MTH UPGRADE QUESTION

Clint,

It's very do-able. What you need go do is establish a Windows environment on your Mac. There are two ways to do this.

The first way is to use Boot Camp, which is included with the Mac OS. You'll find Boot Camp Assistant in your Applications/Utilities folder. Boot Camp will allow you to build a bootable Windows partition on a piece of your hard drive.

The second is to create a Virtual Machine (VM) within your existing Mac OS partition. There are a couple of applications that allow this with my preferred application being Parallels.

Regardless of which method you use, you'll require a licensed copy of Windows. You can pretty much use any version from XP to 10. My setup on a spare iMac uses Parallels with Windows 7. Using this setup, I have successfully upgraded TIUs and remotes, and transferred PS2 and PS3 sound files.

FYI, to upgrade a WIU requires only a web browser on either a PC or a Mac.

It is possible. I did it last week and it's not too hard. You'll need a cable to connect your mac to the TIU, either all USB or USB to 9-pin, depending on whether or not you have the latest TIU with a USB port. Mine is older. I found a USB to 9-pin serial cable at a local (going out of business) Radio Shack.

If you have a new TIU with a USB port, that cable can provide power, too. Otherwise, you'll need an auxiliary power supply for the TIU. I used the AC adapter from my Legacy base.

The MTH loader program only runs under Windows. So you'll need a copy of WIndows (I have Windows 10 for Home), and a way to run Windows on your Mac. I use Parallels.

Once you get Parallels (or VMware, etc.) and Windows running, then install the MTH loader and the updates on your mac. Connect the cables and power to the TIU and follow the upgrade instructions from MTH, just as though you're running a Windows PC.

It's worth it to do the upgrade if you want to run the DCS app on your iPhone and/or iPad. I've been trying the app on my iPhone(SE) and I like it. I think it will be even nicer on my iPad, set on an easel.

Oh brother!  I have a friend with a Microsoft laptop, I'll just get him to come over.  Heck the upgrade shouldn't take long.

Mr Union Pacific posted:

Oh brother!  I have a friend with a Microsoft laptop, I'll just get him to come over.  Heck the upgrade shouldn't take long.

Hi Mr. Union Pacific.

I am also a Mac User, I had my adult son come over with his PC and he did the upgrade on my layout. This helps to keep him involved in "Dad's Train Hobby".   He is a automotive engineer for a major car manufacture and he enjoys this kind of stuff.

I have been testing the new 6.0 for about a week, as of today's date, I have found no issues.  All my Lionel, MTH Locos and even one K-Line all work great. Have a total of 19 locos.

If your friend is not available to help you, there will be a Teenage PC Gamer, somewhere in your neighborhood. They are always uploading games.

These are the cables you will need.

If you need more information, just hit me up with an e-mail.

Gary: Good Luck

Gary, no problem here, the young man that will do it is a former student of mine.  I've been teaching high school for almost 20 years now, so I have access to some of the greatest computer experts on earth...LOL!!!  Nah, no kidding, I actually learned a lot about computers from my students.

Mr Union Pacific posted:

Gary, no problem here, the young man that will do it is a former student of mine.  I've been teaching high school for almost 20 years now, so I have access to some of the greatest computer experts on earth...LOL!!!  Nah, no kidding, I actually learned a lot about computers from my students.

Hi Clint - Cool story, about your "Computer Experts".  I used to do the same thing and I also use former students.  Mostly for construction jobs and commercial art.  I am now a retired High School teacher.  Thirty-six years as a HS Shop Teacher • Graphic Arts & Photography, along with Drivers Education & Year Book Advisor.

Have a great day with your students.

Gary

Mr Union Pacific posted:

Gary, no problem here, the young man that will do it is a former student of mine.  I've been teaching high school for almost 20 years now, so I have access to some of the greatest computer experts on earth...LOL!!!  Nah, no kidding, I actually learned a lot about computers from my students.

If they have the time have them install Boot Camp on your MAC plus some Windows OS. If you only have to use Windows software for train upgrades Boot Camp is the better option. Parallels slows your machine to a crawl. 

Pete

Wow!  This is what I love about this forum, all the cool people you can meet.  Gary I taught World History Honors and AP World History for 17 years.  Prior to teaching I was a welder for 20 years.  I earned my BS in History while welding full time...my wife and daughters helped me through.  Two years ago the welding instructor at the Votech school here in our county retired, I moved right in.  Now I teach welding to high school students.  I feel like it means more, teaching them a skill they can use to support a family. 

Mr Union Pacific posted:

Wow!  This is what I love about this forum, all the cool people you can meet.  Gary I taught World History Honors and AP World History for 17 years.  Prior to teaching I was a welder for 20 years.  I earned my BS in History while welding full time...my wife and daughters helped me through.  Two years ago the welding instructor at the Votech school here in our county retired, I moved right in.  Now I teach welding to high school students.  I feel like it means more, teaching them a skill they can use to support a family. 

Hi Clint: Thanks for the kind words.

Have you done the 6.0 Upgrade?  All is well on my layout, with the 6.0.  I have found no issues to report and all is well.  The MTH • DCS  /  WiFi, designers are located here in Michigan. St. Joseph, which is on the Lake Michigan side of the state. We call it the sunset side of Pure Michigan.

This past winter, I sent my DCS Handheld Remote to St. Joseph, to have the wheel replaced, it came back working, better then it was on day one. A hobby shop, got me the return authorization number and it was mailed back to my hobby shop. 

Thanks: Gary

trainroomgary posted:

Mr Union Pacific posted:

Wow!  This is what I love about this forum, all the cool people you can meet.  Gary I taught World History Honors and AP World History for 17 years.  Prior to teaching I was a welder for 20 years.  I earned my BS in History while welding full time...my wife and daughters helped me through.  Two years ago the welding instructor at the Votech school here in our county retired, I moved right in.  Now I teach welding to high school students.  I feel like it means more, teaching them a skill they can use to support a family. 

Hi Clint: Thanks for the kind words.

Have you done the 6.0 Upgrade?  All is well on my layout, with the 6.0.  I have found no issues to report and all is well.  The MTH • DCS  /  WiFi, designers are located here in Michigan. St. Joseph, which is on the Lake Michigan side of the state. We call it the sunset side of Pure Michigan.

This past winter, I sent my DCS Handheld Remote to St. Joseph, to have the wheel replaced, it came back working, better then it was on day one. A hobby shop, got me the return authorization number and it was mailed back to my hobby shop. 

Thanks: Gary

Gary,

I passed right by the MTH building in St Joseph when I was coming home from York. My friend I went with lives about a mile from there.