Elementary DCS Questions

Barry's book also tells you that the DCS TIU has to be powered via "Fixed 1" or the AUX Power input.  That's most likely your issue.  Without power to "Fixed 1" or the Aux input the internal circuitry isn't powered.

The TIU needs to be powered for it to work. You can apply power to fixed #1 input, or to the aux input power. If the TIU is not powered the remote won't do much.

It's powered through the AUX input, and the internal LED is lit.  So that's not the problem.

OK.  You didn't have that in your initial post so that's covered.  Without my DCS in front of me, I don't know off hand where to look but I believe it's under DCS Setup.  Page 40 of the DCS Companion.

Hi Gary.... You're kind of starting off with a complicated move using  Var  1.

Why not try using fixed 1 instead.....   This way all you need is power to fixed 1 IN and fixed 1 out to track.

 Now try adding a dcs engine.

Gary, be sure to explain what you are trying to run also. Your profile page says that you are into postwar engines. Maybe you are not trying to run command type locomotives and are running conventional? That would help for these experienced folk to give suggestions. The more info you can give, the better they can serve you.  

Rick

Working now by using a fixed channel straight through.

Yes,  now that I haved moved from strictly postwar to DCS with two new PS2 engines, my profile is due for an update. 

Glad that you got your DCS working and engines loaded. I am a Buckeye too. I am south of you in Wilmington, just off of I-71. If you are ever down this way, you are welcome to stop in.

Rick

Gary,

my remote says INA S/U ALL and nowhere does it explain what that means

Sure it does. Look at page 31 of The DCS Companion 3rd Edition:

• Pressing the ENG key enters the Engine List
• The Engine List displays all of the DCS engines that are entered into the DCS Remote by DCS ID# and name
• Engines may be either in the active or inactive portions of the list
• An engine is selected by either scrolling to it using the thumbwheel or entering its one or two digit DCS ID# using the number keys. This will highlight the engine
• If the engine is in the inactive portion of the list (below the line INACTIVE ENG), pressing the thumbwheel selects the engine and places it in the active portion of the list
• If the engine is in the active portion of the list, pressing the thumbwheel selects the engine and returns to the Engine Control Screen
• There are three soft keys displayed above keys S1, S2 and S3
• Pressing soft key S1 (INA) will place the highlighted engine in the inactive portion of the list
• Pressing soft key S2 (S/U) enters the Engine Setup menu
• Pressing soft key S3 (ALL) select all

Barry's book says in one place to set variable channels to FIXED output for initial setup, but again, nowhere do it say HOW to do that.

On the contrary, it most certainly is in The DCS Companion 3rd Edition. Look at page 48:

• If there is more than one TIU in the DCS Remote, a list of all TIUs in the DCS Remote is displayed  
• If only one TIU is in the DCS Remote, this screen is not displayed and this step is skipped
• If there is more than one TIU present in the DCS Remote, use the thumbwheel to scroll to the TIU that has one or more of the channels whose behavior is to be modified. Press the thumbwheel to select the TIU
• A list of all channels of the selected TIU is displayed along with 5 soft keys
• To turn the DCS signal on or off on any one channel, or to toggle a variable channel between variable and fixed operation, select the channel by scrolling to it using the thumbwheel
• To turn the DCS Signal on or off on that channel, press soft key S1 (ON) to turn the DCS signal on or S2 (OFF) to turn it off
• To toggle a selected Variable Channel between Fixed and Variable modes of operation, press soft key S5 (FXD)
• A message is displayed indicating that the channel is set to either Fixed or Variable mode
• To turn the DCS signal on or off for all channels of the selected TIU, press soft key S3 (AON) to turn the DCS signal on or press soft key S4 (AOF) to turn the DCS signal off
• When a TIU Variable Channel is set to Fixed mode, it will remain in Fixed mode until one of the following occurs:

The Variable Channel is toggled back to Variable mode using Soft Key S5 (FXD). It will remain in Variable mode until it is once again toggled to Fixed mode using Soft Key S5 (FXD)

The TR button is pressed, the track associated with the Variable Channel is selected and the thumbwheel is turned 1 click. The channel will be placed in  Variable mode until it is once again toggled to Fixed mode using Soft Key S5 (FXD) or until the DCS Remote is powered off and then back on again

This and a whole lot more about DCS is all in MTH’s “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!

Barry,

Like I said in my initial post, perhaps I was just too impatient to get things going, but I got it all working by using a fixed channel.  The Quick Start in the DCS manual did not cover those things as well as you have. Did not mean to be hyper-critical.

Gary

Gary,

Did not mean to be hyper-critical.

No offense taken.

I get some posts from time-to-time with "...I couldn't find it in the book...". About 99% of the time it is, indeed, "in the book". On the rare occasions it isn't in the book, I typically make a note to put it into the next update.

Sometimes people either lack the patience to find things or don't read the book's Foreword, which describes exactly how to use the book. Further, the eBook copy is fully searchable from within just about any pdf reader application on just about any platform.

Gary,

   Most times somebody new to DCS will make more than few mistakes just by going a little to fast, fortunately Barry has been more than patient over the years and helps everyone, especially those 1st starting into DCS operations. 

Looks like you got the help you needed, come back and let us know how you are progressing with your layout.  Eventually you will want to run DCS & Legacy together on your layout.

PCRR/Dave

My DCS is indeed up and running, but it is a relatively small layout, only 8 x 10.  I can run no more than 2 trains, although  I have plans for expansion of the layout.  I was driven to DCS (rather than Legacy) when I found that MTH made a Rail King engine (New Haven F3 ABA) 30-2469-1 that was an exact replica of my original Lionel 2242.  I purchased that engine last week in anticipation of bringing the DCS system on line this week, which I have done. Previously I was a postwar "purist", but this DCS capability is so far ahead of what I had been doing that I don't think I'll ever look back. Tinkering every night now with the system's capability.

I think a good explanation of how to use the variable channels would help him here. More than just switching them to fixed.

Yes, he could set it to fixed. I don't think he still knows how the variable channels work fully. I am usually wrong!

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Further, the eBook copy is fully searchable from within just about any pdf reader application on just about any platform.

I love this about the E-version. If you are too impatient, like me, to search a paper copy, the find function in Adobe makes it really easy!!!

Gary,

   I fully understand what you mean, I am mostly a Tin Plate kind of guy, and when MTH came out with the new reproduction Tin plate in P2, well that pushed me right into the remote control I always wanted for my Tin Plate.

The modern engineering advances have been great and now that Lionel has Engineered Completely wireless Command Control Switches for their FasTrack, my Tin runs mostly on FasTrack with those incredible low voltage FTCC Switches.  Works great however you must have TMCC or Legacy along with your DCS to operating in the manner I do.  

DCS is only half the game, run both DCS & Legacy for the ultimate layouts.

PCRR/Dave

Now nearing the 1/2 way point on the construction of the PCRR Train Room.

Joe,

I think a good explanation of how to use the variable channels would help him here. More than just switching them to fixed.

You'll find that explanation on pages 129-133 of The DCS Companion 3rd Edition in Part VII - Operating Conventional Engines and pages 127-134 of The DCS WiFi Companion 1st Edition in Part X - Operating Conventional Engines.

This and a whole lot more about DCS is all in MTH’s “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!

This and a whole lot more about DCS WiFi is all in MTH’s “The DCS WiFi Companion 1st 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! Get the free TMCC & Legacy Addendum here!

perfect! as long as he has a copy.

I have the book, and I understand the variable channels.  But now that I have two PS2 engines, and I really can't run more than 2 trains simultaneously, I will probably just park the conventional engines.  I realize I don't have to,  I can bring them out occasionally and run them on a variable channel, but at the moment running command control mode only suits me fine.  If I try to run a conventional engine and a command control engine at the same time, there will be inevitable collisions on my relatively small layout.   Agreed on the value of searchable PDFs.  For the technical products my company makes (not trains) I always encourage customers to use the searchable PDF rather than the paper copy. There's only so much you can put in the Index.  Didn't realize until this thread there was a PDF version.