@MTH RD I'm assuming a wifi remote would communicate with a WIU correct? That way people with a WIU/TIU setup could still use that yet to be released wifi remote.
as clem stated. lashups always seem to work ok for a good number of operating sessions. then the engines in the lashup go south.
btw this happens with any combination whether its ps2 with ps2 or ps3 with ps3 or ps2 with ps3. I hit the save soft key also after building the consist,but every once in a while a consist just goes crazy. this happens at random and not every time. nor every consist mind you.
for instance one engine has no engine sounds. the other engines prime mover sounds get louder or one engines cab chatter goes to 0. its really hard to descibe here, but it is annoying at best.
my work around is to call up every engine in the consist and that way I am able to go easily to the engine that needs ajusting and adjust the settings.
I always wondered if it was the dcs boards in the engines themselves or a bug in the dcs firmware.
@Lou1985 posted:@MTH RD I'm assuming a wifi remote would communicate with a WIU correct? That way people with a WIU/TIU setup could still use that yet to be released wifi remote.
Already answered...
@MTH_RD posted:How about an updated Wi-Fi DCS remote for those of you that prefer the dedicated tactile hand-held? It will be compatible with the existing WIU, the new WTIU, and the WZ4K (way down the line).
@Lionelzwl2012 posted:for instance one engine has no engine sounds. the other engines prime mover sounds get louder or one engines cab chatter goes to 0. its really hard to descibe here, but it is annoying at best.
The only time I've experienced anything of the sort is if an engine misses the watchdog signal or if an engine in the consist is started-up by itself which I think breaks the consist programming. A shutdown of all engines, and startup of the consist has always fixed this for me.
Just to be clear and not too smooth brained - " How about an updated Wi-Fi DCS remote for those of you that prefer the dedicated tactile hand-held? It will be compatible with the existing WIU, the new WTIU, and the WZ4K (way down the line)." - this means the new remote when available will talk to my existing rev I tiu as long as the wiu is plugged in. If I blew that understanding someone please correct me, because I think its great!
To me one of the best things has always been that when there is no dcs signal at all, you still have a conventional loco that can do the important things from a conventional transformer, ie. move, change direction, horn and bell. The current technological state of toy trains we are experiencing is amazing. I describe the dcs control system to those outside the hobby as being able to do just about everything but make the loco stand up and dance.
@rplst8 posted:Already answered...
Welp missed that previously.
Not that its needed - just asking if it exists -
With all the wifi type applications going on here, does the current or future DCS systems have the ability to control lion chief or lc+ blue tooth driven engines? (volts and and amps I understand, but modern electronics aren't my bag of tricks)
"does the current or future DCS systems have the ability to control lion chief or lc+ blue tooth driven engines?"
Cannot speak for the future, but I believe the current answer is no.
@jhz563 posted:Not that its needed - just asking if it exists -
With all the wifi type applications going on here, does the current or future DCS systems have the ability to control lion chief or lc+ blue tooth driven engines? (volts and and amps I understand, but modern electronics aren't my bag of tricks)
If they have TMCC on board, yes. If not, then no.
They can be run on the same track being powered by dcs through tiu because there will be 18 volts to tracks you will just have to control them through there own remotes or Wi-Fi app. I do this all the time to run dcs and Bluetooth engines on the same loop of track at the same time Hope this helps
"f they have TMCC on board, yes. If not, then no."
Only LionChief + 2.0 has TMCC. LionChief and LionChief + locos do not.
Just a refresher of what I said, ...... I don't mind taking delivery of a locomotive and setting the parameters the way I want them, that's the way it should be. I just want all those settings to stay that way until I sell it. just like if all the options where controlled by a manual switch for each option, then they would never have to be touched again until i sell it.
@Wvm posted:They can be run on the same track being powered by dcs through tiu because there will be 18 volts to tracks you will just have to control them through there own remotes or Wi-Fi app. I do this all the time to run dcs and Bluetooth engines on the same loop of track at the same time Hope this helps
I do this all the time as well ... added several Lionchief engines and a Menards beta unit the last few months. Also added the same Lionchief engine twice and control them both with same remote, I renumbered the 2nd one.
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It’s been over a year and a half since the last reply on this thread. Any updates? MTH Michigan, are you out there? Bueller!
I don't have privy information, but with the split up and down to 2 repair personal I don't think there is a R&D team anymore. I guess we should be thankful for what they do bring out on re-runs.
There's something based in Michigan, though I don't know if there's more than two or three people there.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:There's something based in Michigan, though I don't know if there's more than two or three people there.
Michigan is Dave Kriebel.
https://spindance.com/case-study/mth-electric-trains/
I believe it's spelled Krebiehl and this is a link to the folks doing the apps for them.
@Keith L posted:Michigan is Dave Kriebel.
I know Dave Krebiehl is there, but I don't know that there are that many more people there.
Well it seems like they have outsourced it and that might be the best result given the circumstances.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I know Dave Krebiehl is there, but I don't know that there are that many more people there.
I meant that Dave Krebiehl is the only person in-house in Michigan.
I kinda' suspected that. 
Does anyone on this thread have any good information on current status of new Dcs wifi tiu?
@Wvm posted:Does anyone on this thread have any good information on current status of new Dcs wifi tiu?
From the responses so far, the obvious answer would be no. Surely, if anyone here had concrete data, they would have posted it by now.
It’s amazing they are still selling engines when all you can get to run them is DCS Explorer limited to three addresses and 5 amps
@Wvm posted:It’s amazing they are still selling engines when all you can get to run them is DCS Explorer limited to three addresses and 5 amps
It's amazing people are buying engines knowing there is only one system currently to run them and whining about it.
It’s not like you can get a Legacy base right now either.
"It’s not like you can get a Legacy base right now either."
True, but it's not like one needs a Legacy base to control any Lionel engine in command mode, at least those made in recent years. There is LionChief and/or Bluetooth for all new locos and that covers most or all important command functions using the $55 Universal Remote and/or the free app. I'm sure the wait on the Base 3 is frustrating for those without TMCC or Legacy bases.
Let's not turn this into a pointless discussion of which systems are most unavailable at present. 
Both Lionel and MTH high end command equipment are amongst the missing for a year or more now. Hopefully someone from MTH will eventually give us an update with delivery dates. We've been told the Base 3 will appear, most likely first quarter 2024, although they said end of 2023 is still possible.
I Suspect the WTIU is just around the corner. Explorers & WIU's are now back in stock. So long for the scalpers on eBay wanting 300 to 500 bucks for a used WIU that you can now get at Trainworld for $169: WIU at Trainworld
Also curious, Did the WIU go through a redesign? Some vendors are posting pictures of it in a slightly new housing:
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@Shawn_Chronister posted:It's amazing people are buying engines knowing there is only one system currently to run them and whining about it.
It’s amazing to be insulted on this site. I was trying to bring out thoughts about where issue stands. Thanks h1000 for your insight-sounds hopeful
@H1000 posted:Also curious, Did the WIU go through a redesign? Some vendors are posting pictures of it in a slightly new housing:
Well, it appears there are no physical connections on it. Except for power, completely wireless I presume? I may be mistaken, but I thought you could still use the handheld remote albeit tethered via a phone cord.
@Frank Mulligan posted:Well, it appears there are no physical connections on it. Except for power, completely wireless I presume? I may be mistaken, but I thought you could still use the handheld remote albeit tethered via a phone cord.
A WIU does not communicate with a remote at all. The WIU is used with previous production TIUs to add WiFi. If you are using the WIU and TIU the remote will still communicate to the TIU and the Smart Device to the WIU.
@Frank Mulligan posted:Well, it appears there are no physical connections on it. Except for power, completely wireless I presume? I may be mistaken, but I thought you could still use the handheld remote albeit tethered via a phone cord.@H1000 posted:Also curious, Did the WIU go through a redesign? Some vendors are posting pictures of it in a slightly new housing:
I think you (Frank) are mixing up WTIU and WIU.
The WTIU is a combined TIU that has a built in WIU, so it has all the track power and other connections plus a new antenna sticking out of the case.
Back to this topic, I do not think the WIU changed, I just think you are looking at the antenna end.
Per the WIU manual https://mthtrains.com/sites/de...ction/50as13515i.pdf
VS recent picture
It is possible it changed slightly, but side by side all LEDs and function indicators are still in the same basic locations.
One note, the Logo and the WIU label is reversed compared to the earlier batches??
Again, there might be minor cosmetic differences in this batch, I have not ordered a new one to compare side by side.
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Been away for a while,dealing with unemployment but anyway...
I went to my LHS , and asked about both the Lionel base 3 and DCS units ( this was about a month ago). He said that Lionel was talking 4th qtr for base 3,but he thought early next yr was likely based on what other dealers seemed to have heard.
With DCS they are just as up in the air with the new WTIU. He said they were getting nothing from MTH on it, he said whoever their contact at the MTH train side was dunt know. He told me that based on his experience that likely meant the WTIU was maybe late 4th qtr.
Obviously this is not to be taken as gospel,just thought I would pass it along.
Just adding what someone else just commented on. In classic DCS you had w TIU that was the 'brains' of the unit, that talked to the engines via the track. The remote talked to the tiu using wireless technology ( like a cordless phone did,).
The WIU is an alternate to the old DCS remote. It is a module that connects to your wifi. You use an app on a phone or computer that talks to the WIU ( replicating the DCS remote), the WIU talks to the TIU, it talks to the engine.
The WTIU basically integrates the WiFi into the TIU, so it is one device instead of two separate modules. It is a brand new system though, it has capabilities the old TIU didn't have, it is a new system.
@bigkid posted:The WTIU basically integrates the WiFi into the TIU, so it is one device instead of two separate modules. It is a brand new system though, it has capabilities the old TIU didn't have, it is a new system.
It's also missing one huge capability the old TIU did have, that being wireless communications with the DCS remote! It does actually astound me that they left that out!
@gunrunnerjohn posted:It's also missing one huge capability the old TIU did have, that being wireless communications with the DCS remote! It does actually astound me that they left that out!
My guess is that they didn't want to incorporate 900mhz circuitry into it, figuring that the DCS remote will likely play a tiny role going forward. Could be space issues on the board or cost,though I suspect 900mz connectivity these days is prob on one chip. Making it wired only serial in their eyes prob was a way to move ppl kicking and screaming to the new standard, wifi through an app. I doubt very much MTH will develop a new remote using wifi unless they see a lot of ppl not buying the WTIU. The last York I was at ( last October) I asked the guy at the MTH booth about a possible remote, and while he couched his language& didn't say no, he wasn't exactly enthusiastic. The fact that the WTIU is still not out makes me think there is no way they have the resources or desire to make a new remote.
@bigkid posted:My guess is that they didn't want to incorporate 900mhz circuitry into it, figuring that the DCS remote will likely play a tiny role going forward. Could be space issues on the board or cost,though I suspect 900mz connectivity these days is prob on one chip. Making it wired only serial in their eyes prob was a way to move ppl kicking and screaming to the new standard, wifi through an app. I doubt very much MTH will develop a new remote using wifi unless they see a lot of ppl not buying the WTIU. The last York I was at ( last October) I asked the guy at the MTH booth about a possible remote, and while he couched his language& didn't say no, he wasn't exactly enthusiastic. The fact that the WTIU is still not out makes me think there is no way they have the resources or desire to make a new remote.
In my opinion, any new remote will be based on the app. It becomes cost-prohibitive to continue to develop two separate remote products running on different communication technologies, different internal software and then offer ongoing support for both of them. It wouldn't be all that hard to add an API into the existing app to allow the end user to use one of 100's off-the-shelf gaming controllers of their liking with the app. They could set a default control button mapping and allow users to custom map the buttons to their liking, something that can't be done on any of the existing proprietary remotes from any manufacturer.
@bigkid posted:Making it wired only serial in their eyes prob was a way to move ppl kicking and screaming to the new standard, wifi through an app.
When you remove something that has great value to your customers and replace it with something that has far less value in their eyes, even if you believe that it shouldn't, you had better expect serious pushback.
Perception is reality.
The essence of modern quality movement (1970's to about 2020):
- The customer is always right..
- In the unlikely event you believe that the customer isn't right see No. 1 above.
Over my career, for the last 40-something years, I've had to eat, sleep, and regurgitate this message every single day.
Dragging your customers through anything is a bad way to do it. Even pushing with all your might violates these principles.
Leading the way would help immensely. However, we don't see any leadership here -- only excuses about "why" things have to be the way that's being proposed, and "why" they can't be any other way.
Mike
@bigkid posted:The fact that the WTIU is still not out makes me think there is no way they have the resources or desire to make a new remote.
All the more reason to support the thousands of existing DCS remotes! 
Inside the standard TIU are two boards - the main DCS/power mother board and a radio board for communication to the remote. The radio board plugs into the mother board. Seems like I remember reading a post a long while ago from MTH R&D that for the new WTIU the radio board had to be removed. I assumed that meant they were going to replace the radio board with a WIFI board and essentially make no hardware changes to the mother board. Of course this is just me speculating.
Ken
