DCS Remote Commander for switched sidings

Remember, they have to be reset to the "Factory" Reset (not assigned in the DCS handheld).

ALL engines (if set to Factory reset) will see the watchdog.

I don't know if there was a specific thread but what you're describing is a known application of the DCS Remote Commander in situations where it's not practical to dedicate a TIU channel to the siding.

OTOH, the thread that I don't think has come up is how to share a single DCS Remote Commander to generate the power-on watchdog to multiple switched sidings in a yard or whatever.  This would involve some timed relays or the like.  It probably would not save much money in the end but would be a good extra-credit test question!

Oh, you also may be hallucinating but that's another topic.

I suspect they'll see the WD signal from the DCS RC even if they're not factory reset, it's just a carrier to tell them that DCS is connected.

Experiment a success, just as I thought.  I clipped the DCD-RC to the track, sat a PS/2 locomotive (has been added, is not factory reset), and when power comes up, it comes up dark.  I can then switch the DCS-RC away, leaving that track powered, and the locomotive stays dark.

John,

You're doing this the hard way. The easy way:

• Highlight the engine in the remote's active or inactive engine list
• Power on the siding and immediately press the thumbwheel.

Done! The engine comes up dark and silent in DCS mode.

This works for lashups, as well as individual engines.

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

it seems that both Barry's method, and the method involving using the DCS RC have their pros and cons. 

Using the DCS-RC is a more fail-safe method. But you would need to have one connected to each of the sidings (or am i not thinking correctly).

Barry's method (which I wasn't aware of before reading this post, so thanks Barry for yet another piece of DCS wisdom) doesn't require extra purchases, but does require some good diligence to ensure that the remote is ready and set before powering up the siding. 

Barry, I'm not doing it any way.   The question was asked and I answered it with a simple test.

However, if you arrange the siding switching with a relay to connect the DCS-RC to the siding at power-up and then release it, it would be totally automated, no need to fool with the remote.

John,

However, if you arrange the siding switching with a relay to connect the DCS-RC to the siding at power-up and then release it, it would be totally automated, no need to fool with the remote.

As I said, the hard way. You still need to "fool with the remote" to select and operate the engine.

Using my method, you don't need special wiring or relays, or the work to implement them - every place that you have a siding.

Sometimes you want to power up a siding, but not immediately run the locomotive parked there.  Also, if you have two or three locomotives parked on the same siding, you need to be REALLY quick on the remote.

Just a couple ways to skin the cat Barry.  I'm not saying either is better than the other, I'll let folks that actually want to operate this way decide that.