DCS Remote Commander Will Not Operate

Try the locomotives without any other cars first.  Also, when you do the factory reset, you can NOT add them back into the DCS remote or they'll cease to work with the DCS Remote Commander.  You might also try it on a short piece of test track with the DCS-RC connected to that.  Are you sure you have the track wires connected properly, red to the center rail?

When you do the factory reset with the remote, make sure volume is on full and you have a good battery.  After the reset turn power off to the TIU and wait a minute before trying your engine with the DCS Remote CDR.  Are the batteries good on the DCS remote CDR handheld?  G

I have not tried with the volume on full, I keep it one or two less than full volume.  I will try that tonight.  Yes, the remote commander has fresh batteries.

I removed all cars and the track is just a small oval, so kinda like a test track.  When I did do a factory reset, I didn't add them back to the TIU.  I have three engines in my herd and I've tried with two of them.  They are currently address 1 & 4.  One thing I do find interesting is that the one that is at address 4 when I factory reset it, tried my remote commander then came back to the TIU, it picks up address 4 again, instead of 1 (address 1 is currently empty).  I hate to do this, but I might try another factory reset, then a TIU remote reset and then see if that same engine still keeps coming back to address 4.  All of this is a side issue anyway since one of my engines IS at address 1 when I re-add it (GS-4).

Jason,

I hate to do this, but I might try another factory reset, then a TIU remote reset and then see if that same engine still keeps coming back to address 4.

Do not do this! Instead, see below.

One thing I do find interesting is that the one that is at address 4 when I factory reset it, tried my remote commander then came back to the TIU, it picks up address 4 again, instead of 1 (address 1 is currently empty)

That engine did not factory reset, most likely because it has a weak or dead battery. The same quite possibly could be true of the other engine, as well.

Charge both engine's batteries until, when you turn off track power (not just issuing a Shutdown command), their sounds persist for 6-7 seconds. Then, do a factory reset. That should do it.

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

CLICK HERE go to MTH's web page for the book!

Thanks! 

MTH Factory Default reset:

Here are the steps I followed, after some trial-and-error, to get my 254E (PS3) to reset to factory default so it would once again operate on my tinplate pike, which is currently only equipped with the DCS Remote Commander:

1.  Placed engine on the track of my full DCS layout.

2.  Added engine to the active list.

3.  Pressed "Startup" and waited for the sounds, lights, etc. to start up (which occurs almost instantly).

4.  Selected "Menu" on the remote

5.  Scrolled to and selected "Advanced"

6.  Scrolled to and selected "Factory Reset"

7.  Scrolled to and selected the proper engine-- in this case "Green 254"

8.  Selected and confirmed selection (at this point the sounds became a bit louder and distorted)

9.  Selected "Shut down"

10.  Turned off track power

11.  Moved the engine to my tinplate layout, and plugged in the DCS Remote Commander to power the track

12.  Pressed the "SU/SD" button on the DCS Remote Commander remote and all worked fine from that point on

Allan,

Even if he does all that, if the battery is too weak to handle resetting the engine's DCS ID#, he'll be right back where he is right now.

A well-charged battery is absolutely essential for a Factory Reset to work.

Barry,

 for a ps2 engine does the battery charge issue for programming disappear when a bcr is used?

JZ

If you let the BCR charge for a minute or two, you should be fine.

thanks John

Ok, got it everyone.  The volume on full before the reset did the trick! Thanks GGG!  I never would have suspected that.  Regarding the battery, I knew the battery was ok because I did a "disconnect power sound still persists" check during my troubleshooting as well as checked the "info" report on the TIU.  I'm glad I got this worked out, thanks everyone!  On to the next thing...getting more track

It has shown up as an issue for some reason.  Volume on full and a good battery in the engine.  Glad it worked out.  G

Well, I learned something here as well!  I've never given the volume a second thought, even though I've done the factory reset on a number of locomotives successfully.  Any idea why that is an issue?

Well, more info.  Went to do the other engine this morning.  After performing the volume up trick on the GS-4, it still didn't reset.  That's when I took a closer listen to the "kill power sound persist" check.  As it turns out, I have a weak battery in the GS-4.  The sound persisted, but not long enough for it to complete it's shutdown (only about 2/3 seconds).  However, I did get one to reset, the SD70ACe, so I at least know that my newly purchased used Remote Commander works.  Which was my goal anyway.  Now though I feel that I should replace the battery in the GS-4.  I'm assuming I can just replace with a standard 9v NiCad?

You want to make sure the NiCad is the 7 cell variety, not one of the vary common 6 cell units.  It should say it outputs 8.4 volts, the others are 7.2 volt batteries and will likely damage the charger and/or overcharge.  MTH now uses NiMh batteries for their replacements.

I would ask the same question.  On the factory resets I did, I never paid any attention to (or adjusted) the sound volume.  I normally keep the volume set fairly low.

It was a service note a couple of years ago.  There also was a time requirement.  Not sure of the reasons, don't know if MTH knows.  If an engine gives issues I follow that procedure.  G

In any case George, thanks for that pearl, because it clearly would have never occurred to me!   When I'm doing maintenance on an engine, I do what Allen does, I normally crank the volume way down so I don't have to listen to it full volume as I work.

Your welcome.  I have seen an occasional engine I am working take a factory reset and have features reset, but the address doesn't seem to change.  I guess the programmer would have to explain it.  G