MTH factory reset

sorry,forgot to mention i do not have a dcs system,only a remote commander,which will not do a reset.

thanks rich

I think a bunch of forum members live in the area, I am sure some one will be able to help you.  G

I'm over in SE-PA, if you want to take a field trip I can reset it for you.

John ,thanks for the offer,really appreciate that.is it possible that i can ship it to you.

thanks rich b,email in profile

Aggggghhhh!

John, if you can, please help me understand why the conventional mode bell/whistle sequence common to all PS2/3 engines is only a "feature" reset and not a full "factory" reset. Hence, if I buy a pre-owned PS2 or 3 that has been set using DCS by the previous owner it won't be recognized by either the little hand held remote commander or the console commander. As I understand it the console CAN do a FFR but not if it can't find the engine so you first have to a factory reset in order to do a factory reset -- if I got that right.

I know I'm tilting at windmills here but I've always found this to be one of the more vexing issues with MTH engines and DCS. Eventually I'll buy a full DCS setup. But it sure would be nice to just be able to use the console for now.

Thanks

Rich,

You certainly could, though that's going to incur shipping two ways.  It would be much more cost effective to find a local dealer, even if he charges for the service.  If you can't find one, I'd be happy to do it, just letting you know the options.  If you still want to ship it, send me an email via my profile email address.

To make things even more complex, I just had a PTC that I had to replace the board in.  I couldn't get the station stops to work, even after a full Factory Reset.  Turns out, you also have to do a CONVENTIONAL reset to get things right.  Why the DCS full factory reset wouldn't do it is a total mystery.

The DCS Commander should be able to do a factory reset.  I'm wondering if the fact that you can't find the engine is the issue.  For the DCS system (with TIU), there is a "find lost engine" function that was recently added, my guess is that is missing on the DCS Commander.  This function allows you to find an engine with a scrambled ID and then you can add it to the remote.

Rich,

I can do the reset for you. I'm near Mount Holly, probably about 1/2 hour away.

Guys,

The DCS Remote Commander cannot, and never will be able to, perform a Factory Reset. The reason is the same as the reason why a transformer can't do a Factory Reset with bell and whistle button presses.

A Factory Reset command must address the engine by it's actual DCS ID#, which neither a transformer nor a DCS Remote Commander (which is a one-way communications device) can never discover.

Barry, I was talking about the DCS Commander, not the DCS Remote Commander.  However, he can't find the engine, I was speculating that may be why he can't reset it with the DCS Commander.

Thanks Barry. I know it must be frustrating for you to answer this over and over but I have also have a DCS Commander Console (the one intended for HO pn 50-1028). Can THAT be used to do a factory reset? I have heard "yes", but am guessing the console has to recognize the engine first. If you get the "Err" message then you're out of luck.

Thanks, S

Scott,

Can THAT be used to do a factory reset? 

Yes, it can.

I have heard "yes", but am guessing the console has to recognize the engine first

That's correct, just like the TIU and remote must do.

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!

Thanks Barry.

So if the Console can't recognize/add the engine (Err message) what is it about full a DCS system that CAN recognize the engine no matter what? That's what is confusing to me. Or am I asking the wrong question?

Scott,

The DCS Remote or DCS Commander needs to add the engine first. It does this by looking for (querying) engines on all tracks connected to all TIUs. When it finds one, it adds it to the remote, adjusting the engine's DCS ID# to match an empty spot in the remote, if necessary.

Then, and only then, can the remote reset the engine, either Factory Reset or Feature Reset, since it now knows the engine's DCS ID#.

The difference is you have the Recover Engine function for the full DCS which frequently solves the issue of not being able to add an otherwise working PS2 engine.  It's always been somewhat of a mystery why an engine gets lost, but this function has found a couple of them for me when I couldn't otherwise find them.

Joe,

I think Rich has the REMOTE COMMANDER! Not the DCS COMMANDER. So all this information doesn't apply to him and it may confuse him

That is so, however, I was responding to Scott's questions, not Rich's.

You might want to re-address your post.  

Joe, if he can't add the engine, he can't do a reset either.

I apologize for hijacking the thread -- a little -- but the discussion is relevant as these three items are often confused:

1) The full DCS system which has a hand held REMOTE.

2) The DCS REMOTE Commander which is also hand held but not full DCS.

3) The DCS Commander Console which IS full DCS but has very limited features vs. full DCS and does NOT have a hand held remote.

4) The Z4000 Remote Commander which is a hand held remote that can control a compatible Z4000 power supply and can also accept signals from the Full DCS HAND HELD REMOTE!

MTH really didn't think this through when naming these products . . .

Scott,

MTH really didn't think this through when naming these products . . .

Ya think?  

Just for good measure, toss in the Z4000 Remote Commander, whose recover also works with DCS.

Previous post updated per Barry's input .

Barry,

If I made you nice easy to read chart that de-obfuscated the DCS hardware confusion would you use it in your book??

S

i would like to thank everyone for all the" ifs ands & buts" whew!Joe ,got your email thanks ,will be in touch.can everyone just relax ,now?feel like i just left the drs. office. LOL Barry,no,i m not confused ,yet.

thanks rich b

Absolutely 100% correct!

I have seen the confusion relating to the DCS/Commander/Remote terms arise on this forum any number of times.  Very difficult for anyone not familiar with all these components/systems to know what the heck is being referred to.  And many times the person posing a question simply uses the wrong or incomplete term(s) in describing what he or she is actually using.

Hello Rich, Not sure how far you are away from Allentown but bring it in on a Saturday and I can help you. I wouldn't charge to reset your engine to the factory default. We are in 18103 zip code. I also agree on the MTH product list. I think they sometimes intimidate a new user with all the choices and different but like systems..