DCS Loader and WTIU

First, when you went digging to find a cable- and finding a host port style jack on the WTIU should have been a big fat  a warning sign.

"In a USB connection, a "host" is the controlling computer or device that initiates communication with other devices, while a "device" is the peripheral that responds to commands from the host, essentially acting as an accessory; so, a computer is typically considered the host, while a mouse or flash drive would be considered a device"

The older TIU had a device port, meaning it went to a FTDI chip- a USB to serial device chip, and your operating system in the computer or other device like the WIU operating system had the driver for the USB to serial connection. In the old TIU- to your computer HOST- the TIU was an endpoint "device".

Again, this WTIU has a HOST port, meaning you plug in endpoint devices (example, the upcoming but not yet released USB to wired remote adapter or the special USB to serial adapter.

You instead plugged in cable connecting host (Your PC) to host (The WTIU processor and operating system)- and since that's not how USB works- well of course it didn't work. In fact, a really bad idea both in a host port- there is power- so you connected the 5V power supply of your computer- to the 5V supply of the TIU- and typically that is not recommended, a good way to burn stuff up in some cases.

Bottom line- we are waiting on app updates to give the function of loading chain and sound files in the app (what about Techs and the serial number file????)

Don't do what you did and think I have a cable (or any set of cables and adapters not supported and documented)- let me try that.

I'm just trying to prevent someone from killing about a $400 device before Christmas. - No "tone" implied- just a warning of what could go wrong.

User to user, I'm just as annoyed by these oversights and delays as you might be. I just got mine last night and tried 3 different USB to serial cables (thus a device style cable being plugged into the USB port of the WTIU) and none of them worked for me.

So, we are waiting on adapter cables and software updates.

To add to what Vernon said. You should be able to safely connect a WTIU to your computer if you use two USB to serial cables and a null modem adapter between those two cables. WIll this work?? I haven't tried it yet but you also need to consider that MTH may need to update the Consumer & Dealer loader software to work with the WTIU. It's best to wait until MTH makes more information available about this before experimenting and "bricking" expensive electronics.

Again, must stress out of caution- I tested and confirmed last night that the USB host port of the WTIU has 5V power output (from the internal TIU logic and power supply) meant to power a "device" that you plug in. They chose that style of plug/socket for a reason to hopefully prevent people from trying to plug in the wrong cables or incompatible situations.

Do not connect cables or adapters in such a way that both ends of the cable are feeding 5V power as this could become a very bad situation.

I was able to get in touch with MTH customer support. They told me locomotive files will be flashed via the app. No more DCS loader for the WTIU.  There is no official literature on this yet but they were going to send me something shortly.

@MVD917 posted:

I was able to get in touch with MTH customer support. They told me locomotive files will be flashed via the app. No more DCS loader for the WTIU.  There is no official literature on this yet but they were going to send me something shortly.

Did you get any more info on this? I cant figure this out either unfortunately.

@DashingDanLIRR posted:

Did you get any more info on this? I cant figure this out either unfortunately.

They have NOT yet implemented this. I asked this recently in a FB MTH group.

A member there Dominick said this, "I had emailed MTH and Rich Foster responded last week to this very question. He stated that their software team is working on it and it should be available soon..... When I asked about a time frame I got no email response back"

So we are in that "just wait longer" mode.

@Vernon Barry posted:

They have NOT yet implemented this. I asked this recently in a FB MTH group.

A member there Dominick said this, "I had emailed MTH and Rich Foster responded last week to this very question. He stated that their software team is working on it and it should be available soon..... When I asked about a time frame I got no email response back"

So we are in that "just wait longer" mode.

alright, thanks for the info!