DCS remote problem with thumb wheel

Sounds like it is worn out from all that highballing!

Chris,

 marks on it from prying it apart with a screw driver.

If you're using a screwdriver to pry open the case, you're doing it wrong. 

 

OK Barry, so what do you use?

 

Bob

Bob,

so what do you use?

Just my hands...  

 

From page 156 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Opening the DCS Remote can be extremely difficult and can cause problems with the DCS Remote! You should consider having this done by an authorized MTH service center! 

• Open the battery compartment door on the back of the DCS Remote and remove the batteries 

• Remove the Philips head screw inside the battery compartment 

• Before opening the DCS Remote's case, note that when the DCS Remote is opened, there will still be a black wire connecting the two halves of its case 

• Begin to separate the two halves of the DCS Remote's case by pushing outwards from inside the battery compartment while squeezing the bottom portion of the top of the DCS Remote. This requires considerable patience, particularly when opening a DCS remote's case for the first time 

• Once the bottom of the shell begins to separate, gently continue to separate the two halves of the case and open the DCS Remote like a book, taking care not to damage the wire connecting the two 

halves of the case 

• The transceiver board is located at the top of the DCS Remote behind the LCD screen. Do not under any circumstances lift up on the transceiver board or black wire! 

• Press down gently on the transceiver board to reseat it 

• Place a piece of soft, nonconductive spongy material on top of the transceiver board so that it will hold the board in place when the DCS Remote is reassembled 

• Carefully line up the two halves of the case and gently but firmly snap them back together 

• Replace the Philips head screw, the batteries and the battery compartment door.

 

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!

Hi all

 

I called MTH and they were super helpful (Don, I think, in service).  I popped the back cover with his instructions.  One wire to the thumb wheel was disconnected. However, in trying to connect it, all three wires came off.  It is virtually impossible to reconnect them. You have to try and heat up the board with a soldering gun and push the wires thru 3 small holse that are each 1/16" apart.  Once heated, it will melt the solder.  Got two in but then they all fell off again.  By this time, the board on the thumb wheel was beginning to melt.  

 

So I: (1) went to eBAY and bought a new handheld remote and (2) have a call in to Midge to get another thumb wheel.  Spoke to Don again: the new thumb wheel comes with the 3 wires attached - it is much easier to connect the other end to the main board in the remote. 

 

I hope I'm making sense,

 

Thanks

As Chris said above, getting the remote open is the worst part about replacing the thumbwheel. Getting it back together can be a little tricky also, but not nearly as bad.

 

Follow Barry's instructions above, that is how I got mine apart to replace the thumbwheel that had a broken bracket. Not sure I would have gotten it open without his DCS book.

I must confess that I've had problems opening the remote; maybe I read Barry's description wrong.  Barry, maybe if you ever get around to writing the 3rd edition, you would consider including a picture showing the pressure points.

Chris & Robert,

 

It's not a matter of strength at all. In fact, my hands are mildly arthritic. It's mostly a matter of technique. The remote halves have plastic "clips" molded into them that need to be separated.

 

Just start at the bottom (skinny end), grip one edge of the battery compartment and push in with one hand, while pushing in the opposite direction on the top with the other hand.

 

Work slowly and carefully, and it will start to separate at the bottom. Be patient.

 

Then, work around one side. After the first or second time opening a particular remote, it gets easier.

It would be great if someone were to post a video depicting application of the proper technique.  Should be easy to produce.

That's debatable.

 

Nothing is so easy as the job you imagine someone else doing.

What is debatable:

1. Great to have?

2. Ease of video production?

3. Ease of opening the #@~# thing while camera is running?

4. All of the above?

5. Other?

If you do any other way than Barry outlined, you may be sorry.

Trouble is this, Marty:  If you've done it the way Barry describes, you can follow his words.  But if you haven't, a written description may be difficult to follow when it comes to knowing precisely where to press and in what direction.  Pressing in the worng place, to adapt your words, may make a person very sorry.

Robert,

 

The next time we meet, I'll open a remote for you. As you say, once you've seen it done, it's much easier to understand.

It was really not that bad.  You sort of have to wiggle the bottom from the top - at the bottom end of the remote, and it will pop.  Then you work it open around the remote.  The MTH technician walked me thru it easily.  Never use a screwdriver. 

Thanks, Barry, but how about all those cats out in Forumland?  Which is why I suggested a video.  I have, at one time or another, opened all of mine.

 

My grandson did once, by dropping it on concrete.  But that's another story.

Robert,

 

Subject to my final editing and approval, you can make a video when I open one for you.

You're obviously in a perfect position to create the video in that case.

Yay verily, GRJ, but a video of me using a 2-pound hammer and a chisel to open it might give forumites the wrong idea, that my approach is preferable to Barry's.

Well, I guess you have a good point there!

Had it not been for Barry's book, I might have taken a larger hammer to mine (no chisel required). Now that I have done it a few times, I can even do it without the book. I thought the books description of the process was clear and well written, to me anyway.

 

I have never looked on youtube for a video of the process, maybe there is one already? 

I have a very big box of broken remotes.  None were mine.  Barry has seen it.  Many were victim of the wrong approach to open them.

 

Barry and I have talked about bringing some remote halves to York to do a show and tell at the DCS users meeting.  I have seen many people open the back battery panel and slap the remote in their hand to remove all four batteries at one time.  That is not a good thing for the transceiver board in the remote.  When the easy (correct) way to open the remote is learned, it is a very quick and easy job.

 

Anytime I am having a big train night or any group over,  I always open each remote and reseat the radio board.  I run 3 main remotes STEAM-DIESEL-ELECTRIC.  I have backup clones of each and another remote for my Legacy locomotives.

Hi

 

Can I ask what is probably a basic question on a new handheld.  As I noted, I bought a new one as well as a replacement thembwheel.  I use 2 variable tracks.  What do I have to do to get the new handheld to recognize both tracks. Also, how does it know which track is # 1 vs #2?

 

Apologies if a basic question.

 

Thanks

The tracks correspond to the variable channel numbers on the TIU.  Variable #1 Output on the TIU is Track #1.

 

 

Fred,

What do I have to do to get the new handheld to recognize both tracks. Also, how does it know which track is # 1 vs #2?

Perhaps this excerpt from page 127 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition will help:

Creating TIU Tracks on Variable Channels

TIU Tracks are created to allow the DCS operator to vary the voltage to the tracks through the TIU's Variable Channels. TIU Tracks are created as follows: 

• Press the Menu key to enter the DCS menus 

• Scroll the thumbwheel to SYSTEM and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Scroll the thumbwheel to TRACK SETUP and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Scroll to ADD TRACK and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Scroll to ADD TIU TRACK and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• A list of available TIUs is displayed. Use the thumbwheel to scroll to the TIU for which a TIU Track is to be created and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to the Variable Channel for which the TIU Track is to be created, either Variable 1 or Variable 2, and press the thumbwheel to select it 

• Use the on-screen keyboard to enter the name of the TIU Track for that Variable Channel. Scroll the thumbwheel to each character in the name and press the thumbwheel to add the character. Press < to delete a character entered in error. Scroll to D on the bottom row, right end of the keyboard to save the track's name and be returned to the TRACK SETUP menu.

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!

Many were victim of the wrong approach to open them.

Marty, I'm curious.  If only the case were damaged, I assume they're much cheaper than a new remote and therefore few would be junked.  Has improper opening damaged other parts?

 

If your box is that big, an opening at the DCS Users group, or a video, would be w worthwhile contribution to DCS users.

Thanks. That should do it. Handheld is on the way to me.

One more question re: replacement thumb wheel.

Stupid me did not write down which sequence the wires, red, green, and yellow are connected on the main board in the remote.

Can anyone help.

Many thanks.

The colors have not always been consistent throughout the production run.  Best to just look at the existing one and match the location of the wires between the parts.  You can clearly see where the wires connect to the thumbwheel, and those locations have not changed.

Sorry. I was not clear. I took the wires off the existing one already. Did not note the sequence.

Here's a page with pictures of the replacement.

 

https://onedrive.live.com/?cid...D2B59150BC05A4C1!134

Marty,

To open a remote is not rocket science or I would not be qualified. I think this might be a good show and tell at the DCS meeting if guys are interested.

Done deal!

 

I've made a note to put you on the agenda in October!

perfect.  Appreciate all the help.  Will let you know how it goes.

 

PS - Barry: I do have your manual.  Sorry for not consulting it on the variable track question

There use to be a tech at MTH that opened it with one hand. Impressive.

 

Really not hard.  You can squeeze along the seem until you find the tabs.  G

...used to be...

????

Doesn't work there anymore.  G

Hi all.

 

Got the new remote and am still waiting for the replacement thumbwheel from MTH.  It's supposed to arrive tomorrow. 

 

Question: is there any way to transfer all the engines that I set up on the old DCS handheld remore to the new one?  Or do I have to add them one at at time on the new remote?

 

Thanks

Fred

Use Loader program to backup remote to your computer.  Then use its restore function to copy all that's stored on the computer to the new remote.  You then have a clone of the original.

 

Be sure the new remote has the same version of DCS software that your old remote and the TIU have.  You can't assume it's the latest.

Thanks