MTH Remote Commander on New Layout

You can use the DCS-RC in passive mode by just connecting it to the track and letting the output pins power it.  For the very best results, you should add a 22uh inductor in series with the transformer leads going to the the track, but NOT in the path of the DCS-RC connection to the track.

Here's a good 22uh Inductor for the task: FIXED IND 22UH 10.3A 10 MOHM

@SouthCoastRocco- I'm using the exact set up that you want to do. The red and black wires are landed on the buss for my track feeders.  The RC works just fine in passive mode. Just place it where you can always see it. The remote is VERY line of site.
I'd suggest adding a switch in line with the RC so that you can kill the DCS signal to the track if necessary. I've found it necessary on occasion.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

The remote is VERY line of site.

We added a convex blind spot mirror on the ceiling within view of the Remote Commander. The total cost was about $6 and works great just by pointing the remote in the general direction of the mirror.

Thank you GRJ, H1000 and RSJB18.  GRJ - do I understand your answer to say I should not connect the RC feed to the terminal block to which the power is supplied from the transformer, but should connect it directly to the track. The inductor will be connected inline on the hot track feed (will have to research inductors, lol) The mirror and cutoff switch are great ideas!

@SouthCoastRocco posted:

Thank you GRJ, H1000 and RSJB18.  GRJ - do I understand your answer to say I should not connect the RC feed to the terminal block to which the power is supplied from the transformer, but should connect it directly to the track. The inductor will be connected inline on the hot track feed (will have to research inductors, lol) The mirror and cutoff switch are great ideas!

No research required, I posted a direct link to an appropriate 22uh inductor in my previous reply.

Thanks! I saw that! My research is to help me understand why I am adding it!

Hi folks. After life interfered, I am getting my layout running. It is a bit more complex than what I initially planned (2 independent loops with 5 drops each in a star pattern).

I finally have two follow up questions for GunRunnerJohn if you would please indulge me:

- I ordered the inductor you cited in one of your responses - do I wire it into the positive side of the wiring, not across from positive to negative?

- Can I connect the transmitter passively to both loops?

Thank you in advance.

@SouthCoastRocco posted:

Hi folks. After life interfered, I am getting my layout running. It is a bit more complex than what I initially planned (2 independent loops with 5 drops each in a star pattern).

I finally have two follow up questions for GunRunnerJohn if you would please indulge me:

- I ordered the inductor you cited in one of your responses - do I wire it into the positive side of the wiring, not across from positive to negative? You wire it in SERIES on hot wire.

- Can I connect the transmitter passively to both loops? Not recommended because of the limited signal strength. Yes, you can connect it- just if you have problems with signal- this is why.

Thank you in advance.

Thanks! I will give it a try after I get the inductor.

I think you may be exceeding the capability of the DCS-RC trying to use it for a layout of that size.  I played with them about 15 years ago when I first got an MTH engine and wanted to run it in command, but I was underwhelmed back then and I suspect you will be now.  Of course, connecting it to multiple loops is pointless, it only runs one locomotive at a time.  If you have two or three DCS engines on a track, it'll just run them all at once doing the same thing, that's if it's able to communicate at all.

Thanks John. This plan was for a short term solution until I am comfortable buying a WTIU, given all the comments about it. Looks like I will run conventional mode for a while.

For an event at one of the club layouts, we hooked up a DCS Remote commander to the layout that encompassed one mainline and a moderate switch yard in a 12 x 20 area.  The DCS-RC was hooked up in passive mode as the layout was already equipped with Legacy & DCS. At first, this was just a test, and we figured the results would be poor. To our surprise, we didn't have any trouble running a (factory reset) DCS engine on either the mainline or switchyard, and it was a great way to give limited control to only one engine for those who wanted to try out command control.

If your loops are on separate blocks, you can connect a DCS Remote Command receiver to each loop and then use one remote to control each engine individually. Make sure to have enough separation between the receivers so that when you point the remote, it won't send a command to more than one receiver.

This is how my son started with DCS, we had quite a few of the DCS remote commanders and set up four individual loops (two of them even intersected each other with a 90 crossover).  He got lots of play value from multiple starter sets this way and only had to hold one remote the entire time.

Thanks, H1000. Did you have to do the factory reset on the engine on the club layout because it has been run on the full DCS previously?

@SouthCoastRocco posted:

Thanks, H1000. Did you have to do the factory reset on the engine on the club layout because it has been run on the full DCS previously?

Yes- this is because you have no way of addressing the engine if anything other than ID1. The IR commander is a simple device- bare minimum DCS. It only sends commands on ID1, Unless the engine is reset or is at ID1 by pure luck when you added to a previous DCS setup, the engine will be on a different ID and thus ignores the IR commander.

Got it!

The newer PS3 engines (starting around 2014) can be factory reset with the DCS Remote commander itself:

Turn off power if on
wait 15 seconds
turn on power:  the engine should be dark and quiet
Press no other buttons
Press SND
Press DIR
Press "-"  (on the gray rocker in the center of the remote.  Also is the speed down button.)
The engine will give a two honk response and will be sitting on the track running
The engine has now been factory reset, and is ready to run with your DCS Remote Commander system.

NOTE: Doing a conventional reset on any PS2 or PS3 engine doesn't reset the DCS ID to allow usage with the DCS Remote Commander.