MTH DCS Remote Thumbwheel Unresponsive

hi would recommend doing a factory reset and see what happens first ! if you purchased it knew I would get it repaired under warranty . if not I can repair it for you let me know I'm in south new jersey where are you located? I have re[;ace my thumb wheel before but since you said you can scroll the wheel and go threw menus sounds like it might not be a bad thumb wheel. as long as you did not press to firmly as you can brake the thumb wheel easily as it is plastic and fragile. but as long as your careful and you did not press to strongly that should not have happened. I would not recommend not taking the remote your self apart unless you know what your doing, you can damage the transmitter board very easily and would then be more expensive especially if you don't have warranty!

sincerely good luck and let me know if you need help ok

Alan

 I was thinking of doing a reset, but I can't get to the menu needed to do this without being able to scroll through the menu. Or is there another way to get to menus/submenus? Has anyone had a similar problem and reinstalled the software to get it to work?

I think this is strictly a remote problem if you can't even scroll through the different menus. 

At first I thought it might be  loose transceivers board or even a low dcs  track signal . The only thing I can think of is..... replace the batteries in the remote.

Gregg posted:

 I was thinking of doing a reset, but I can't get to the menu needed to do this without being able to scroll through the menu. Or is there another way to get to menus/submenus? Has anyone had a similar problem and reinstalled the software to get it to work?

I think this is strictly a remote problem if you can't even scroll through the different menus. 

At first I thought it might be  loose transceivers board or even a low dcs  track signal . The only thing I can think of is..... replace the batteries in the remote.

 

 

The batteries are fresh, but I swapped them out - no luck.

This might not be your case but are you using an MTH recommended transformer for use with DCS? If not that could be your problem.

Lee Fritz

Mooner,

It's not batteries, it's not a loose transceiver board, it's not low DCS signal strength, it's not the transformer, and it's not the DCS software.

The problem is almost certainly that the remote needs to be repaired. Most likely, either the thumbwheel itself has become defective or a wire between the thumbwheel and the main board has become disconnected.

If the remote is new, get it replaced (preferably) or repaired under warranty.

phillyreading posted:

This might not be your case but are you using an MTH recommended transformer for use with DCS? If not that could be your problem.

Lee Fritz

Using MTH Z1000 brick in and out of fixed 1. Layout is double loop roughly 5 1/2 x 18 feet. Train runs and all commands work thru keypad but I can't access all the menus because i can't scroll. Doesn't seem to be a power issue. Thank you though.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Mooner,

It's not batteries, it's not a loose transceiver board, it's not low DCS signal strength, it's not the transformer, and it's not the DCS software.

The problem is almost certainly that the remote needs to be repaired. Most likely, either the thumbwheel itself has become defective or a wire between the thumbwheel and the main board has become disconnected.

If the remote is new, get it replaced (preferably) or repaired under warranty.

Thank you. I'll do that.

Bummer this happens out of the box. I'm tempted to get the Wifi box and app and go with that over the remote. Didn't really want to spend more money but I like the idea of grandson and I both controlling the 2 PS3s I have independent of each other on the same track with our own phones.

Moon posted:

phillyreading posted:

This might not be your case but are you using an MTH recommended transformer for use with DCS? If not that could be your problem.

Lee Fritz

Using MTH Z1000 brick in and out of fixed 1. Layout is double loop roughly 5 1/2 x 18 feet. Train runs and all commands work thru keypad but I can't access all the menus because i can't scroll. Doesn't seem to be a power issue. Thank you though.

Do you have the auxiliary input powered up or not? Use a small transformer like an MTH Z-500 to power the auxiliary input and see if the problem still persists.

If you don't have another transformer then try a parallel(splice the wires from the transformer and add a supply to the DCS unit input wiring set-up) wire the TIU like you do now and add a feed wire to the auxiliary port and see what happens.

If this don't help you may have a bad DCS base. Try to find an MTH authorized repair center and check with them about the DCS unit.

Lee Fritz

The ball is rolling towards left field. The remote will scroll through the menu with no transformer or TIU in sight when working properly. Mooner stated his thumbwheel will not scroll. What Barry said.

Hi Mooner

I had this same issue about a year ago, my hobby shop called: MTH Tech. Support and they gave me a return authorization number. They replaced the thumbwheel and the attached parts.

I was out of warranty, but the price was fair and it was returned in about 14 days.

Main line: 1-410-381-2580 / They had me ship it to MTH Trains, 4290 S. Niles Rd. St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.  Note: My hobby shop got me the return authorization number, do not mail anything in until you get the number and the the address to send it too.

Hope: This helps Gary

Along with John, I also recommend What Barry said. Barry's book, The DCS Companion is well worth twice it's price and I would highly recommend that if you don't already have it. Lots of good stuff in there that you won't find elsewhere. print copy is best, IMO as you can take it to the layout with you for reference when doing things. It's available from the MTH website in either digital or print format. 

A few years ago I broke my thumb wheel from pressing it too hard to select things. It took me about a year and you have to press pretty hard. They don't break that easily as long as you don't press down too hard on them, use a light touch. Mine had nothing to do with scrolling, it was from fat fingering/thumbing the poor thing.

The wifi is also a good item to have, but I would also want a working remote as even with the advanced app that is due very soon, the remote may do things that the app might not? We don't really know the answer to that one just yet. 

(Barry, the link to the Bible is missing from your tagline. Was going to refer to that here, but looked first and it was missing!)

I replaced my thumbwheel with a replacement I got from my LHS. It worked much better afterward. If you aren't mechanically and electronically inclined, I recommend having a service tech do the work. It is not a plug-and-play replacement.

George

George S posted:

I replaced my thumbwheel with a replacement I got from my LHS. It worked much better afterward. If you aren't mechanically and electronically inclined, I recommend having a service tech do the work. It is not a plug-and-play replacement.

George

HI GEORGE

I also noticed that my MTH / DCS Controller worked a lot better after it was returned, from MTH.  (Replace Thumbwheel)  The total cost was $41.00 / Parts 16.00 / Labor $15.00  / Other $10.00

The best tool in my tool box is my credit card or check book.

Gary

Thanks all for the responses. Great to have a forum to go to with questions. Consensus on sending the remote in for repair so I'll do that. I also bought the wifi unit this afternoon from a forum sponsor. Already have Barry's book and read it before posting hoping for a hidden nugget. Appreciate that he responded to the thread.

Lee,

Do you have the auxiliary input powered up or not? Use a small transformer like an MTH Z-500 to power the auxiliary input and see if the problem still persists.

If you don't have another transformer then try a parallel(splice the wires from the transformer and add a supply to the DCS unit input wiring set-up) wire the TIU like you do now and add a feed wire to the auxiliary port and see what happens.

If this don't help you may have a bad DCS base. Try to find an MTH authorized repair center and check with them about the DCS unit.

One more time: that ain't it. It's a busted thumbwheel or wire break.

I repaired this one 3 years ago..still working..not for the faint of heart

trainroomgary posted:

Hi Mooner

I had this same issue about a year ago, my hobby shop called: MTH Tech. Support and they gave me a return authorization number. They replaced the thumbwheel and the attached parts.

I was out of warranty, but the price was fair and it was returned in about 14 days.

Main line: 1-410-381-2580 / They had me ship it to MTH Trains, 4290 S. Niles Rd. St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.  Note: My hobby shop got me the return authorization number, do not mail anything in until you get the number and the the address to send it too.

Hope: This helps Gary

Gary, one of the club members lives not far from there.

Question on this topic: have the thumbwheel parts been redesigned?

My newer thumbwheel clicks when I rotate it, providing more tactile feedback. My original thumbwheel rotated smoothly and was always difficult to control. I also notice that both do not respond well to rapid scrolling, but the new one is more responsive. Anyone else have these experiences?

George

As I mentioned above, the original one I broke on my remote (I believe) had the clicks just like the new one I got from MTH to replace the one I broke. My DCS system was purchased new in 2012, IIRC. From memory, I would have to say they both work(ed) about the same. I ordered 2 thumb wheels at the time, so I still have an extra just in case.

My problem was not scrolling though, it was that I broke the plastic housing holding the thumb wheel in place. I have since developed a much 'lighter' touch when making selections. The current one I installed is still going after 3 or 4 years now. I agree with you on the rapid scrolling and I think that has been present since I got my DCS system.