*SOLVED - With Video. MTH DCS Remote Lags very slow or reads - Out of RF Range (2nd remote works just fine)

Hmmm, could you tether it and try it again?

Tether works perfectly.  So does that mean loose or broken antenna?

Thanks

Ron

Ron,

It could be that the remote's transceiver board has worked its way loose and is intermittently loosing contact with the remote's main board.

Try tethering (connecting) the remote to the TIU's Remote Input port with a 4-conductor telephone handset (curly) cable and see if things improve. If they do, it's almost certainly a loose remote transceiver board. In that case, you can proceed to open the remote and reseat the transceiver board.

Be aware that, when you connect the remote to the TIU, no other remote will be able to talk to that TIU and no other TIU will be able to communicate with that remote.

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition", available for purchase  from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Thanks Joe and Barry... I will try that.  If I recall previous threads, this is hard to open, right?  It almost feels like it's about to break as it opens if I recall the thread correctly.

Ron

While it's open, check the soldered connections of the antenna wire to the board.  I had a broken connection which took me awhile to find, and was killing range.  Two soldered connections, quite tiny.

Ron,

From pages 151-152 of The DCS Companion 3rd Edition:

Opening the DCS Remote can be extremely difficult and can cause problems with the DCS Remote! You should consider having this done by an authorized MTH service center!

• Open the battery compartment door on the back of the DCS Remote and remove the batteries
• Remove the Phillips head screw inside the battery compartment
• Before opening the DCS Remote's case, note that when the DCS Remote is opened, there will still be a black wire connecting the two halves of its case
• Begin to separate the two halves of the DCS Remote's case by pushing outwards from inside the battery compartment while squeezing the bottom portion of the top of the DCS Remote. This requires considerable patience, particularly when opening a DCS remote's case for the first time
• Once the bottom of the shell begins to separate, gently continue to separate the two halves of the case and open the DCS Remote like a book, taking care not to damage the wire connecting the two halves of the case
• The transceiver board is located at the top of the DCS Remote behind the LCD screen. Do not under any circumstances lift up on the transceiver board or black wire!
• Press down gently on the transceiver board to reseat it
• Place a piece of soft, nonconductive spongy material on top of the transceiver board so that it will hold the board in place when the DCS Remote is reassembled
• Carefully line up the two halves of the case and gently but firmly snap them back together
• Replace the Phillips head screw, the batteries and the battery compartment door.

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition", available for purchase  from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Great instructions Barry.   That was an easy fix.  For those who like a visual, I made a video.  It took me longer to make the video than it did the repair.  The repair was less than 5 minutes.

Thanks All!   Ron

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Ron,

From pages 151-152 of The DCS Companion 3rd Edition:

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition", available for purchase  from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Barry,

We had the same issue occur one night at 1AM and the "DCS Companion" saved us!!

Ron,

Very nice video, and great technique in opening up and repairing the remote.

I could not have done it better myself!  

Ron,

When you first had the running issues were any of the trains surging while runing? I have been running everything I own for several years with a rev. 13A TIU and remote until I dropped the remote. I recentlty purchased a new DCS in REV.L, and trains are surging a little while running, and there are slight delays when increasing and decreasing speeds

JoeG

JoeG,

No, the trains never surged.  As described above, the remote would just lag or not respond while our other remote worked perfected.  Barry's description for repair was spot on.  All working fine.

Thanks!
Ron

Video was extremely helpful, my "OUT OF RF RANGE" issue is solved and working perfectly!
Thanks,

Eddie

Nice video.  It looked like that remote had been open before, they are a little harder to open the first time.  

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Nice video.  It looked like that remote had been open before, they are a little harder to open the first time.  

That truely was the first time.  Great instructions from Barry.

Ron

That's amazing Ron, when I take one apart the first time, it's usually more of a struggle to crack the case.  After that, they come apart much easier.  Barry's instructions are good, that's the way I open them.

The key is knowing the tabs are on the top half.  So you squeeze it.  If you squeeze the bottom it is harder to open.  G

Well, I do know the tabs are on the top.   I just find the first disassembly to be a bit harder than those that follow.

I run eight remotes.  The first three are set up as STEAM-DIESEL-ELECTRIC.  The next three are clones of the first three.  Remote 7 is for bench operation and remote 8 is for my Legacy locomotives.  Every three months I charge all batteries and while doing so, I open all remotes up and re seat the transceiver boards.  Nothing any worse than picking up a remote with an issue.  The re seating of the transceiver board is a big thing to pay attention to.

As of recent times, the Wi-Fi has taken over big time.

I had same issue with mine recently so I removed the cover of remote and noticed that 3 out of the 4 pins from the transceiver board were completely separated from the soldered board. I tried to re solder but was extremely difficult for me. Anyone know if this could be fixed or do I need a new remote??? If I connect remote to TIU via tethering cable it works fine.  I just recently got the wifi setup which I really love but realized I still need remote to get into the DCS settings. I also just realized that I need another wifi module because I have 2 TIUs I'm wondering when the new full version of the wifi app comes out if you can do everything from it and never need remote again??? I really don't want to spend another  $150 or so dollars if when the full version of the app comes out you will be able to do everything the remote does.....does anyone know if new app has all needed and that you will never need hand remote again?

The remote can be fixed if your soldering attempt hasn't damaged the board past the point of no return.

Thanks John!! I'm concerned I might have damaged the board. The pins themselves completely came off and I couldn't see anything to solder them back to on the board even with a magnified glass that I use. Will MTH do this or do you recommend someone I could send it out to?

Thanks!

Matt

I'd send it to GGG on the forum, he's good at fixing those, and he offers a quick turnaround.  I could fix it, but it won't be quick.

Great Thanks a bunch John!! I'll sent him a message and see what he says and of course pay whatever he charges. 

Running Trains today and my remote has a serious lag.  My son said, "Didn't you have this problem once before?  Thought you got the answer on OGR."

Googled DCS remote lag and found my thread from nearly a year ago.  They say the mind is the 2nd thing to go... I forget what the 1st was.

I even had the piece of foam installed.  Once I took apart the shell, I pressed the two boards tightly and all works well again.

Thanks OGR and all who helped.

Have Fun. Ron

bump to help others today.

Thanks to Ron for the great video!!! 

another post

https://ogrforum.com/...-together-i-am-happy

and a pic of mine

HEY Ron ,

Being more VISUALLY  🤓 adept than mentally , I really appreciated your remote repair video.  Each step was clearly shown . I've seen a lot of instructional videos but not many  as well done as yours.  This was an excellent video for the DCS remote opening and repair.

KUDOS and many thanks.

PS .   How many instructional videos would you like to make for us on the forum ? 🎥🤔

Next challenge is swapping out the thumbwheel cradle, that's a fun repair.

@Dallas Joseph posted:

PS .   How many instructional videos would you like to make for us on the forum ? 🎥🤔

 

Just let me know what you need. 😉

Credit really goes to Engineer Joe for remembering that I did this.  I forgot.

Ron, I can't find a link to the video everyone is praising.  Can you please post it?

If you think your mind is failing, be thankful it works well enough to realize that fact.

Just scroll up 

I did, and the link was to something else.  Then, by sheer dumb luck, in another thread I happened upon that video of opening a remote without the use of sledge hammer and steel chisel.

Very funny that I am reading this post from years ago.  I'm just now having some DCS remote issues like what was described above.  Thanks for the video because this USAF guy is visual.  I'll be preforming remote surgery in the morning...

An awesome thread for it's educational value.

A sentimental thread to read Barry and Marty's comments. Miss both of those gentlemen.

Ron, as everyone has said - thanks for the video.

Paul

Ron ,

You said you FORGOT that you did the video !?  🙃

I hope you don't have the same malady that I seem to be having more of these days.

Soooo ...........all of us can just ask you for whatever video we need and you will fire one off !? 😨     Some day we will all have to start video conferencing on the forum ! 🤓  (  I'll have to find something besides pajamas to wear )