PTC Streetcar Station Stops (solved)

John,

Are you encountering a problem while programming or while attempting to operate the PCC, and do you have a copy of my book available?

When I try to use the Learn mode, it just keeps repeating the first stop, I can't step through them.  I can play the engine sounds for all the stops, but I can't get the trolley mode to actually use them. 

Could this be a 1mb vs. 2mb board issue?

John,

Make sure that you follow these instructions from pages 105-106 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Before programming a subway or trolley route, it is necessary to first ensure that the PS2 subway or trolley to be programmed is on a powered track. Then, ensure that it's in the Active Engine List. This is accomplished as follows: 

• If the DCS Remote is not already displaying the Engine Control Screen, press the ENG key on the DCS Remote 

• Press the ENG key again to display the Engine List 

• Select the PS2 subway or trolley in the Engine List by either scrolling to it using the thumbwheel or entering its one or two digit DCS ID#. Press the thumbwheel to select it. If it was in the Active 

Engine List, the DCS Remote will now display the engine in the Engine Control Screen 

• If the subway or trolley was in the Inactive Engine List, it will be moved to the Active Engine List. Use the thumbwheel to scroll to it and highlight it, and then press the thumbwheel to move it to the 

Active Engine List and to return to the Engine Control Screen.

Next, proceed as follows to select the PS2 subway or trolley and create the route: 

• Press Start Up on the DCS Remote to place the PS2 subway or trolley into DCS command mode. Then drive it to the first station at the beginning of the route. Ensure that it is facing forward and ready to proceed forward. If it is a subway, ensure that all the subway cars that will normally be attached to the subway are attached 

• Note as closely as possible exactly where the front of the engine is located in the station • Locate the MTC soft key. If it is not present above soft keys 1 through 4, press soft key S5 (à until it is displayed 

• Press the soft key MTC to view the programming soft keys 

• Locate soft key MLM (Learn Mode). If it is not present above soft keys 1 through 4, press soft key S5, à,until it is displayed 

• Press soft key MLM to enter Learn Mode. The engine will announce that it is in Learn Mode 

• Pressing soft key LST (List) repeatedly will announce the names of the stations that may be programmed on the route, in the order in which they appear. Note that as many station names as there are stops on the route must be assigned and that they must be assigned in the order in which they are announced 

• Press the LST soft key until the desired name for the first station is announced and press soft key SAV (Save) to assign it. The engine will announce that it is saved 

• Drive the PS2 subway or trolley to the next stop on the route slowly enough that it can be stopped at a precise location 

• Stop the PS2 subway or trolley and note as closely as possible exactly where the beginning of the engine is located in the station

• As before, press soft key LST until the desired name for this station is announced and press soft key SAV to save it. The engine will announce that it is saved 

• Repeat driving the engine to the remaining stops on the route until it arrives at the last stop and the station name has been assigned using soft key SAV.

If the route is an out-and back route, complete programming the route by pressing the SAV soft key one more time to save the route. The engine will announce that the save is complete. Instead of pressing the SAV soft key twice for the last station, soft key SOB (Save-Out-and-Back) may be pressed once.

If the route is a looped route, complete programming the route as follows: 

• Continue to drive the PS2 subway or trolley forward until it returns to the original, starting station 

• Stop the engine as close as possible to the place where it was when you began programming the route 

• Press soft key LST (List) until the name you originally selected for this station is announced 

• Press soft key SAV to assign the station name. The engine will announce that the save is complete. Instead of pressing the SAV soft key, soft key SLP (Save Loop) may be pressed once.

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!

John:

This is unusual as you are normally the one helping others solve their problems.  

All I can add to this discussion is could the battery be low?  On one occasion when I wasn’t able to successfully complete the programming, I charged the battery overnight and the next day it worked.  FWIW I have successfully programmed station stops using the loop route option in both a 5-volt and a 3-volt Railking PCC’s using ether a Z-1000 or a Z-750 (I don’t have DCS).  

Also could there be some incompatibility between the new board and the remainder of the original system on the car?

Bill

Bill, battery is new and fully charged, but that's one of the first things I check.   I've never tinkered with one of these in DCS mode, so this is new ground for me.

Barry,

I followed that list to the letter, when I get to this step, the LST key just keeps repeating the first station.  That's where I'm stuck.

Pressing soft key LST (List) repeatedly will announce the names of the stations that may be programmed on the route, in the order in which they appear. Note that as many station names as there are stops on the route must be assigned and that they must be assigned in the order in which they are announced

Like I said, I can trigger the engine sounds manually and hear all the stops.  I've done a factory reset and added it again, no change.  I reloaded the sound file, no change.

The only thing I noticed was this board is a 1mb board as I was loading.  The sound file loads fine, just wondered if the trolley mode requires a 2mb board, that's the only thing I can think of.

It should not be a 1M versus 2M issue, because 5V were 1M, and the program loaded fine.

If you enter the MTH web via service and type in PCC and search, you will come up with many soundfiles.  Some are converted 5V and others are straight 3V.  I would try a different soundfile.  May be an issue with the one you selected.   G

The 5V board I took out was a FLASH board, that's the reason I wondered about the 1mb/2mb issue.

The reason I selected the sound file I did was this is a Phila PTC, and the guy was pretty hard-over on retaining the Phila names.  That's the only 3V sound file that has the Phila streets that I found.

I'll try a different sound file, just to see if that changes things, can't hurt, but I really need to solve the issue with this one if possible.

The 5V had to be flashed, because processor memory could not retain enough info.  3V have the flash operating code for Steam/Diesel, Articulated chuff, and SS.

If it works with a different file, you can than call Jeff and ask for the Phila one to validated if it still gives you issues.   G

I knew they put a lot of that code in the ROM, just wasn't sure whether they needed more space.  Since the file loaded, I assumed no, but who knows...

I'll try downloading a different file and see what happens.

And the answer is...

A conventional reset!  I sure didn't think of that right off the bat!

Sometimes the program  just does not know where to start running!

Great Job and follow thru John!

Well, I have to give it back to the customer, and it would be nice if it worked properly after all the money he's paying!