For the last two years, after several recommendations, I've been using TIU 1 to load all the engines. I've read the DCS O Gauge Companion, 2nd edition, and when replacing a TIU, you loose all engines and other data associated with that TIU. I have almost the full 100 addresses in use now on TIU 1, and I found the section for backing up the DCS handheld controller, however; I can't find a section on backing up the TIU? On most layouts re-entering the engines lost wouldn't be that significant. I have four hand held controllers that are identical to each other for engines and addresses. I also have the normal TIU 1 through TIU 5 in use and also have five TIU 5's in addition to the first TIU 5. (It's a big layout.) When I add an engine into TIU 1, or change an address, or any other action, I do it four times so that each hand held has the same data. When running more than 12 trains at the same time, multiple hand held units, make that possible.
I've also read the portion on "ALL" that allows multiple engine operation responding to one
command. Is a "lash-up" considered an "active engine" in using "ALL" Since I have so many active addresses I would think before a operation session or show, that a empty DCS hand held controller could be loaded with only the engines that would be in use for that session.
All other engines would be on tracks or sidings toggled off. The only inactive engines would be from "lash-ups". All the TIU's are in "Super" and the four main loops have no physical connection to one another through a cross over or switch or wiring. Am I asking a "feature" to do more than it was designed to do in "ALL"?
My computer is 10 years old and I don't have high speed internet service. If I have a hand held that should be backed up, and I have an individual that has all the current and correct loader program software on their computer, can I have that software downloaded into a 16 GB Flash drive from their computer and then using a 1 TB USB remote hard drive connected to my old computer, be able to download the flash drive into the new hard drive and have a working DCS software system for backups and loading from the new 1 TB USB remote hard drive? Hope that question made sense.
Moke Mike
lineswest@hotmail.com
