DCS & MTH HO

The MTH HO engines, like all other 2-rail HO engines, work only on DC voltage. You cannot use the Lionel brick topper them.

Further, only the TIU's fixed channels will work with DC. The variable channels will not pass DC voltage.

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition", available for purchase from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

I forgot I actually have "The DCS Companion" although it's the 2nd edition.  It looks like I bought a digital copy of it (a PDF) back in November of 2011.  Is there an addendum that I could get that would add any of the 3rd addition extras?

Is there an addendum that I could get that would add any of the 3rd addition extras?

Yes, it's called the 3rd edition.  

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Is there an addendum that I could get that would add any of the 3rd addition extras?

Yes, it's called the 3rd edition.  

Had to go back and refresh myself on where and how I acquired the 2nd edition in the first place.  It turns out I purchased it through the MTH website.   In fact I was just able to download a more recent version of the 2nd edition a full 4 years after I purchased it.  That's a great deal.  And for the cost of the 3rd edition and all the additions that appear to have taken place it's a no brainer to get the 3rd edition.  

I wish there was something this comprehensive and up to date for TMCC/Legacy/LCS

In going out on the MTH site for Barry's book, I also went looking for an MTH HO catalog.  The most recent one listed is 2014.  Is MTH pulling out of HO?  Getting DCS for my son if MTH is losing interest in the HO market may not make sense.  If that's the case then perhaps DCC is the way to go and not mix anything between my O gauge equipment and his HO.  I was just hoping to get something that at least some part of it could transition to the O gauge world when he got older.  The command/control system would have been a great thing to transition.

I can absolutely assure you that MTH has no intention of abandoning the HO market. The HO market potential for MTH is an order of magnitude larger than is the O gauge market potential.

Well, I've been looking for an hour for an MTH starter set in HO gauge with Proto 3.0   If such an animal exists anywhere I can't find it.  (I did find a Christmas set like this, but no standard livery sets.  A set engine and cars decked out for Christmas loses it's play value fast come January.)

You should be aware that all MTH HO engines, in starter sets or not, are PS3. There are no PS2 MTH HO engines.

mopac01 posted:

I wish there was something this comprehensive and up to date for TMCC/Legacy/LCS

I thought the same thing. I was told by almost everyone that Legacy was easy and it wasn't needed. Only a couple of us think it would be a good idea. Well, maybe there is 3 of us now.

As far as I know MTH does not make a ready to run set in HO, but I am not really up on their HO line?

Here are my thoughts from what I tried with my grandson a few years ago.  

I got my grandson an HO set when he was 6, I think it was. Took him to the train store and that is what he wanted. Asked him to show me what he liked in both trains and sizes. He kept going back to HO every time I tried to show him an O gauge set. That is what he seemed to like and I wanted him to have what he wanted in the way of trains, hoping he would stay interested.

Ended up getting him a really nice Bachmann starter set for his birthday. He had nothing but trouble with the track, needs cleaning all the time and he sometimes still has trouble getting trains to run reliably. His dad got him some switches and then the HO reversing problems came into play. He may have had a few more problems I can't remember. I don't think he even plays with it anymore. His dad got him another set to add to his at Christmas that year.

He is 10 now and he does play with my O gauge trains when he comes over here and he seems to enjoy them. If I had that to do over again, I would have just gotten him an O gauge set and not asked. That most likely would have been an MTH O gauge starter set. I think O gauge is much better for the kids, easier and eliminates a lot of un-needed frustration for younger kids. 3 rail AC is a lot easier to keep running and add switches, etc. I have felt bad about getting him that almost from the day he got it and got it set up. I have two MTH starter sets and I have been thinking about giving him one of those.

In my opinion MTH HO scale locomotives are second to none in the plastic market. The sound is incredible and the detail is amazing. If you dont buy the PS3 locos youre just wasting your money

Barry Broskowitz posted:

The MTH HO engines, like all other 2-rail O engines, work only on DC voltage. You cannot use the Lionel brick topper them.

Further, only the TIU's fixed channels will work with DC. The variable channels will not pass DC voltage.

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition", available for purchase from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Barry,  Just to clarify, O gauge 2 rail PS-2 or 3  can run on AC or DC.  Not just DC.

Also, the Marklin type HO that MTH has released work on AC.  Otherwise, MTH HO is DC only.   G

Georege,

Just to clarify, O gauge 2 rail PS-2 or 3  can run on AC or DC.  Not just DC.

Correct, with one exception. O gauge PS2 5 volt engines will blow the horn spontaneously in conventional mode under DC voltage, although they run fine using DC voltage under DCS.

Also, the Marklin type HO that MTH has released work on AC.  Otherwise, MTH HO is DC only. 

As I stated above, I was referring to 2-rail MTH HO engines.