Do you think the current DCS Wi-Fi Interface Unit is equivilent to the upcoming TUI with Wi-Fi?

The WTIU won't work with the DCS remote wirelessly, only if you connect it with a tether can you run the WTIU with a DCS remote. Also, From what has been mentioned is that the VARIABLE inputs on the WTIU will now accept & vary DC power.

I'm keeping my old Rev. L TIU's that can talk to my remotes.  I also have the WiFi unit installed, but it's for guests as I'd rather use the remote.

@Kelunaboy posted:

I have the Wi-Fi Interface but not installed right now - when I tried it several years ago I was "underwhelmed" by the APP.

Last night my remote thumb wheel and buttons started acting up, so Iʻm going to install the Wi-Fi Interface tonight,
but Iʻm wondering if I should pre-order the new TUI anyway - just to keep up with the arms race... 

Just buy another Remote

I love the DCS WIU - not sure what part of the app was underwhelming unless you did not pay the $25 for the full app.  The DCS WIU is very hard, if not impossible, to come by, and selling at a premium on ebay.  I sold my handhelds as I was tired of getting the no engine found message.  I don't have that issue with DSC WIU.

John

Yes, the WIU's are scarce and expensive right now but if you can wait just a little bit longer, Andy Edleman stated that new WIUs should be showing up at dealers by the end of the year.

H1000,

I hope you are right.  I was talking about this the other day with one of the shops I do business with and they said April.  Right now, I can't run about 1/2 my engines as I need a WIU.

John

The new TIU WIU will be available now April May 2023 its pushed back again due to parts supply issues. Lionel is in the same boat with the Cab 3 base due to supply issues.

@dk122trains posted:

The new TIU WIU will be available now April May 2023 its pushed back again due to parts supply issues. Lionel is in the same boat with the Cab 3 base due to supply issues.

The last I heard on the BASE3 was 4th quarter of 2023. I'm a bit surprised that Andy announced the WTIU will be available next spring. That raises hope but I'll believe it when I see it...

I won't be an immediate buyer for either of these, so I'm not worried about the release date.  Neither product answers any need I have, I already have the WiFi for both Legacy and DCS, and neither the BASE3 or the WTIU offers me any additional capability.

GRJ,

How do you run WiFi for DCS without a WTIU???

I saw a BASE3 at Trainfest this past weekend or what appeared to be a BASE3 connected to a iPad.  I am not clear on what a BASE3 really gets me that the existing BASE2 doesn't.  Not in the market for it at this point.

John

@jbmccormick posted:

GRJ,

How do you run WiFi for DCS without a WTIU???

Upper middle is the TIU, lower left is the MTH WiFi unit. all you need to use WiFi with DCS.

My mistake.  You need a DCS W-Fi (WIU) to run a Wi-Fi on MTH along with a TIU.  I agree GRJ a WTIU would get you nothing given what you have.

John

@H1000 posted:

The last I heard on the BASE3 was 4th quarter of 2023. I'm a bit surprised that Andy announced the WTIU will be available next spring. That raises hope but I'll believe it when I see it...

The Cab 3 besides parts issues , the app is in its 3rd revision  . Andy made the statement at our DCS support group. The new DCs app remember will be all in one control,sound files etc. It too is in its 3rd revision. And both apps will have to be approved and tested by App store and Apple before released

DK122,

I went to the apple app store.  I don't see the cab3 app.  I did several searches.  Help please.

John

It's still in beta, it's not there!

@jbmccormick The app isn't released yet for public download for both Lionel & MTH.

The App testing processing should go extremely fast, neither is storing private information about the end user and the in-app purchases are pretty straight forward one-time upgrades.

Thanks for all the replies!  Installed my DCS Wi-Fi this morning and downloaded the latest app - all working  very well with one engine added.

@jbmccormick posted:

I love the DCS WIU - not sure what part of the app was underwhelming unless you did not pay the $25 for the full app.  The DCS WIU is very hard, if not impossible, to come by, and selling at a premium on ebay.  I sold my handhelds as I was tired of getting the no engine found message.  I don't have that issue with DSC WIU.

John

The "upgrade" section of the app reports I purchased "Premium" in June 2020, I think what "underwhelmed" me is the lack of a "landscape" orientation for my iPad.

Now Iʻm using a retired iPhone 11  for layout apps - LionChief Plus, MTH DCS Wi-Fi and soon to be installed - never used Lionel WiFi with my Cab2.

@trainnerd posted:

Just buy another Remote

Looked into buying another remote but theyʻre dinosaurs now - but I will look into repairing the two I have with funky scroll wheels.

@Kelunaboy posted:

Looked into buying another remote but theyʻre dinosaurs now - but I will look into repairing the two I have with funky scroll wheels.

Thumbwheels are available from MTH parts.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Thumbwheels are available from MTH parts.

Thanks for the info GJ - in stock, fair price, and reasonable shipping - ordered two.

Update - my order shipped USPS within 2 hours of placing online order!

I was wondering about the DCS App and whether there was an upgrade in the works. Thanks for the info, Don. I need to get back out to York.

Trying to follow along here, I am considering getting my first DCS equipped locomotive - I am not entirely interested in the whole DCS system at the moment (remote and all)...

Would the new TUI that is rolling out soon allow me to just use WIFI to operate? From what I am reading above, it would only be "one unit" and not require an additional interface unit.

Yes, the new WTIU will use WiFi.  You will be able to tether one DCS remote to it, but it doesn't offer wireless operation with the DCS remote.

Still need to get the lcs wifi unit before they are all gone also. I am with john it will be for guest and the occasional use buy me. No need for a base 3 at the moment.

The only concern with the new lionel app is the slow speed control. At least the mth app has plus and minus bottons on the sceen you can tap to get speed increments. Lionel should have put similar buttons as well as the slider IMO in there app screen.

I perfer the handhelds and have plenty of both brands to run my trains for years to come.

Great topic.  Are there different versions of the WIUs over the years?  If I buy a "like new" older WIU, is there risk that the software might not work right?  I run a DCS remote with a current TIU and want to add a WIU for guests and as a back-up in case my remote dies.  Should I wait until MTH releases some new ones or pick up a used one in good shape?  Suggestions?

WIU's don't have hardware revisions but there is a firmware upgrade that if not uploaded will have significant performance impact and other troubles.

There is only one MTH WIU currently, and the upcoming WTIU that MTH has announced.  The WIU does require a software upgrade for proper performance.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Thumbwheels are available from MTH parts.

@Kelunaboy posted:

Thanks for the info GJ - in stock, fair price, and reasonable shipping - ordered two.

Update - my order shipped USPS within 2 hours of placing online order!

Just a minor note on these. Be sure to follow the instructions that are included, I believe the new parts must be wired in reverse to function properly.

Shipping update - either MTH is closed or USPS is very slow.
As of 11/29, 10 days after a USPS tracking number was generated for my 11/18 order, the package has not shipped.

A bit disappointing.

I'd contact them, must have slipped through the cracks.  Normally, I get MTH orders in a couple of days.