Hey guys - I was lusting after an MTH Southern F3 set - but I have a Lionel Legacy Layout (with ZW-L transformer). I was wondering, can I operate the MTH Proto locos on my layout?
Thanks!
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only in conventional mode.
Would I be able to use the bell, whistle (or horn)?
Originally Posted by Starhopper:
Would I be able to use the bell, whistle (or horn)?
Yes, you would.
That's the "problem" with all the different systems you have to buy each manufacturers control to access all their features. It's great for them bad for us.
I applaud Lionel. They just released their protocols so others could possibly make their controls compatible so conceivably one control could operate all in the future. ?I'm not holding my breath.
I'm operating conventionally until that day. I'm not forking out thousands to buy multiple systems all the while everybody is continually upgrading. I'm saving my money for me and I'm very pleased with my Lionel and MTH middle of the pack engines.
Thanks guys
You can also buy the DCS Remote Commander, street price $30-35, and run it in command mode using that remote.
Gentlemen,
As usual gunrunnerjohn is absolutely correct. Further once you own one P2 engine you will definitely want more, I recommend the purchase of a full DCS in the near future. It took me a long time to invest in Legacy having been a DCS runner for many years, however the Lionel Command Control FasTrack switches were just to much to resist.
PCRR/Dave
Only if you can find someone who has a full DCS to reset the loco for you. Even brand-new direct from the factory PS3's (like I just bought) won't work with the DCS remote commander.
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
You can also buy the DCS Remote Commander, street price $30-35, and run it in command mode using that remote.
If he is applying 18 volts to the track and has no DCS, wouldn't he have to either remove his Legacy locos or watch a conventionally run Proto loco go 150 miles per hour?
Scrappy
Originally Posted by Scrapiron Scher:
If he is applying 18 volts to the track and has no DCS, wouldn't he have to either remove his Legacy locos or watch a conventionally run Proto loco go 150 miles per hour?
Scrappy
Yes, that's true. In my earlier response I assumed, perhaps wrongly, that he was going to be operating just one train at a time. If he wants command control capability consistent with the Lionel Legacy power requirements (a constant 18 volts, more or less, to the track), he'll need the DCS Remote Commander (comes with all the new starter sets) or the full DCS system, both of which also rely on 18-volts of track current.
By the way, you should not have to reset a new, out-of-box MTH locomotive to factory default to operate it with the DCS Remote Commander. If the locomotive has not been previously operated at all with the full DCS, it should perform just fine with the Remote Commander. At least all of mine sure have (PS2 and PS3).
By the way, you should not have to reset a new, out-of-box MTH locomotive to factory default to operate it with the DCS Remote Commander. If the locomotive has not been previously operated at all with the full DCS, it should perform just fine with the Remote Commander. At least all of mine sure have (PS2 and PS3).
This morning I just had to do a factory reset on a customer's brand new PS-3 GG1 so it would operate with the DCS Remote Commander. And this wasn't the first time I've had to do this. I believe that when MTH tests the locomotives they either don't always do a factory reset when they ship them out, or they factory reset doesn't always take hold.
Stuart
As I mentioned, my brand-new pre-ordered BNSF ES44AC Premier with ps3 would not work with the remote commander.
I agree with Stuart's theory below that they are programming them at the factory to test them out, rendering them unusable with the DCS remote commmander.
Originally Posted by Stuart:
By the way, you should not have to reset a new, out-of-box MTH locomotive to factory default to operate it with the DCS Remote Commander. If the locomotive has not been previously operated at all with the full DCS, it should perform just fine with the Remote Commander. At least all of mine sure have (PS2 and PS3).
This morning I just had to do a factory reset on a customer's brand new PS-3 GG1 so it would operate with the DCS Remote Commander. And this wasn't the first time I've had to do this. I believe that when MTH tests the locomotives they either don't always do a factory reset when they ship them out, or they factory reset doesn't always take hold.
Stuart
Originally Posted by Stuart:
This morning I just had to do a factory reset on a customer's brand new PS-3 GG1 so it would operate with the DCS Remote Commander. And this wasn't the first time I've had to do this. I believe that when MTH tests the locomotives they either don't always do a factory reset when they ship them out, or they factory reset doesn't always take hold.
Stuart
That is, of course, entirely possible. I haven't run into that myself--yet--with probably about eight or so PS3 locomotives purchased (many of them from the MTH/LCT tinplate line). I do occasionally switch back and forth from my all-tinplate layout (DCS Remote Commander controlled at the present time) and my "regular" O gauge layout (full DCS). In the course of doing that I've had to do a number of "factory default" resets, and after stumbling through it the first several times, I now have no problems just doing a reset before I take a locomotive off the regular O layout and place it back on the tinplate pike.
Eventually, I plan to equip the tinplate pike with full DCS and avoid the need for doing any factory default reset.
Way back when the DCS Remote Commander was first released, I noted on this forum that MTH service folks need to pay special attention to resetting locomotives to factory default after they have been repaired and before shipping them back to customers. That could be a major area of concern.
Thanks guys - you've given me a lot to think about. I have no problem running just one train at a time - but would rather use legacy or dcs - not conventional. So, the remote commander sounds like something I could get without heavily investing in a whole new control system
It's a nice step up from conventional, and it'll allow you to tap many of the PS/2 features on the cheap.
While you do have to have them in factory reset condition, that's not that hard to do for anyone with a full DCS system.
