First 3.0 engine can't access to hand unit

make sure you don't have an engine addressed as #1

Kurt

You could try moving the switch from DCS to DCC.  There were some mis-wired switches.

Did you try to add it with a small test track?  G

Paul,

First, if you're having any problems controlling engine es previously added to the DCS Remote, connect (tether) the DCS Remote's Programming (TIU Connection) port to the TIU's Remote Input port using a telephone handset cable. If this resolves the problem, the transceiver board in the DCS Remote, the TIU or both has floated out of its socket

If tethering doesn't resolve the problem, it's possible that your engine could have a DCS ID# outside of the normal range. Assuming that you are running DCS 4.10 or 4.20, you could try the Recover Engine procedure, as describer on pages 39-40 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Under DCS 4.10 or higher, to recover a PS2 engine that has a DCS ID# that's outside of the normal range, proceed as follows

• Set the engine on a piece of track controlled by TIU #1. The Recover Engine feature only works with TIU #1. You must not have any other engines powered up on any track connected to TIU #1 while attempting to recover an engine

• Apply power to TIU #1

• Power on the DCS Remote 

• Press the Menu button and use the thumbwheel to scroll to SYSTEM. Press the thumbwheel to select it

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to RECOVER ENGINE. Press the thumbwheel to select it

• The remote will display "Attempting Recovery of Lost Engine, Please wait!!!"

• If the remote is able to recover the engine it will display "Engine Recovered" and return to the Engine Setup menu. The newly recovered engine will be automatically Factory Reset by the remote. Refer to section DCS Menus, Advanced Menu later in this book for an explanation of the Factory Reset command

• Turn TIU #1 off and then back on

• The engine may now be added to the DCS remote using the ADD ENGINE command as 

described in section DCS Menus, System Menu earlier in this book

• If the remote is unable to recover the engine it will display "No Engine Recovered" and then return to the Engine Setup menu. If this occurs, then there may be an issue with this particular engine. Contact your local service center or MTH for service options.

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!

Barry I found a phone cable and when I tried to use it the fitting was a bit too big to go in either the  hand unit or the TIU. Are there different sizes of phone cable wire....Paul

Paul,

You need a telephone handset cable, the curly one that connects the phone's handset to the phone's base. It has smaller plugs than the cable that connects the phone's base to the wall.

Make sure that it has 4 wires, not 2.

Unless you're using a programming  track definitely try this one. Try it anyways.

 If 2 engine have the same ID , lets say ID #1 it  can sometimes  take  forever to get them added correctly . 

I found the right phone cable but had no luck with that either. However I reread your response and you mentioned about 4.10 and 4.20. I have had DCS since it first came out and that is how the remote has been. I am not a tech guru so I never was able to do the computer. But with the remote as is I was able to add two PS-2 engines. Thanks for your help ....Paul

Paul,

There's a good chance that the problem is, as I described above, that the engine's DCS ID# has gone outside the normal range. However, if that's what is the problem, you'll need DCS 4.10 or 4.20 to resolve it.

Paul,

I bought my grandson an MTH R-T-r Christmas set that has a PS-3 engine. His remote has version 2.1 because for some reason the remote will not accept any upgrades at all. We can load PS-2 engines OK but the PS-3 engine always shows "engine not found" or No engine to add". I believe the older software is not capable of recognizing PS-3.   Joe

Joe,

I believe the older software is not capable of recognizing PS-3.

Unfortunately, I have no way to prove that that is not the case, since I'm not going to back-level a remote and TIU to DCS 2.1.

However, I'm nearly 100% certain that is not the problem. PS2 and PS3 engines look the same to DCS.

In this case, if there isn't a lot in the remote, I'd suggest resetting both the remote and the TIU, and trying to load the engines, starting with the PS3 engine.

Why do you say that the remote cannot be upgraded?

Paul did you get the PS-3 engine added? Hard to believe a new engine would come with it's ID out of normal range. If you only have  3 engines reset the remote to clear any ID conflicts (if any) Try adding  the PS-3 first after the reset with nothing else on the track.

Gregg,

Is there an echo in this thread?

Is there? Did Paul get his ps-3 added?  It seems  great minds think a like I guess.

Should I not post???We need someone to keep you on your toes....

Gregg

Post all you like but allow Barry a chance to answer. After all Barry did, as they say, "write the book" actually two of them! LOL

That's funny  I'm not stopping him. I'm also not making any money trying to help others.

As far as the book(s) go... Great books.. but don't forget a lot of the info has come from forum members over the years, some (most) who don't post here any longer.  If you guys only want Barry to answer that's fine with me. See ya.

First I want to say I have appreciated all the help so far. It is not like the engine won't run. I have enjoyed it running in conventional. I think for myself I am just one of those people that are really not made for the computer or high tech age. I am going to try and buy Barry's book to learn more about this system. Once again I really have appreciated all the help.........................Paul

paul 2

Barry's book is most boringly informative reading you'll ever do on DCS & a bit of TMCC; I took it (on a Kindle) with me on a 3-1/2 hour plane ride to SanFran. I barely got through the first 125 pages.

Alan,

I barely got through the first 125 pages.

You should have kept going - it gets really interesting starting on page 129!

Barry,

I can absolutely guarantee you that 2.1 does not recognize the new PS-3 engines. It would not load on my Grandson's remote no matter what we did. However,

we could add any of his PS-2 engines without issue exactly as the original poster indicates.

As soon as I loaded his PS-3 on my on my remote with Version4.2, all was OK.

This anomaly could be an addendum to your book if for nothing more than sidebar info.

Joe

Thanks for all the help on this problem I had. I found out I had the original version of DCS, bought these when DCS first came out. I took my remotes and TIU"S to a hobby shop and they installed the latest version for me. When the tech was done he found out on both my TIU"S the number one side was weak and he could not add an engine. He mentioned something about a generator of sorts inside the units was weak and was not worth trying to fix it. So learning that I was able to install my 3.0 engine using number two side of the TIU. Down the road I'll buy a new TIU. So now my 3.0 engine runs but I can not get the smoke to pour out it just rolls out. I tried increasing it on the remote but so far nothing. Am I missing something. Thanks for any help ahead of time.........Paul