DCS LIVES! TIU's new Atlas catalog plus lots more!

The current DCS remote can be tethered to the the new WTIU with a telephone handset cord. Many other retailers are also offering the same DCS components available for per-order.

This is the same unit that was cataloged before MTH announced that they were closing.  Nothing new here.  Now when they are available is another story.  Just too many variables right now.

I wouldn't hold your breath for the new TIU.  With the parts shortages and delays in manufacturing, it will likely be some time before we see this unit.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I wouldn't hold your breath for the new TIU.  With the parts shortages and delays in manufacturing, it will likely be some time before we see this unit.

Hey John, but at least Atlas made it explicitly clear that when it does arrive, you can tether a remote to it. In fact, they noted it twice -

WTIU WIFI TRACK INTERFACE UNIT FEATURES
• All-In-One Command Control Transmitter
• Built-In WiFi
• 4-Channel Output With Fixed and Variable
Voltage Ports
• 4-Channel AC or DC Power Input Ports
• Auxiliary Power Input Port
• USB Input Port
• RS-232 Serial Port
• Ethernet Input Port
• LED Activation Lights
• DCS Handheld Remote Tether Input
• AIU Accessory Interface Unit Input
• (2) Fixed AC and DC Voltage Output For Com-
mand Control Tracks
• (2) Variable AC and DC Voltage Outputs For
Conventional and Command Control Tracks
• Wireless WiFi Control (iOS or Android) Using
DCS App
• Tethered Layout Control Using DCS Handheld
Remote

http://download.atlasrr.com/11...OV2021OMSRPOnly1.pdf

@Strap Hanger posted:

Hey John, but at least Atlas made it explicitly clear that when it does arrive, you can tether a remote to it. In fact, they noted it twice -

Which is a pointless feature, at least to me.  Having my "remote" wired to the TIU means it's really not a "remote" at all!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Which is a pointless feature, at least to me.  Having my "remote" wired to the TIU means it's really not a "remote" at all!

GRJ at least you can get a 25 foot cord which kinda makes it a remote!!! Sorta Maybe!!!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Which is a pointless feature, at least to me.  Having my "remote" wired to the TIU means it's really not a "remote" at all!

Maybe for you, but not for me and others with smaller layouts. More importantly, we can take a little more comfort in the fact that the remote connection has not been abandoned like you've surmised on prior posts -  https://ogrforum.com/...4#157688390938246754

I'm with John on this one!  I bought a wireless DCS remote at York from Stockyard Express.  If I can't have the same freedom as I do with Legacy, I see this as a major detraction.  I mentioned I will be new to DCS.  I have read of many troubles folks have had with implementation of DCS.  Having to cut your layout tracks to employ a star wiring system isn't really a star wiring system.  I believe the best way is to follow the instruction manual!

Regardless, I am happy for those who would like to purchase Proto II and up engines, and will be able to remote control them, with a valid source for the necessary components.  I still think it is hard to beat the one wire connection Legacy/TMCC gives one to remote control their layout.

@Strap Hanger posted:

Maybe for you, but not for me and others with smaller layouts. More importantly, we can take a little more comfort in the fact that the remote connection has not been abandoned like you've surmised on prior posts -  https://ogrforum.com/...4#157688390938246754

I don't take comfort in that at all.  It's not the size of the layout, it's having that cord getting tangled up in visitors legs, etc.  Also, if your TIU is not ready accessible, and mine certainly isn't, having the cord running from the back of the layout to the operating position is a PITA.  I realize that some people will be perfectly happy with the tethered remote, but try to remember a couple of items...

• This is a giant step backwards from having a true wireless remote.
• You can only have ONE remote connected, with the existing TIU I routinely have three or four connected.

I guess it's a pretty safe bet the WiFi App will still be around. Hopefully there will be some upgrades. For testing purposes, I wish the DCS explorer supported the upgraded version of the App.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I don't take comfort in that at all.  It's not the size of the layout, it's having that cord getting tangled up in visitors legs, etc.  Also, if your TIU is not ready accessible, and mine certainly isn't, having the cord running from the back of the layout to the operating position is a PITA.  I realize that some people will be perfectly happy with the tethered remote, but try to remember a couple of items...

• This is a giant step backwards from having a true wireless remote.
• You can only have ONE remote connected, with the existing TIU I routinely have three or four connected.

To each his own, John.  I sit in one place in front of my control panel and operate everything.  No problem for me operating a remote with a 10 foot phone cord tethered to it.  In fact, I’m looking forward to having the ability to use my smart phone along with a tethered remote on the new tiu I have on order.  I get you and others, particularly those with larger layouts,  may feel otherwise, but at least now we know they will include the option to tether that you were previously not optimistic about.  Very comforting to me to know that this speculation was incorrect because I would have cancelled my WTIU if true..

I hope at some point they create a box that can be connected to this new tiu that can receive the signal from the remotes. I am still miffed / upset that they eliminated the ability of the tiu to receive signals from the remote.

Fortunately, I have a small stockpile of old t.i.u.s. and remotes. And yes I'm with those who are saying it's totally worthless: it does most of us no good if you have to be physically wired to the tiu. My layout surrounds a basement with multiple operators. 

I had three people here today, and we were all running different locomotives.  I was actually running two using the Legacy CAB2 and the DCS Remote.  All three of my DCS remotes were in use, that option vanishes with the "new and improved" TIU.  I'm glad I have five DCS remotes and TIU's, I'll try to stretch them until I don't need to run trains anymore.

If I cant use the remote in the future, like when the 2 I have break and cant be repaired.  Than it legacy all the way for me. I'll never be sitting in front of a computer or phone to run my trains

@donhradio posted:

One thing to stress!  If you are looking for DCS components, they are listed IN THIS new Atlas  CATALOG!!!!!!

I have been wanting to get DCS, but TIU's were about impossible to find.  One of Atlas's new offerings is the WI-FI enabled TIU!  It lists a tether to connect to the DCS handheld remote.  Since I am not yet a DCS guy, I don't know how easy it will be to integrate the old handheld into the new wireless TIU.  So some dealer will get my order for one of the new wireless TIU's, and possibly the new AIU, also listed in the catalog.  Other goodies are there as well.

Don - Happy Railroading

Another perspective:  since we bought the WIU (now integrated into the TIU from what I understand) and installed the DCS app on an Amazon Kindle Fire, the DCS remote remains largely unused.  The app on a phone (even a big phone like my iPhone pro) is not as nice but on a nice tablet in high def it is really nice.

I am glad to have the remote as a back up when the kids won’t let me use the tablet because they are using it to run the trains!

I must have missed this, the new TIU’s will not support the existing remote with out tether?

@Hump Yard Mike posted:

I must have missed this, the new TIU’s will not support the existing remote with out tether?

That is correct.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Which is a pointless feature, at least to me.  Having my "remote" wired to the TIU means it's really not a "remote" at all!

I totally agree.

These developments make me feel that my normal TIU that operates flawlessly and without any tether, is worth its weight in gold.

Have  yet  to  see  this discussed:  Why  not use  your "old"  TIU and  attach  it  to  the  new    wifi  TIU  output so  the  hand  held  signal can  still  work  In  other  word can  use  both  methods  of  c

control  as  desired ?  Any  foreseeable  problems ?

Exactly how do you "attach" your old TIU to the new WiFi TIU?  There's no provision for attaching any TIU to another TIU, they're independent units.

Before I go to a tether for command mode, I'll go back to running trains in conventional mode using my trusty Z4K remotes. Once I got a taste of seeing my trains run from just about any vantage point, I never wanted to run trains while standing at the transformer again.

@AGHRMatt posted:

I guess it's a pretty safe bet the WiFi App will still be around. Hopefully there will be some upgrades. For testing purposes, I wish the DCS explorer supported the upgraded version of the App.

I was checking the DCS app on my phone last night and at some point during an update, they added an option on the Setting to connect to a DCS Explorer. Don't know when that capability came into the App. I'll have to dig my Explorer out of the moving boxes to set up a test track.

@AGHRMatt posted:

I was checking the DCS app on my phone last night and at some point during an update, they added an option on the Setting to connect to a DCS Explorer. Don't know when that capability came into the App. I'll have to dig my Explorer out of the moving boxes to set up a test track.

At least as long as the DCS Explorer has been out.

The Beach Boys had a song… “Wouldn’t it be nice…”

They should have included something about O gauge trains and one remote to rule them all. Shades of Tolkien.

Wouldn’t it be nice.

I have a remote and a TIU and a backup remote and backup TIU.  Now I am casually looking for a WIU so that I can use my iphone or visitors can use their iphones or I can revert to my iphone if my remotes die or hit the floor and blow up.  This technology and the discontinued versions and changes that eliminate the remotes make me both bat sh## crazy and bordeline OCD   Any toy train shrinks out there?

Remember the days when wireless remote was state of the art? Now the remote will be a thing of the past.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Which is a pointless feature, at least to me.  Having my "remote" wired to the TIU means it's really not a "remote" at all!

No tether for me either. I would rather stand behind my ZW and push the levers than have a "remote" with a tether. Its right out of 1980.

A tether for a remote in 2022 is just plain dumb - groupthink at its finest.

IMO, either continue to produce a very popular product and provide support for using it, or completely abandon it.

This is a "what were they thinking" moment.

I saw a club using what I assume are multiple handhelds (phones) to allow multiple train "drivers". I have the old TIU and the WIFI I/F. That provides access for multiple users.

One question...... Could I use cheap burn phones as WIFI based train controllers? I don't remember seeing a discussion of this.

@DENIS ORAVEC 110218 posted:

I saw a club using what I assume are multiple handhelds (phones) to allow multiple train "drivers". I have the old TIU and the WIFI I/F. That provides access for multiple users.

One question...... Could I use cheap burn phones as WIFI based train controllers? I don't remember seeing a discussion of this.

It depends.  I know that Lionel's LC+ application is flaky on older phones, but the MTH WiFIi app is working on those same two phones.  I suspect there will be working and non-working phone models for either the MTH or Lionel applications.  So much for universal compatibility...

I kept my old phone (Samsung S6) when I upgraded.  WiFi will still work.

I kept an old phone as well, a Samsung Note 4, but the Lionel LC+ app doesn't work on it.  However, the MTH DCS WiFi app does work.  My current Galaxy S21 works fine with either of the applications, hence my comment about older phones and compatibility.

@john n posted:

Have  yet  to  see  this discussed:  Why  not use  your "old"  TIU and  attach  it  to  the  new    wifi  TIU  output so  the  hand  held  signal can  still  work  In  other  word can  use  both  methods  of  c

control  as  desired ?  Any  foreseeable  problems ?

I was told you cannot "Super TIU" the new WiFi only units. Anyone know if this is true?

I believe that's true no super TIU!

Alan

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Which is a pointless feature, at least to me.  Having my "remote" wired to the TIU means it's really not a "remote" at all!

I think DCS is a waist, at this point the standard is TMCC and with all of the improvements and true remote control such as TMCC switches. I had both and never looked back. I keep my DCS for a few engines that are 'mikes" until the warranty expires than poof TMCC upgrade.

Even if Super-TIU exists with the new TIU, the remote has to communicate with the TIU that is currently controlling the tracks that the engine is on.  When it is on tracks that the new TIU is controlling, your remote would no longer see it or control it.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I had three people here today, and we were all running different locomotives.  I was actually running two using the Legacy CAB2 and the DCS Remote.  All three of my DCS remotes were in use, that option vanishes with the "new and improved" TIU.  I'm glad I have five DCS remotes and TIU's, I'll try to stretch them until I don't need to run trains anymore.

I guess I've been out of touch since MTH closed so why does the wireless remote now require to be tethered to the new combined TIU?   I have the old TIU and the discontinued  separate sale WIU .  My remote works perfectly along with the app on my tablet.

@JC642 posted:

I guess I've been out of touch since MTH closed so why does the wireless remote now require to be tethered to the new combined TIU?   I have the old TIU and the discontinued  WIU .  My remote works perfectly along with the app on my tablet.

The wireless remote is no longer supported in wireless mode with the new TIU that MTH will be releasing.  You can still tether it to the new TIU (big deal).  You are limited to using smart evices like your phone and tablet for running your trains.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

The wireless remote is no longer supported in wireless mode with the new TIU that MTH will be releasing.  You can still tether it to the new TIU (big deal).  You are limited to using smart evices like your phone and tablet for running your trains.

Thanks John,   I didnt know the separate sale WIU was discontinued.