DCS Wifi Module Not Working

Ray,

These are the symptoms of the WIU not being upgraded to firmware 1.1. Has this WIU ever worked previously, or can you say with certainty what is its firmware version?

You mention that the TIU and WIU are connected via the TIU'sUSB port. By any chance is there also a cable connected to the TIU's serial port?

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Ray,

These are the symptoms of the WIU not being upgraded to firmware 1.1. Has this WIU ever worked previously, or can you say with certainty what is its firmware version?

You mention that the TIU and WIU are connected via the TIU'sUSB port. By any chance is there also a cable connected to the TIU's serial port?

I purchased the wifi unit new very recently from a dealer, but I do not know the firmware version.  Thus I have not used it previously.  Is there a way I can check the firmware version of the wifi unit?

In terms of the connection between the wifi module and the tiu, the wifi module came with a cable that has a conventional USB connection on one end and a different style connector on the other end.  The USB plugs into the wifi module and the other end goes into the only port on the tiu where it can go.  There are no other cables connected to the tiu, other than the power cable and wires to the tracks.

Thank you for responding.

You'll need to log into the LuCi web interface on the Wi-Fi module using a computer or tablet. These procedures are well documented in other threads on the OGR Forum and from MTH.

Once you're in, it will be on the first screen you see, check out the attached photo:

Look at the part highlighted in red, if it reads 1.0, then you need to upgrade the firmware.

I will return it.  That is beyond what I want to do as the customer should not have to invest that kind of time to make the product right.  Thanks for the info.

Ray, you said the WIU won't "see" any of the locomotives loaded into the TIU. When you load an engine it gets loaded into your remote. Your iphone 7 is just like another remote and your engines must be loaded into it.

Ray Lombardo posted:

I will return it.  That is beyond what I want to do as the customer should not have to invest that kind of time to make the product right.  Thanks for the info.

Sounds like "normal and to be expected" with this product.

Logging into the device is beyond what you want to do? How do you use a computer, how do you post here?

You're giving up WAY to easily.

Pick up a CW-80 while your returning it...

WiFi units needing the firmware update should be updated prior to sale either by the store selling them or MTH. Ridiculous that we should have to do this. It is not an easy upgrade and you never really know if the update took or not. Bad customer service all around!!

The upgrade procedure is pretty easy. If you can't do it then go find the nearest 10 year old and let them do it for you.  I upgraded and verified my firmware version in less than 3 minutes. The other day, Microsoft release an update for my windows computer. Why Bill Gates himself didn't go around and manually install all of these updates himself is beyond me. I was so inconvenienced to have to download, install, and restart my computer.

This is an evolving device that is designed to take new programming to add new functionality to support new products as they become available.  How would you like to buy a new Legacy remote, LCS Wi-Fi, TIU, or WIU every time a new features come out on an engine?  This stuff is software driven, and firmware (software to drive a hardware device) updates have been a part of the Lionel and MTH control systems for a long time before APP & Wi-Fi control.

Gerry posted:

WiFi units needing the firmware update should be updated prior to sale either by the store selling them or MTH. Ridiculous that we should have to do this. It is not an easy upgrade and you never really know if the update took or not. Bad customer service all around!!

When MTH released the new WIU code last year (actually I think it was late 2015) I upgraded all the current stock at the LHS and tagged them.  Knowing all folks are not comfortable with these things it just makes sense. 

Just as an FYI...

In April 2016 MTH updated all of their in-stock WIUs to firmware 1.1 before shipping to dealers. If anyone bought one after that date, the fault, if any, lies squarely with the dealer.

Further, updating the WIU requires absolutely no additional cables or other equipment:

• Just connect it to any personal computer,PC or Mac, that has a web browser
• Download the WIU firmware update from here (it's free).
• View or download the WIU full instruction manual from here.
• Follow the instructions on page 11.

3 minutes later you're done.

If you need more information, look in The DCS WiFi Companion, available for purchase as an eBook right now. Go to this thread to learn all about it.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Just as an FYI...

In April 2016 MTH updated all of their in-stock WIUs to firmware 1.1 before shipping to dealers. If anyone bought one after that date, the fault, if any, lies squarely with the dealer.

Further, updating the WIU requires absolutely no additional cables or other equipment:

• Just connect it to any personal computer,PC or Mac, that has a web browser
• Download the WIU firmware update from here (it's free).
• View or download the WIU full instruction manual from here.
• Follow the instructions on page 11.

3 minutes later you're done.

If you need more information, look in The DCS WiFi Companion, available for purchase as an eBook right now. Go to this thread to learn all about it.

April?  Wow i missed that date by a few months.  LOL!  MTH did tag the upgraded units after the update was released.

Of course Barry is correct it is fairly easy but some folks just don't want to do it.  Some just don't either have a windows PC, don't care to work with the computer or what have you.  A good LHS is an asset. 

Barry, thanks for again offering constructive advice.  If I don't need to load and run windows on my mac, it is something I may try.  Generally I have been pleased with DCS (I did read your book prior to hooking it up) and view this as a resolvable issue.  I just don't want to damage or otherwise screw up the unit and be stuck with a paperweight.

Ray,

 If I don't need to load and run windows on my mac, it is something I may try.

You can do the update using Safari on the Mac, as I did for all 3 of my WIUs.

H1000 posted:

The upgrade procedure is pretty easy. If you can't do it then go find the nearest 10 year old and let them do it for you.  I upgraded and verified my firmware version in less than 3 minutes. The other day, Microsoft release an update for my windows computer. Why Bill Gates himself didn't go around and manually install all of these updates himself is beyond me. I was so inconvenienced to have to download, install, and restart my computer.

This is an evolving device that is designed to take new programming to add new functionality to support new products as they become available.  How would you like to buy a new Legacy remote, LCS Wi-Fi, TIU, or WIU every time a new features come out on an engine?  This stuff is software driven, and firmware (software to drive a hardware device) updates have been a part of the Lionel and MTH control systems for a long time before APP & Wi-Fi control.

I have no problem with periodically upgrading devices as they evolve but when the manufacturer/LHS sells an item which needs the update before I can even use the item properly as happened to me they failed us. I tried the update and had an issue. LHS had no other units with newer date codes and MTH told me 5-6 weeks if I sent it to them. I would have liked to have been offered a new upgraded unit from MTH to be sent immediately and I would send them back the one I had. 

I never expected Mike Wolf to come to my house. I only wanted the WiFi unit I paid for to work out of the box or a replacement that did sooner than 5-6 weeks out when there is a documented issue.

Gerry,

I only wanted the WiFi unit I paid for to work out of the box or a replacement that did sooner than 5-6 weeks out when there is a documented issue.

The problem is with your dealer, not MTH.

I have a similar story:

Bought a new ford explorer two years ago. About two weeks after I picked it up, I got a call from Ford and the person on the end of the line was informing me about a safety recall for the ABS (that should have been done at the dealership prior to me picking it up). It was recommended to stop driving the vehicle until (you guessed it) a software update could be performed on the vehicle.  The Dealer had an available time slot one week out and offered free pickup and delivery of the vehicle. 

So here I am, I didn't expect Ford to come to my house. I only wanted the Ford Explorer I paid for to work right off the lot. I didn't want to wait a week for them to come and get my vehicle, while it sits in the drive collecting dust. 

Ah the second option, I can download the software from Ford, put it on a USB stick and update the vehicle myself and incur zero downtime, and zero hassle (aside from the phone call).  The update took about 10 minutes and after completing the firmware update, I read some cryptic code from vehicle info center to the person on the phone who verified I had completed the update and can now use my new car without issue.

Shipping that WIU or driving it to the LHS is time and resource consuming when the upgrades are this easy and free. Sooner or later there are bound to more in the future.

H1000 posted:

I have a similar story:

Bought a new ford explorer two years ago. About two weeks after I picked it up, I got a call from Ford and the person on the end of the line was informing me about a safety recall for the ABS (that should have been done at the dealership prior to me picking it up). It was recommended to stop driving the vehicle until (you guessed it) a software update could be performed on the vehicle.  The Dealer had an available time slot one week out and offered free pickup and delivery of the vehicle. 

So here I am, I didn't expect Ford to come to my house. I only wanted the Ford Explorer I paid for to work right off the lot. I didn't want to wait a week for them to come and get my vehicle, while it sits in the drive collecting dust. 

Ah the second option, I can download the software from Ford, put it on a USB stick and update the vehicle myself and incur zero downtime, and zero hassle (aside from the phone call).  The update took about 10 minutes and after completing the firmware update, I read some cryptic code from vehicle info center to the person on the phone who verified I had completed the update and can now use my new car without issue.

Shipping that WIU or driving it to the LHS is time and resource consuming when the upgrades are this easy and free. Sooner or later there are bound to more in the future.

I tried the download. It didn't work for me. 

MTH option wasn't only a week out like in your example (actually 5-6 weeks) and no call tag was offered to offset shipping charges.

As Barry has pointed out maybe it is more on the dealer than on MTH but to the customer this issue should have been seemless. 

Gerry posted:

MTH option wasn't only a week out like in your example (actually 5-6 weeks) and no call tag was offered to offset shipping charges.

As Barry has pointed out maybe it is more on the dealer than on MTH but to the customer this issue should have been seemless.

I was actually surprised that Ford said it would be a week beings that this was a serious SAFETY issue, and because of that, I would definitely expect Ford to pay for any (reasonable) cost incurred by performing this update. I think they did offer a rental for the week I would without the car, but I don't remember for sure.  Just as you and Barry pointed out this should have been done by the dealer before I took ownership of the vehicle.

But Gerry, what are you going to do when Firmware version 1.2 comes out and fixes some other bug or adds some new features you want to use? Do you honestly expect MTH to issue call tags for 1,000's of WIUs to be returned, updated and shipped back for free? Unless a (SAFETY) bug is discovered that the WIU will explode and burn your house to the ground, that's not a feasible solution. This is where your LHS should step up. Support after the sale and making sure that product in stock is up-to-date.

Get ready because Software & Firmware updates are going to be more prevalent on everyday electronic things we buy. All of these manufactures want wireless control of devices through a smart phone and over the internet, and if for nothing else, these firmware updates will need to accommodate new security standards.

Good example:
Last Friday, this planet saw one of the largest outbreaks of Ransomware ever. Over 150 countries affected and major businesses and services were shutdown.  The majority of the computers affected were either obsolete (Windows XP) and don't get recent security patches anymore or were missing the needed software updates to prevent the attack.

Seamless Firmware and software updates are great in theory but it is ultimately up to the end use to make sure that your device (WIU) has the needed firmware to operate properly. I do wish that MTH would someday introduce a way to update and check the WIU firmware version through the APP interface on our phones. I think that would simplify this process even more some users.

Very user friendly.  I had one at the DCS users meeting at York that was recently purchased from a small dealer.  It had original code.  Three minutes later it was updated.  You may see older code with a dealer who may not sell many items.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Ray,

 If I don't need to load and run windows on my mac, it is something I may try.

You can do the update using Safari on the Mac, as I did for all 3 of my WIUs.

Once you clarified the process, particularly the part about not needing to run windows on my mac, I followed your instructions and it worked.  So thank you for the assistance.  

I would offer that if firmware upgrades are necessary for the device to function at all, MTH should put a note in the package.  The wifi unit came with a note saying that the tiu and remote needed to be updated to version 5 or higher.  Having had that upgrade done before even starting because I knew it needed to be done, it was surprising and unsettling to have the wifi unit not work at all.  I didn't think about wifi unit firmware as an issue because I thought that there would have been a note in the package, as there was with respect to the tiu and remote. So to the extent that you are in touch with MTH, they should be aware that this was not an optimal experience.  Either a better way of communicating with the dealers or the customer would be appropriate to help ensure a better experience.

But thank you again for the help.  It is much appreciated.

Ray,

The wifi unit came with a note saying that the tiu and remote needed to be updated to version 5 or higher.

There was not a similar note because the 1.1 firmware did not exist at the time that your WIU was sold by MTH to the dealer.

As I previously stated, when the 1.1 firmware became available, MTH updated every WIU in their inventory before they were shipped to dealers. The WIU that you purchased was in the dealer's stock from before the 1.1 firmware was available. It was the dealer's responsibility to ensure that the product that they sold you was either updated by the dealer or that you were made aware, by the dealer, that it was not.

Unfortunately, there are dealers who are either not technically aware enough or are not interested enough to ensure that a customer's needs are properly addressed. Perhaps you need a different dealer.

Regardless, I'm happy that things came right for you.