DCS Remote Cable for Updating

I got one last week at Walmart in telephone section. 5.00 bucks or so.

Hmm...  I had a bunch of old phones in a box, and they supplied plenty of handset cables.  I have yet to find a genuine handset cord with a different connector,  The 4P4C connector has been standard since the 1970's for handsets.

Go to Staples.com. They have a variety of those coiled handset cables in different lengths and colors. Will even tell you if the one you want is available at a nearby Staples for immediate pickup. Also can be found on ebay shipped directly from China or HongKong at a much cheaper price.

I just borrowed the handset cord from an old phone I keep on hand in case the power is out and someone wants to use the land line.  Of course now we have cell phones too, so the only time the backup phone has been used was to borrow the cord.

Remember when the phones were hard wired and not modular.

You want a HANDSET cord, not a LINE cord. Look for a curly cord. I see three 25' handset cords at HD.

Thank you for all of the replies.

Believe me, I spent about 10 minutes at HD the other day and I re-read about 6 times that it was a handset cord...  
I did this because of what I found here on the forum.  Just incase, I bought two different cables (they both have 4 wires in them).  This was after trying the wrong wire (not the handset cable) that I had at my house.

I'm reluctant to buy anything online because of the experience I've had with updating the system so far hasn't been all that pleasant.  I know whichever I buy online somehow will end up being wrong.  The first was me using an old computer though, which was after trying to using my Mac, unsuccessfully.

if you still have aa Radio Shack near you they have them. Amazon Prime delivered in 1 day.

I got mine several years ago at Radio Shack, that may no longer be an option? It's just a black, curly handset cable. Not sure what could be wrong with the HD cables unless they were bad or something? As others above, I thought they were all the same?

rtr12 posted:

I got mine several years ago at Radio Shack, that may no longer be an option? It's just a black, curly handset cable. Not sure what could be wrong with the HD cables unless they were bad or something? As others above, I thought they were all the same?

Exactly what I thought too.

I went to Walmart at lunch and bought one of the curly black cables.  I'll find out in a few hours if that works.  My hopes are not up though.

Someone above also got one at Walmart, hope that one works for you!! If not at least you will be 'color coordinated' with the black cable.  Good Luck!!

The only problem I have had updating my DCS system was a USB to serial cable that works fine with my Legacy system, but I never got it to work with DCS? Fortunately, I have a rev L TIU and finally found the proper USB cable for it which works just fine. This was not long after we had moved and I found the USB/Serial cable, but hadn't found the proper USB cable. I continued the search...finally found it! 

mjrodg3n88 posted:

rtr12 posted:

I got mine several years ago at Radio Shack, that may no longer be an option? It's just a black, curly handset cable. Not sure what could be wrong with the HD cables unless they were bad or something? As others above, I thought they were all the same?

Exactly what I thought too.

I went to Walmart at lunch and bought one of the curly black cables.  I'll find out in a few hours if that works.  My hopes are not up though.

I think the handset cord you got should work.  If not, I can mail mine to you and you can mail it back when done.

MTH directions on the Web and Barry's book tell you exactly the 2 cables you need. Both are available at Sears, Best Buy, Amazon, eBay, Staples and other retail shops.

Read the specifics on the cables.

Kevin

Thanks again everyone, the cable from Walmart worked (thanks for that tip, John Pignatelli Jr.).  I'm going to re-title this thread and add that information into the first post. 

Kevin, 
Thank you.  I mean no offense to this whatsoever, but the reply you gave seems to be the one most commonly given to questions like this and in my opinion, are not the most helpful.  That's why I started this thread, to ask specifics.  I have Barry's book, I searched this forum, browsed Amazon and what not.  

mjrodg3n88 posted:

Thanks again everyone, the cable from Walmart worked (thanks for that tip, John Pignatelli Jr.).  I'm going to re-title this thread and add that information into the first post. 

Kevin, 
Thank you.  I mean no offense to this whatsoever, but the reply you gave seems to be the one most commonly given to questions like this and in my opinion, are not the most helpful.  That's why I started this thread, to ask specifics.  I have Barry's book, I searched this forum, browsed Amazon and what not.  

I was trying to do the opposite. IMO, my answer was more informative than all those that were before me, except GRJ that told you there is only one connector for handsets.

go to Staples

go to Walmart

had a bunch in a box

borrowed from an old phone

I find it hard to believe that you had a curly cord that didn't have a matching connector.

Oman posted:

go to Staples

got to Walmart

had a bunch in a box

borrowed from an old phone

I find it hard to believe that you had a curly cord that didn't have a matching connector.

I don't disagree with that, but I wouldn't have bought one from Amazon at that point unless I was 100% it would work.  

I didn't go to staples, I didn't have a bunch in a box, and the phone I had is new and only has connection to the wall.    Only went to Walmart today and found one.

The cables I bought at HD said handset, BUT....  they were not coiled.  Lesson learned 

mjrodg3n88 posted:

Oman posted:

go to Staples

got to Walmart

had a bunch in a box

borrowed from an old phone

I find it hard to believe that you had a curly cord that didn't have a matching connector.

I don't disagree with that, but I wouldn't have bought one from Amazon at that point unless I was 100% it would work.  

I didn't go to staples, I didn't have a bunch in a box, and the phone I had is new and only has connection to the wall.    Only went to Walmart today and found one.

The cables I bought at HD said handset, BUT....  they were not coiled.  Lesson learned 

My above references were what others suggested, not me. I was just trying to clarify that you needed a curly handset cord.

Mike,

No offense taken or given.

The MTH website under DCS has the exact part numbers, descriptions and the directions on what is required to upgrade the remote and TIU. What your telling me is that you did not go to the DCS section {or maybe you did}. If you did, then my apologies but you still need to go get the cable, the stereo cable and USB Cable to connect to your computer and TIU.

Also, as suggested Barry, on previous posts, has listed the requirements.

just passing on the info. If you have upgrade successfully then your set until the new releases which from previous threads will be released when York happens {4/26}.

Enjoy.

Glad to hear the Walmart cable worked and you got everything going! 

THE WALMART cord was 15' long, that was the biggest there  it showed both ends with the four contact points, it is working well.