LAST DAY TODAY - Questions for York DCS User Group Meeting

Please ask MTH if they ever plan on coming out with a AIU style unit just for operating switches. 

Thank you.

Chuck

Chuck,

Your question is now on the list.

Thanks!

-will there be an upgrade kit made for S scale?

I'm hoping the smaller board would work in O scale apps.

-How is the app coming along for the tablets??

 (when will we get it?)

Joe,

Thanks!

Since I am asking the same of Lionel  concerning Legacy at the LUG meeting, will we see DCS technology available in more operating cars and accessories?

Thanks!

Marty.

That's already on the list.

Thanks!

Thank you Barry.

Barry,

    Does MTH plan for a rechargeable DCS hand held remote control upgrade, some time in the near future?

I invested in this myself on 2 of my DCS remote controls, I was hoping MTH would make this upgrade, to their DCS engineering package.

PCRR/Dave

Dave,

Your question is now on the list.

Thanks!

Barry,

   Thanks much.

PCRR/Dave

Will the MTH WIFI and app support all OS systems for Laptops and tablets?

Here are a couple:

• Does DCS 4.32 allow for 4-digit engine addressing? If not, is that in the cards for the future?
• Will there be Proto-3 "daughter card" upgrade kits for Proto-2 engines? If so, will it work for both 3-volt and 5-volt engines?

Thanks.

Did anyone else have trouble installing DCS Loader 2.3.4?

Will the Legacy protocols be incorporated into a near future of the DCS software? Will the DCS wifi be able to work with the LCS?

Status of Miniature PS3 upgrade board, and small PS3 locos like Docksider & 44-tonner

sjh, Matt, Jeff, and Robert,

Your questions have been added to the list.

Thanks!

Paul,

Did anyone else have trouble installing DCS Loader 2.3.4?

Possibly.  

Did you get it installed? It should have been no more difficult or easier than installing previous versions of the Loader Program.

It initially wouldn't install because I had 2.3 installed. After uninstalling 2.3 it went on just fine. The O/S on my system is Windows 7 Home Premium

Glad this was requested.  Years ago MTH hyped the future potential or possibilities of their technology that they used in the Coors Light set reefer cars, but all that seemed to go dark with the economic and the hobby industry's general decline from 2008.

What is the future of MTH O scale 2 rail?

Seems like they cancelled a lot of stuff and dropped the scale couplers. I'm getting worried!

Joe,

Got it - thanks!

Barry,

   One other question you might ask, is it possible to make a TIU antenna as an add on option, to give the TIU double the range it now has.  A screw in telescoping antenna would be a real cool optional add on for the DCS TIU.

PCRR/Dave

Good afternoon Barry

Anychance of the O scale Kadee type remote coupler on locomotives? More O scale 2 rail please ?

Clem k

Dave & Clem,

They're now on the list - thanks!

Will Lashups ever work? (correctly)

Hello again Barry

Hope you don't mind another question, In lash up mode how about a feature to reverse the order of the consist with a single button push? Or is that all ready in there?

Clem

Clem,

In lash up mode how about a feature to reverse the order of the consist with a single button push? Or is that all ready in there?

To make a lashup reverse direction (all of its members), just press the DIR button.

Ralph,

Will Lashups ever work? (correctly)

They do work correctly in the current 4.31 beta, with the exception of a minor lighting discrepancy that's on the list to be corrected in the final release.

Barry

But the lead engine keeps all the sounds and lights only the headlight changes. I will go downstairs and check again.

Clem

Clem,

But the lead engine keeps all the sounds and lights only the headlight change

Sounds should be on for all members unless you shut them off. Lights don't change with direction changes except for the headlights (and maybe ditch lights, I forget), which do.

Barry,

On a layout with numerous engines, hitting the all button will start all the engines but not let you know if any single engine shows "maintenance required". Can this be updated?

Joe B.

Joe,

On a layout with numerous engines, hitting the all button will start all the engines but not let you know if any single engine shows "maintenance required". Can this be updated?

Knowing what I know about how DCS works "under the hood", I can pretty much guarantee that this is will not be changing.

I'll ad focus to the desire for Add on modules for cars:

I need a small module with a protocoupler for various cars.

It will need to be addressable, perhaps that unused AUX key and addresses like engines?

And Yes, 4 digits for Eng numbers would be nice but I'd be happy with 3, Who has more than 999 engines???

Barry

Tried it again. The sounds Horn and bell stay with the initial lead engine. the headlight, number boards and cab light change with direction.The ditch lights also change except I have it set for always on and flashing with horn on initial lead unit, when in reverse ditch lights out and flash with horn, I can live with that. Might have something to do with settings of individual locomotive. I guess I just want the horn and bell to move with direction. Doesn't matter much with a two unit lash up, but with three or more it is noticeable…... I like 4 to 6 units in a lash up.

Thank you Barry

Clem 

Barry, and the cab light on steamers.

I think it would be more helpful to users if the remote would display the actual problem, if it was possible, when it encounters one during a session or an add. I don't know what's available for message resources. I think it would be helpful to users to know that there's a problem the remote is seeing and knowing exactly what that problem is, to help us correct it.

 An address that's currently used that won't move for example. An engine that won't respond (maybe a dead battery or unpowered).

 I know there's the "out of range", and "engine error ones", etc. They seem to be overly used for different errors.

Joe,

An address that's currently used that won't move for example.

There aren't any,any more. DCS 4.30 corrected that bug.

 An engine that won't respond (maybe a dead battery or unpowered).

If an engine can't respond, how can DCS know that there's an engine present?

The error messages do the best they can, however, DCS can't tell if an engine is not present or present but not responding. How could it?

 Sorry Barry, I don't know the sequence. I was thinking that the system may see the engine, but can't get it to do something, like change the address. I guess the system would have no way of knowing the condition of the battery. I would have thought it checks for the address to stick even temporarily. Not getting any response from the engine, I can see your point.

 I didn't realize that the address bug was really fixed!

Joe,

 I didn't realize that the address bug was really fixed!

Yes, it was fixed in DCS 4.30, along with several other real nuisance bugs. They're all listed in the feature description of 4.30, that I wrote for MTH, on MTH's Protosound2.com web site.