DCS Remote Commander

First, your MTH SD70 must be equipped with either PS-2 or PS-3.  If so, you probably need to do the "factory reset" for the loco.  A MTH DCS DIGITAL COMMAND SYSTEM (No. 50-1001) is required for that. You have these options:

1) Find a MTH hobbyist in your area who has a 50-1001 and would do you a favor
2) Purchase a 50-1001 and do it yourself
3) Ship it to the nearest MTH Authorized Service Center (probably in Dallas, TX) and have it done
4) With luck, a vendor at the upcoming Train Show may have a 50-1001 and would do it for you as a freebie or
     for a modest fee.

You've already discovered that a Lionel CW-80 won't help.  Something about its sine wave output.

Carry on, regardless ...

Mike  (ritrainguy)
Owner of a MTH SW 1500 with PS-2

If this is a PS3 locomotive from 2014 or later, you can try a factory reset with the remote commander.  With the engine on the powered track, (it should be silent), hit the "SND" key, then the "DIR" key, followed by the " - " key.  The engine should start up and be in neutral.  Hope this helps.

That remote commander is a monster pain.  A better mouse trap is replacing it.

Do you have a PW transformer?  OR did the Z-500 come with a throttle control?  I would try attaching one of those transformers directly to the track WITHOUT the Remote CDR attached.  Does the engine start up correctly and operate?  If so, we know your engine works, and getting it reset is the answer.  Also, when you tried your test, the SD-70 was the only engine on the track correct?   G

Z-500 has no throttle and the engine runs fine in the conventional mode, i.e with the CW-80 powering the track.  I did have the other locomotive, a Lionel remote engine, on the track as the same time.  Would this be an issue.  I want to run both engines by their individual remotes.

Thanks MRMACHER for the info on trying to re-set using the Commander remote.  I'll give it a try next time I get down to my grandkids.

And MARTY: what and when is coming down that will be an improvement over the DCS Remote Commander?  I am already $100 into this experiment.

The DCS Explorer is the new replacement for the DCS Remote Commander.  It has more functionality and can control more than one DCS locomotive at a time.  You'll need a smart phone or tablet to actually use it.

I feel the DCS Explorer will be great.  This is a good fit as everyone runs with smart phones today.

I suppose the remote commander will disappear but surprise not everyone has or wants a smart phone or tablet.

I'm trying to follow up with Dave from MTH to the conversation I had with him at York concerning the new DCS Explorer.  It was my understanding the new DCS Explorer would be able to run passively like the Remote Commander.  My initial email back from MTH said that DCS Explorer would not run passively.  Followed up further and hoping to hear back from Dave on this.

Thank you for contacting MTH Electric Trains.  We appreciate your interest in our products. No, I am afraid the DCS Explorer will not have a passive mode.  Please let me know if you have any questions or if there is anything else I can help you with.

Thank you,         

Kirstin

MTH Electric Trains

Question  - if I buy the DCS commander do I need the Z 500 power brick to run it?

J Daddy posted:

Question  - if I buy the DCS commander do I need the Z 500 power brick to run it?

Commander or Remote Commander?

Um... the remote commander shown...

J Daddy posted:

Um... the remote commander shown...

Thanks for the picture it clarifies which device your asking about

No.. You do not need any power.  It will run passively from track power.

John you just need to power the 2 receiver wires from the loop you want to run on. Each separately powered loop would require a receiver.

My grand daughter says I have a "Stupid" phone so no I don't have a smart and not interested in getting one.  Can't take a cell phone to work due to security issues so I am going cheap.

I just hope my DCS remote commander will work.

MRMACHER: I assume the last of the three key stocks for the reset using the remote buttons ( "-" ) is the down command on the throttle?  

From the suggestions I have received it sounds like I need the SD70 control set to factory settings.

I agree.

Ok, I have a similar problem.  I just bought the DCS REMOTE COMMANDER and hooked it up as per the directions. I then placed an MTH MT2152 F3 Diesel from the 1997 Catalog. The documentation just says PROTO SOUND, does not say PS 1 or anything else. Also, the Manual states that "You cannot use this Remote and Receiver with pre-1997 versions of Proto Sound or with Proto-One, Proto-Plus, Proto-Deluxe II engines whatever the date. "

So i place the F3 on the track and powered on the Z1000 brick attached to the receiver. I then aimed the remote at the receiver and pressed SU/SD.... nothing happened. The green light on the receiver did blink indicating it was receiving the signal. After a  couple of attempts, i got no response from the engine. I then connected the F3 up just using the Z1000 ( NO REMOTE or RECEIVER).   Once hooked up i turned the power on and throttled up until the lights came on and the  engine started up.

Thinking i may need  to do  a  reset, and as the DCS REMOTE COMMANDER manual says  that i can reset the engine using the Z1000. i tried that by pressing the whistle button followed by five bell button presses. But the engine did not give me  the two Horn/whistle blasts indicating is has been reset.

Since that didn't work, I then tried a new MTH 440 steam locomotive with PS3 using the DCS REMOTE COMMANDER, but did not get  any reaction from the engine.  I tried resetting that also.

I then tried another new M&M's Galloping Goose using the REMOTE COMMANDER and it worked, so now i am totally confused.

So i have got a 1997 engine and a newer engine(last year) that should work but does not. And another newer engine that does work.... so it appears it's not the remote.

My first question is,  what could be the problem?

My next question is, when i am using the  Z1000 to reset the engine, does the engine have to be on and running to do the reset or just  sitting on the powered track.?

Also, when i press whistle button and the the bell button five times, should i expect to hear sounds  each time i press a button. 

Thanks.... regards.

The DCS Remote Commander works only with PS2 and PS3 engines. Your engine is a conventional engine and will not work with the DCS Remote Commander.

How can I tell if I have a PS-2 or a PS-3 engine?  It has a lot of engine sounds and voice recordings so I assume I have one or the other?  Or a PS-1?

Barry thanks. What about the newer PS3 engine that does not respond and the resetting of same ?

Also, even though the engine has Proto Sound but is not  a PS2 or  PS3 engine, and you say its conventional, i guess that means  i cant run it on same track as a DCS PS2 or PS3 engine... sorry but don't have DCS yet.

Eagle, the easiest way to determine which engine you have is the product number. On the SD70s you can pull off the fans on the top of the engine. Under the fans will be a couple switches. If yours has a DCC-DCS switch, you have a PS2 or PS3 engine.

Thanks Corey.  I have the DCC-DCS switch on my engine but I think I heard that I have to have the PS3 in order for my DCS Remote Commander to be able reset my engine to factory settings, which may be the issue with getting it to run using the Remote Commander.  So will it work with a PS2? 

You not only have to have PS/3 (which you do have if it has a DCC setting), but you have to have one manufactured in 2014 or later.  I believe there's an updated chain file that can be loaded to allow earlier PS/3 locomotives to be reset by the DCS-RC, but I have never went looking for it.  Try this from the DCS-RC, it's the Factory Reset for PS/3 locomotives that are able to accept it.

Turn off power if on
Wait 15 seconds
Turn on power:  the engine should be dark and quiet
Press no other buttons
Press SND
Press DIR
Press "-"  (on the gray rocker in the center of the remote.  Also is the speed down button.)
The engine will give a two honk response and will be sitting on the track running
The engine has now been factory reset, and is ready to run with your DCS Remote Commander system.

Many thanks GUNRUNNERJOHN.  I'll give it a try.

GUNRUNNERJOHN.  It works like a charm.  Thanks so much.  Interesting that the DCS Remote Commander Instruction Manual states that the "defaults CANNOT be reset be reset with the DCS Remote Commander, you must use a DCS system, a DCS Commander, or see your local dealer".  NOT TRUE.  As soon as I executed the three commands listed above, it immediately sounded the horn and came to life.

Thanks again.  We can get more sound features now running with the remote as opposed to the conventional control. 

The manual is out of date, the newer PS/3 stuff got a firmware update to allow them to be reset by the DCS-RC.  Someday the manual will catch up, but I think they're discontinuing the DCS-RC in favor of the DCS Explorer.