Most recent DCS system

DCS Remote Control Set #50-1001

You will want a Rev L TIU and the latest firmware is 4.30, I think, although 4.20 would be just fine. You can always upgrade the firmware yourself when new revisions are issued, so this should not be a big concern.

The remotes do not bear any revision numbers; there have been no publicized changes over the years, although I'm sure some components must have changed.  If one comes packaged with a Rev L as a set, it should be of recent vintage.

Thank you for the advice.

Look for a Rev L TIU model ok thanks again

Purchase new so you will have a one year warranty.

Thank you

One cosmetic change to the remotes is the thumbwheel has changed.

We have them in stock.  These are the most recent production and ready to ship today!

http://www.jrjunction.com/cgi-...action&key=10079

Thanks Luis at JRJunction! Just ordered

How old is REV. I3A?

Somewhere around 3 years. It was the model precious to the Rev. L.

Some,  but not all, I3a's had an issue of low overall DCS signal strength on all 4 channels,  right out of the box. MTH had an in-warrantee fix for this. Any I3a's so fixed would have a white dot to the right of the I3a designation.

No white dot on mine, will they still warranty it? Building a new layout so it's not hooked up presently.

No white dot on mine, will they still warranty it?

You should first determine if it has that specific problem. I assure you that the standard 1 year warranty period has long ago expired.

The question is, does it work ok?  Your TIU may not have the problem, or it may have been made after the problem was discovered.

It seemed to work ok but I did have to attach the light bulb to clean up the signal.

What cable do you need to update the firmware?

It seemed to work ok but I did have to attach the light bulb to clean up the signal.

Adding the light bulb is normal.

Do a DCS signal strength test on each channel with the engine standing still. If signal strength is 9 or 10, you don't have any problems.

What cable do you need to update the firmware?

From pages 132-133 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Based upon the personal computer being used and the function being performed, different cables may be required.

 

One cable that is always required is a 9-conductor serial cable or, for the Rev. L TIU only, a USB cable that has a Type B USB connector on one end and a connector that fits the PC on the other end. This cable connects the personal computer and the TIU. The serial cable is required to perform any of the DCS Loader Program functions. This cable is known by various names, including RS 232 cable, RS 232C cable, keyboard extension cable or modem cable, and is generally available from computer and office supply stores. Either cable should be long enough to reach from the personal computer to the TIU. One end of the serial cable must have a 9-pin male connector to plug into the TIU's serial port and the other end must have a connector that connects with the connector on the serial COM port of the personal computer. If the personal computer lacks a serial COM port but has a USB port, there are two approaches to connecting a non-Rev. L TIU to the personal computer.

 

MTH recommends two methods for connecting a personal computer without a serial COM port to the TIU. One method recommended by MTH is, if the personal computer has an available slot for a PC card, to install a PC serial port card in that slot. MTH has reported success using the SIIG, Inc. model JJ-PCM02 card. This card should be available from computer supply stores.

 

The other method recommended by MTH is for computers that lack a serial COM port and do not have an available slot for a PC card, but do have an available PCMCIA port. This would include most laptop and note-The DCS O Gauge Companion 133 

book computers. In this case, the E-Link RoHS PCMCIA card or the SIIG, Inc. Single-Serial PC card should be used. These cards should be available from computer supply stores.

 

If the personal computer does not have an available slot for a PC card or a PCMCIA card slot, then a USB to Serial Adapter may be used. Although this approach is not recommended by MTH, the author has obtained excellent results using a Serial to USB Adapter cable sold by Radio Shack. This cable comes with Windows software drivers that should be installed before using the cable for the first time.

 

A 4-conductor telephone handset cable is required to upgrade the DCS Remote software or to perform backup or restore of the user-entered contents of the DCS Remote. This is the cable that connects a telephone handset to a telephone base and has smaller connectors than the cable that connects the telephone base to the wall. This cable should be available from Radio Shack, computer supply stores or office supply stores, and need only be long enough to connect the DCS Remote to the Remote Input port on the TIU.

 

A 1/8" to 1/8" stereo patch cable is required to upgrade TIU software. The cable must be a stereo cable, not a monaural cable, and is available from MTH (item #50-1009 6' Mini-to-Mini Cable), Radio Shack or audio/video stores. This cable need only be one foot in length.

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!

I also use, with no problems, the USB to serial adapter cable from Radio Shack that Barry mentions.  With the apparent demise of R-S, you can probably obtain it elsewhere.  It is a Gigaware 6-ft USB-A to serial cable.  SKU on barcode is 0-40293-01827-6.  Be sure to load the drivers that come with it.

Thanks for the help, our layout is compleatly dimanteled in the middle of rebuilding the whole thing, I'll have to revisit this post when we get to laying track.

Thanks again.

While several nearby Radio Shacks here have closed, there are still at least 3 of them open and fully stocked with no special 'store closing' sighs. I have not been in to ask what is going on recently, but they sure look like they plan to stay open? May stop in one this week and see what is going on, that is if the store people even know?

There was an article in the local newspaper about one RS franchisee who planned to keep the store open, with a new name if necessary. At the time of the article, he was awaiting word from RS corporate as regards his options.

Perhaps the there stores in your area area owned by someone (or multiple someones) who plan to do the same.

I have one of the first TIUs out there so I am pretty sure it is an I3a but I am sure its not a Rev. L based on the age.

Are there any differences between the oldest and the newest?  I would think they are the same if they are operating on the same 4.20, right?

John

The obvious difference between a Rev. L and any previous TIU's will be the USB port on the Rev. L.  The very first version G didn't have fuses.

I know one that closed here was independently owned. I don't know about the ones that remain open and stocked? I was pretty sure the one at the mall and one other one here was RS owned, but maybe not, or not so anymore?

Maybe I will go tomorrow, there has got to be something I need from there...

John,

I have one of the first TIUs out there so I am pretty sure it is an I3a

The I3a was not the original TIU. TIUs started with the (unmarked) Rev.G, followed by the Rev's H, H1, H2, I, I3, I3a, I3b (I hear, I've never seen one), and then the Rev. L.

Are there any differences between the oldest and the newest

The progression has been evolutionary, however, the two biggest "jumps" were from the G to the H by adding fuses and heavier traces, and the I3b to the L by adding a USB port and replacing the DSP's (Digital Signal Processor) ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) with a much faster FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

The same DSP swap was made going from PS2 to PS3 engines, as well. This improves DCS signal considerably and also improved the ability of the PS3 engine to utilize the improved DCS signal.

There's an Appendix C in The DCS PO gauge Companion 2nd Edition that describes each generation of TIU and indicate what changes were made from model to model.

  I would think they are the same if they are operating on the same 4.20, right?

Notwithstanding all of the above, the same DCS software will do all of the same things regardless of in which TIU it's installed. However, performance-wise, the Rev. L is a cut above all previous models.