DCS Remote Backup

I just finished backing up my remote.  Under options in your DCS Loader program, search for needed COM port.  When found shut off power and pc connection to TIU.  Cross your fingers and start over.    It may take two or three trys.

Hi Tom,

Under the "options" menu select "com port" and you will see a list of available com ports and an "auto" option.  Auto is the default.  If you know you are using com port 8, go ahead and select it.

You often will find you need to cycle power to the TIU between each process.  If you follow the on screen instructions to the letter you will actually do that, but many of us start taking short cuts once we "know what we're doing."  Sometimes short cuts work, sometimes they don't.

dave,

i am still frustrated with not being able to backup the remote today

i did assign COM 8 in the options menu - did not help

i then tried under the options "Auto search for TIU" and it found it COM 8 with no problem - once assigned again - it still errors up with "No TIU on COM 8"

i have tried cycling power as suggested in many ways but nothing will let the process compete correctly - i have found no short cuts yet

Tom

It has been a long time since I had to mess with COM ports but sometimes the way they are implemented causes them to conflict with each other.  Are you using a "real" com port or are you connecting via a USB adapter?

Eric,

i am using a USB adapter

it has worked for all other functions of the DCS Loader software i have tried

Tom

Tom...

OK.  If other functions seem to be working, does that mean the program sees the COM port for them but just not the backup function?  I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

Tome,

Make sure that you're using a known, good 4-conductor telephone handset cable to connect the TIU to the remote, and that none of the pins in the sockets on the TIU or the remote are bent.

Eric,

Yes, COM8 is working on all other functions of the DCS Loader program

Barry,

i have downloaded the Remote to the PC when i first got this system with only one engine defined in the Remote/TIU

the only difference now is that i have added a second engine into the Remote/TIU

i am using the same 4-conductor cable i used before

should i purchase another one?

Tom

You could check the handset cable on a real telephone, wiggle each end at the connector and see if it cuts out or creates static.

i have replace the handset cable with one that i know works on the phone but i still am getting the same results -

Tom,

i have downloaded the Remote to the PC when i first got this system with only one engine defined in the Remote/TIU

the only difference now is that i have added a second engine into the Remote/TIU

i am using the same 4-conductor cable i used before

Obviously, there is at least one other difference that you're not recognizing.

Hi guys,

Unfortunately, checking the cord with a telephone won't do any good because the phone only uses the middle two wires (usually green and red).

Tom, what USB serial adapter are you using?  What is your computer's operating system?  Which version of the DCS Loader program are you using?  Have you tried uploading the earlier data file to the remote as a test?

Well, not really.  All four wires are used from the handset to the cradle, two for the mike and two for the earpiece.  At least that's the way my desk phone here is wired. 

I think you're talking about the RJ-11 to the wall jack, that only uses two wires for a single line connection.

Dave,

to answer your questions - USB adapter is Gigaware (6 feet USB-A to Serial Cable) - computer running Windows XP - DCS Loader Program 4.20 - are you saying i should download the original file from the PC to the Remote as a test? if so, i will lose all programming i have done

one extra note - i noticed when the Remote is connected a (T) is indicated on the Remote screen - so it knows it is there

Tom

Dave,

to answer your questions - USB adapter is Gigaware (6 feet USB-A to Serial Cable) - computer running Windows XP - DCS Loader Program 4.20 - are you saying i should download the original file from the PC to the Remote as a test? if so, i will lose all programming i have done

one extra note - i noticed when the Remote is connected a (T) is indicated on the Remote screen - so it knows it is there

Tom

Barry,

it has been over a month since my original problem noted above DCS Remote Backup (dated Aug 13, 2012) so i purchased your new book "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition" and solved the problem today - through your intuitive approach and methodical approach (as noted on page 147) i started all over from the beginning and found for some reason my TIU software had reverted back to 3.10 software and my remote was at 4.20 software - once i upgraded the TIU to 4.20 I WAS ABLE TO BACKUP  MY REMOTE TO MY COMPUTER - THANX

Tom,

To quote Chief Dan George in "Little Big Man"...

Some days the magic works...  

Man, now I'm having the same issue. I have a non RevL version TIU and I cannot backup the remote. Both Remote and TIU have version 4.20, using a 9 pin Gigawire to USB connection. If I hook everything up as stated, close all programs that may interfere and select the auto search it states that it finds the TIU on COM9.  When i go to backup the remote it says "Warning, The program is having a hard time finding the TIU. What else can I look at? Phone cord is good, running windows 7 64bit down loaded the loader with .net

Marc

Marc,

Phone cord is good

How are you sure? It must have 4 conductors, not just two. Even if it does have 4 wires it could still work on a phone and not for DCS purposes.

Marc,

if it is indeed the cord wouldn't the TIU still be able to be found and an error message for the remote appear?

Not necessarily.

First, it's in reality that it's the path to the remote that cannot be found.

Second, there is never a message in the remote because if there could be a message, the remote would be found.

This may sound silly but shut everything down and start over , By everything I mean computer, loader, tiu ,power.  Don't forget to remove the 1/8 stereo cable after upgrading the tiu.

Marc,

 any other options?

Check for bent pins in the socket on the TIU and the remote.

Are you certain that you're going about this correctly?

Since you've now tried with multiple TIUs, remotes and cables, and you've used the USB to serial cable before, all that's left is process.

Please list exactly what steps you're taking and what happens at each step. Include powering the TIU and the remote on and off, and everything in the exact order it was done.