Dead handheld

Did you try plugging the dead one into the TIU with the curly cord?  If the transceiver board in it has come loose, that will identify the issue.  If you have two remotes with identical contents, you can reset the bad one and do a backup/restore from the good one to restore all your environment.

John, I don't have the curly cord and I don't know how to do a back/up restore. I'm not the most computer literate forumite.Sorry.

Sounds like you may have a loose transceiver board in the remote since the other remote  communicates with the tiu.....It's not a tiu problem. Check out taking the remote apart in Barry's book. It may be a easy fix however I hate taking the remote apart. You have to be so careful

I'm guessing the read does not find the tiu??.

I suggest you go find a telephone handset cord and try that first.  That's a likely issue.

Gregg, thanks, I've repaired handhelds before. No problem. John I'm looking for a tel cord now. Thanks for the help.

Tom,

From pages 160-162 of The DCS Companion 3rd Edition:

If the DCS Remote still cannot find the TIU, the problem may be due to a floating transceiver board in the TIU or the DCS Remote. The process of determining if the transceiver board in the TIU or the DCS Remote has floated out of its socket is as follows:

• First, connect (tether) the DCS Remote's Programming (TIU Connection) port to the TIU's Remote Input port using a 4-conductor telephone handset cable.

• Press the Read key on the DCS Remote.

• If the message TIU ERROR appears in the DCS Remote's screen, it may be because one of the pins inside either the DCS Remote's Programming (TIU Connection) port or the TIU's Remote Input port is bent or shorted to another pin. Inspect these ports and straighten any bent pins before continuing. If the message TIU ERROR persists, the TIU or the DCS Remote may be damaged.

• If the TIU is found, the problem most likely is that the transceiver board in the TIU or the DCS Remote has floated out of its socket.

Check if the problem is resolved. If not, proceed to reseat the transceiver board in the DCS Remote as follows:

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 Phillips 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.

This and a whole lot more is all in “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

GRG, curly cord runs everything.

I think Barry has your solution, you'll have to pop the top and reseat the transceiver module.  I'd also put some foam on top to keep it from happening again, enough to apply a little pressure when the case is closed.

Thanks Barry and John, I've replaced thumb wheels before so I'm pretty comfortable with the operation. I've scheduled the surgery for tomorrow so I'll let you know.

While your in there....foam on transceiver board keeps it secure.