.

Gerry

You only need the SER2 if you want to control Legacy engines in Legacy mode from an iPad/iPhone/Android AFAIK.

If you are using the MTH remote, the 50-1032 cable should be all you need.

I thought you could only run TMCC using DCS and the cable to the Legacy base. Legacy, like DCS, is proprietary. I think using the Legacy remote to run Legacy is how it should work.

@turkey_hollow_rr posted:

I thought you could only run TMCC using DCS and the cable to the Legacy base. Legacy, like DCS, is proprietary. I think using the Legacy remote to run Legacy is how it should work.

The DCS remote can control all TMCC and Legacy engines in TMCC mode with the addition of the 50-1032 serial cable mentioned previously and any of the TMCC or Legacy command bases.

To control Legacy engines with full Legacy features, a Legacy command base, the cable, and a Lionel SER2 module are required along with the MTH WIU and the DCS app on a smart device or tablet.

Here is my configuration. For operation using just the DCS remote, the WIU and yellow items can be deleted.

Seems like one needs a Ph.D in EE to run trains.😳

@rplst8 posted:

The DCS remote can control all TMCC and Legacy engines in TMCC mode with the addition of the 50-1032 serial cable mentioned previously and any of the TMCC or Legacy command bases.

To control Legacy engines with full Legacy features, a Legacy command base, the cable, and a Lionel SER2 module are required along with the MTH WIU and the DCS app on a smart device or tablet.

I would say “most Legacy features”, not “full”.  Unless I am missing something, which is very possible, there is no Aux 3, Train Brake, or Train Link when using the DCS wifi app for Legacy engines.

@gmorlitz posted:

You need an MTH cable to connect the two. The cable depends upon which Lionel device you have. Read the DCS Companion, 2nd Ed, p121 et. seq. We miss you Barry.

Gerry

Thank you for the clarification and reminder to check the DCS Companion (I have the 3rd edition; it's on page 124 for anyone with the 3rd edition).

After reviewing it, if I am understanding the set up correctly, the only thing I need to add (reference my connection diagram above) is the MTH 50-1032 (TIU/TMCC-LEGACY 6' Connector Cable).

Sorry that I forgot to mention - I currently do not have a mobile device so wi-fi is not in the picture - although that may change some day. If that does, what cables and hardware would I need to add?

@Bruce Brown posted:

Here is my configuration. For operation using just the DCS remote, the WIU and yellow items can be deleted.

I think I understand your configuration.

So if I do not have wi-fi (mobile device), then I would not need the yellow items and only the last Lionel product plus the connecting cable (MTH 50-1032)?

@paulp575 posted:

I think I understand your configuration.

So if I do not have wi-fi (mobile device), then I would not need the yellow items and only the last Lionel product plus the connecting cable (MTH 50-1032)?

Correct, for TMCC control of TMCC and Legacy engines.

One additional question: When I add the MTH 50-1032 cable, will I still need the wire going from the Legacy Base Binding Post to the track?

@rplst8 posted:

Correct, for TMCC control of TMCC and Legacy engines.

Thanks for the clarification.

As @Mark V. Spadaro said above, you almost need a Ph.D in engineering to make all this happen.

@paulp575 posted:

One additional question: When I add the MTH 50-1032 cable, will I still need the wire going from the Legacy Base Binding Post to the track?

Yes....to the outer rail or common on the transformer

@paulp575 posted:

I think I understand your configuration.

So if I do not have wi-fi (mobile device), then I would not need the yellow items and only the last Lionel product plus the connecting cable (MTH 50-1032)?

The last three Lionel products would be needed (including Legacy) and the MTH #1032 cable

Okay folks - I am confused! I'm getting two different interpretations of what I need.

I do not currently have wi-fi so why would I need the Lionel LCS Serial Converter 2 (SER2) (6-81326)?

I want to control all (MTH, TMCC, and Legacy) using the MTH DCS remote.

I've updated my diagram to show what seems to be the correct answer:

Got my answer!

Can I control MTH and TMCC/Legacy using only the MTH DCS remote? Yes - and no.

Yes, I can, but I would not be able to access the advanced Legacy features of Lionel's Legacy engines.