MTH DCS Remote Wireless Commander questions

Striling you have to use a mth Z750 or Z1000 brick and also you can put ends on the mth cables hook it to lionel fastrack underneath.

The DCS Remote Commander banana jacks can be "unscrewed" as you say.

If you already have your track powered, connect the center rail to the red jack and the outer rail to the black jack.  This will allow operation in the so-called "passive mode".  In this mode you do not connect power to the coaxial/barrel jack.

The DCSRC is basically for use with a single engine, as all MTH PS2/PS3 engines on the track will run at the same time (unless blocks are used so the track power can be turned off).

Using the "Passive" mode prevents track voltage from going thru the receiver thus offering some protection to the receiver.

Engines have to be set to Factory default settings, if any engine has been run on a DCS track it needs to be reset.

Stirling,

Im not talking about the Commander. Im talking about the remote commander. 

Sorry - late night post. It's been deleted.

Do as Bob suggest above. The DCS Remote Commander is rated for 6 amps maximum so make sure not to pass ZW power though it. The draw can exceed 6 amps. By using passive mode, this is not an issue.

Well it sounds like it's a good thing for me! I may need some more help once I get it, but I think my questions have been answered. 
So if the engines have to be reset, can one do that with the remote? 

So how do if I'm using passive mode and connect to track power, if I'm reading correctly, I can keep the ZW on full power and it won't hurt it? Or am I mistaken?

You can't do that with the DCS Remote Commander, you'll need someone with the DCS Commander or the full DCS system.

Yes, you connect the ZW directly to the track, and just connect the DCS-RC to the track using the output jacks, red to center rail, black to outside rail.  Don't plug anything into the input barrel power plug, the track power will energize the adapter.

John, 

If I'm not mistaken, I believe all new production (within the last 6 months to 1 year perhaps) PS3 engines can be reset via the DCS remote commander to the factory default address. 

 

So how do if I'm using passive mode and connect to track power, if I'm reading correctly, I can keep the ZW on full power and it won't hurt it? Or am I mistaken?

Yes, you can. That's the point of Passive Mode.

Originally Posted by Stirling R. Callahan:

So if the engines have to be reset, can one do that with the remote? 

You can't do that with the DCS Remote Commander, you'll need someone with the DCS Commander or the full DCS system.

Actually, as SJC notes above, you may be able to do so.

Newer PS3 engines (only) will perform a Factory Reset from the DCS Remote Commander by pressing the following key sequence:

SND, DIR, -

This is made possible by revised firmware in newer (2014 and later) PS3 engines.

Yes, that only accounts for brand new engines, but all PS2 and any PS3 engines more than a year old will have to be reset externally.  If he has all brand new engines, then he has no problem.  Since he indicates he has engine(s), I really doubt they're all brand new.

John,

Why are you arguing? You said:

You can't do that with the DCS Remote Commander, you'll need someone with the DCS Commander or the full DCS system.

That's not correct. Period.

I'm not arguing Barry, that's your specialty.

I'm just pointing out that it's very unlikely that he can reset all those engines with the DCS-RC.

Feel free to have the last word.

I'll answer that by saying that currently I have three MTH engines with PS. One is a PS2 and the other two are PS3's. The PS2 is down for repairs right now so I'm not that concerned. I'll reset it then. 
As for the PS3 engines. Only one has ran on DCS before, so I should be able to reset it with the DCSRC as per what I've seen on here. 
I also have a friend who had to do that with one of his PS3 engines. MTH gave him a sequence of keys to push and that reset it. 

One feature of PS3 is the ability to update the engine's features (program) in addition to its soundset.  Can an end-user (or authorized service center) update an "older" PS3 engine that does not have the above mentioned Reset capability?

Stirling,

The sequence, as I posted above, is:

SND, DIR, -

What he said ^?

Stan,

Can an end-user (or authorized service center) update an "older" PS3 engine that does not have the above mentioned Reset capability?

If one has an updated firmware file for the engine, one can use the DCS Loader Program, consumer or service versions, to Flash update the engine with the updated file.

Ok, cool to know, now how do you get a firmware file?  I have yet to do anything with a PS3 engine other than run one so I'm kinda in the the dark here,

Cheryl,

They're Zipped together with the sound file for PS3 engines.

Barry,

So is there a list of PS3 engines by MTH model number from the pre-2014 era that have updated firmware available (with SND,DIR,- Reset feature included)?

Or in practice does it turn out that to get this Reset feature into an older PS3 engine it's left to the student to find a similar but current PS3 model and use its zipped files?

Stan,

So is there a list of PS3 engines by MTH model number from the pre-2014 era that have updated firmware available (with SND,DIR,- Reset feature included)?

 

Or in practice does it turn out that to get this Reset feature into an older PS3 engine it's left to the student to find a similar but current PS3 model and use its zipped files?

AFAIK, the answers are "no" and "Yes".

However, since you are an ASC, you should be able to get the necessary upgrade Chain Files from MTH.

FYI, I just received from Mario's Trains a Imperial BNSF SD70ACe loco that I ordered for a grandson and granddaughter.  It was in 2014 R-T-R catalog, and instruction manual speaks of using the remote commander to reset.