Mth dcs wifi system

Remove all the Legacy/TMCC engines and equipment from the rails and try again. Post back and we'll go from there.

Try your DCS system just connected to a spare piece of track to make sure it works correctly with a MTH engine. Don't have the Legacy/TMCC base connected!

You have to troubleshoot this. We can't do it from somewhere else without you doing the work.

Also,

1. Transformer ?

2. How is TIU being powered ?

3. Describe connections - what's going where ?

Which "wifi" system are we talking about?  Do you have the DCS Explorer or the full DCS with the TIU?

Lionel powerhouse 180

Tiu power from  powerhouse 180

Power go into tiu on fixed voltage.come out into fixed dcs out 1 to track.wiu plugs into tiu.wiu has separate power source 

Lionel lcs ser2 lcs pdi cable goes to  legacy base and the other end goes to PC input rs-232.

I'll send pictures so you can see.

Thanks.hoping you can help me.im total lose of what to do.

Brian

Dcs with tiu wifi newest one.

They both by them self without and problem.hook together only lionel engines run.dcs wifi system can't find mth engines when lionel engines are on track.

Lionel run just find on dcs tiu wifi system 

Did you check to make sure DCS is enabled on all the outputs?  Are you saying that the DCS engines will run when the Lionel engines are removed from the track?  If so, what is the signal strength readings with just a DCS engine on the track?  Does the signal strength change as you run a complete loop?

Yes dcs engines run find when lionel engines are not on track.when they are on system cant find engines. Keeps saying no new engines. 

It's surprising that all the Lionel engines cause the issue, exactly how many Lionel engines have you tried?  It's a known issue that some Lionel engines will affect the DCS signal, they need a protection choke installed to render them DCS compatible.

What about the signal strength around the layout?  How about switching to FIXED #2 for the track feed and see if FIXED #1 has a signal strength issue?

Will try that now.

make sure you power the TIU still when switching to fixed 2

If we used the second fixed voltage  on tiu do I need to used a second power supply 

I believe you're powering the TIU electronics using the WiFi connection, at least that's what it looks like from the pictures.  You should be able to move to the second channel and still have full function.

You can verify TIU power by checking to see if the LED is on, it's next to the Remote Input jack looking through the top louvers of the TIU case.

WAIT!  I looked again, you do need to power the TIU.  Just put power to FIXED #1 and FIXED #2, that will get it done.

What I'm trying to do is insulate half the table and used one half on 1 tiu for one half and 2 for the other half of table but do need to insulate plus and minus of track rail or can I just insulate plus side.?

Brian 

Just isolate the center rail, the outside rails are typically common across an entire layout

Power supply is hook directly to the tiu import 1.my question is can I insulate one half of table and use power supply 1 and import 2 with second power supply?

Sure, you can use a separate power supply for each TIU channel.

Remember, if channel 1 loses power, the whole TIU goes dark and you lose control of all DCS engines.  That's one reason for providing AUX power instead if depending on FIXED #1 to power the TIU electronics.

Well I think we just have a week signal because of so much track lengths 

How much track?

Guessing 3 to 4 hundred ft so we added another 180 powerhouse brick  and split table in half.

Thoses direct lock on powerhouse  .can used some of thoses I'd we need anymore power?

you may need at least another TIU channel. You can set the variable channels to fixed if needed. You could get to 150' of track per channel. I try not to. It's all about the track joints and wiring too.

Are your track joints soldered?

Wire connections solid?

#14 or bigger quality stranded wire?

Is there parked equipment on sidings drawing power too?

You need to have multiple blocks on each channel to keep the power from dipping.

 Try running a set of powered (2 or 3) engines around the layout in conventional power mode, pulling lit pass cars and see if the lights dim or the engines slow. It will show where there's probably going to be issues.

Well we cut the layout in half with insulate each half and put one half on one 1 channel and the other half on 2 channel and each has 180 powerhouse brick.only had one for the whole layout before.may have two insulate the upper from the lower and add another powerhouse brick..the track is not solder.may need two do that.

It is working alot better.thank you for the helps.

Any ideas?

Brian

bkm posted:

Guessing 3 to 4 hundred ft so we added another 180 powerhouse brick  and split table in half.

Thoses direct lock on powerhouse  .can used some of thoses I'd we need anymore power?

DO NOT USE THE TMCC DIRECT LOCKON WITH DCS!  They will kill the DCS signal!

 It's not power you need, it's the DCS signal that is affected by that much track on a single channel. If you have four hundred feet of track you need to at least split it in two and run two power districts with two TIU channels.

We have done that today and added one powerhouse brick 180 and seem to be getting better.going to solder all the track joint next if that will help..?