more premium app issues: NOPE !!! FIXED!! well, on my end anyways

OK I'm getting somewhere. The app doesn't allow for settings on consists I guess?

I saw them on single engines. I did not realize that I only had a 2 engine consist active on the tablet so no max speed menu.

Also Variable channels are not passing voltage after upgrading to 6.1! I checked with a meter and 18 in, zero out.

I had to take a remote, and turn them back on. The app would not do it?

I might be a dinosaur, but I don't see me giving up my remotes anytime soon.

I'll get it. Of course a 2 engine consist (w/ train) slammed to a stop entering the next power district. Now the trailing engine won't respond correctly.

WTH.

I should know better not to expect any smooth transition to a new DCS version by now. I'm sure it's just me, right. I said "no trains tonight as I need a break".

I get what I deserve.

Edit: engine is fine, had to call it up and it came out of it's funk.

Joe,

The app may download on a new iOS device as only the free, limited capability, version. Then, you can upgrade the app in place on the second iOS (Apple) device, that uses the same Apple ID and password as the device on which you previously purchased an upgrade,  to whatever version you paid for previously, at no additional charge.

In the app, navigate to:

• The More... screen
• Tap Upgrade
• Tap on the version available to upgrade the app
• Enter your Apple ID's password when requested
• The app should upgrade now at no additional charge.

Remember, you can upgrade the app on as many iOS devices as you like and only pay once fore the upgrade, provided the Apple ID is the same for all of the devices.

The same is true for all Android devices as long as they have the same Google ID. However, you must pay for both the first iOS (Apple) license and also for the first Android license. 

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!

I got something interesting to happen. Well that's for me I guess?

DCS 6.1, WIFI and remotes active, Nov 7, 2017....... 

I now placed an engine ID #56 back on the tracks that our grandson wanted to run  Saturday, but it would not load before my issues began. I had suspected a low battery so it has been on charge all day.

Again the phone posted no engine to add twice when I tried to load it. So I grabbed the main O remote and pressed read. The main remote that has the engine previously loaded, did not bring it up to active either?? I played with the polarity switch thinking it was wrong but no change.

So out of desperation I put another new engine on the same rails to load into the phone. Now the phone showed the #56 in the screen while cycling and finally loaded it. That's the first engine still on the same rails.

So I'm thinking there's some signal problem with my channel #1 that's connected to a Z4000 channel. I will need to methodically test for signal strength and what else could be happening. This loop had all tens for signal and ran great before this episode started. I am open to anything as I don't trust stuff and have seen things bite me that I have counted on before.

 What is it about having a second engine that finally allowed the app to see the first engine on the rails????

I'LL BE BACK!..... stinkin' gremlins......

Barry,

Your Wi-Fi companion book shows as not available on the MTH web store.

OK, so I do a signal test with the steamer in ID#56. It shows a range from 2 down to out of range!

Hmmm. This loop used to be all tens? So I place the other engine in front of it that made it load earlier and now the signal jumps to 5.

I pull that engine off the tracks and drive #56 around the layout. This loop is divided into only 2 blocks. As it gets the farthest points away from my transformer power area the signal jumps to all 10s.

Note: No matter where on the layout I perform a signal test, every time I exit, this engine stays quiet and must be reset with a feature reset to gain the sounds back. Even when and where the signal says 10!

So now to figure out what has changed on my outer loop that used to be all tens. I put that second engine on the rails. Both of these are PS2 by the way. That second engine reads all 10s????

 So I go back to steamer #56 and run it around again and sure enough it shows that the signal is zero by the panel and tens on the other side of the basement again. So I can't say what in the world is causing this yet???? If I thought the signal was weak in one spot I would focus there. Maybe the wire is too short right there? Why this steamer doesn't like it and the diesel doesn't mind?

 I'll be back.

 Both PS2 3 volt engines with charged batteries. Rev L tiu loaded now with 6.1.

Maybe I'll try several engines and come up with an average signal strength to see where to go next? After my episode of this TIU being stuck the other day, I'd be inclined to blame this TIU. So maybe swap out the whole TIU or change channel?

It took me 3 days to find this. I am embarrassed and mad and full of emotions about this.

The bottom line? I said out loud "what changed when the issue occurred?"

First thing was that our grandson wanted to run my 3rd Rail steamer w/ TMCC on my upper loop. I had thought of that countless times and ignored it. It's on a different TIU. It's 3 rail and my loops are 2 rail that were acting up. Then, 2 things shined threw. I hadn't run a DCS engine on the upper 3 rail loop to say if it worked or not. I never tested signal up there. I had plugged in and connected my TMCC base to run that engine.

 So what's that matter? The inner loop of my 2 rail is on my main TIU #1 version L channels #2 fixed and #2 variable. That is powered by 2 Lionel 180 watt bricks and I thought wasn't tied to anything.

 My newer outer 2 rail loop is powered by 1 handle of my Z4000, and channel #1 fixed of that same TIU. That loop keeps acting up the most and the TIU was tied up trying to communicate with whatever I asked it to do.

 The 3 rail upper loop is on another TIU but is on the same Z4000, and the other handle! So when I plug in the TMCC brick, it disturbs my whole 2 rail layout.

To prove this I took my most offending engine today, the #56 ID on the area by my control panel. I turned on the signal strength test with the engine parked. As I plug in the TMCC, the signal says "out of range". As soon as I unplug the TMCC base, the signal jumps to 10!

Why my signal would change with another engine on the rails? I don't know.

As I sat here typing my post above earlier, I thought of signal issues on my 2 rail whenever I try TMCC. The DCS engines will run fine on the layout the farthest away from the base. If there's anywhere near it, it messes them up. I tried to fix that and gave up. This time I kept saying it's not even connected.

 So I have to guess that the Z4000's black wires are connected internally. That bit me for three days now. I have 2 more brand new Lionel 180 watt bricks sitting in the box ( for months) waiting for my laziness to subside. I need to connect them to free up the Z4000 for 3 rail. That will cure any common ground issues.

 My girl reminds me that I have been irritable for days . URRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!

Got IT!

So I'll post a video for naysayers and also maybe on the TMCC side for why this brick messes up my 2 rail. Carl T had some helpful stuff a few years back, but it just wasn't fully working out. So I keep my TMCC engines separate. This base is strong and one connection anywhere works for TMCC.

 I had thought of running a new 110 volt source just for this TMCC base with it's own ground not tied to my house panel. I'm just not sure if it's the ground that's messing the DCS signal up? Maybe it's just the base? It only is a distance issue as when the base is on the farthest point away from the DCS engine, they are fine. When they get close to the base, they act up. This time the TMCC base is right at my controls panel with all my power, so even the wifi would not work correctly. I don't understand how it works in S scale????

 Either it's just my house wiring? or it's 2 rail in general? I've emailed other 2 rail O users and they recommend picking one system or the other. So I must not be breaking new "ground" here! 

Sometime back, I only had one loop of O scale so when I ran TMCC on my 3 rail, nothing interacted.

Dennis,

I hate my voice! So sorry about your luck.

Joe,

Interesting video!

Joe,

What is the fix?  Are you able to try another PH180?

Thanks for posting this!

Dave

I can't run TMCC on my 2 rail O scale together with DCS. When I run my 3 rail loop, I need to unplug the base when I'm done.

Yes, if I add the bricks to my other 2 rail, and get them off the spare Z4000 handle, that should also work. I'm hopeful.

Having the TMCC base tied to a post on the Z4000 seems to be back feeding my whole 2 rail layout.

I'm still looking for more answers too.

Joe,

Having the TMCC base tied to a post on the Z4000 seems to be back feeding my whole 2 rail layout.

A couple of thoughts...

First, make sure that the Z4000 terminal two which the TMCC base's "one wire" is connected is not the rail that your 2-Rail DCS engines use for the DCS signal.

Second, and more importantly, connect the "one wire" directly;y to the track as opposed to the Z4000's Common terminal. The way you're currently connected, you're passing the TMCC signal through the DCS channel's signal generator circuit, which can't possibly be a good thing!  

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!

OK. My wording was poor (again).

So you know, the TMCC base is on the black stud of a spare (#4?) TIU's fixed out #1. That goes to my 3 rail.

It is back feeding thru my whole 2 rail layout. I have to assume that it's going threw the TIU backwards, and into the Z4000. Leaves the Z4000 thru another handle and off to TIU #1.

So either that, or the radio signal is so strong it goes thru the air?

That's why I didn't think of it for days. That base is usually unplugged too. I just happened to leave it connected the night before when we went to bed.

The trains actually ran good until I tried to swap engines. Then stuff went south fast.

Another note I find interesting, my steamers are affected much more than my diesels? I tried more steamers with the same signal results.

Might be why I demand to modernize this RR!!! & Phase out the steam water heaters!

Nice and neat, Ahuh? Just temp for a few years now.

Joe,

So either that, or the radio signal is so strong it goes thru the air?

Actually, the TMCC signal will bridge an air gap in the rails. More than that, I can't say.

I had a suggestion of a cure a few years back. For the test, I laid a long straight piece of wire from the base, near the tracks but not connected. The TMCC ran fine!

I just can't remember about the DCS ones?