Following is a summary of the 21st York DCS User Group Meeting. This summary was prepared by Don Klose, our meeting scribe, and then edited by yours truly. Any error you may encounter you should presume to be mine, not Don's.
21st York DCS User Group Meeting
April 13, 2016
Barry greeted everyone and welcomed them to the 21st meeting of the group. Barry thanked Marty Fitzhenry, Jim Queenan, Pat Marinari and Robert Robertory for assisting with the upgrades, and Don Klose for being our meeting scribe and preparing this report. The meeting was attended by 89 people.
Barry mentioned that this may be the last meeting at the present location.
UPDATE!!
The location for the October meeting will, once again, be at the Wyndham Gardens Hotel, in the Crystal Ballroom! Many thanks to Andy Edleman and MTH for making this possible! 
The DCS Companion 3rd Edition has been recently revised and is now being sponsored and made available by OGR Publishing, the parent company of O Gauge Railroading Magazine and the owner of the OGR Forum. OGR has their logo on the latest updated version of both the eBook and print versions of the book..
For the first time Barry had a door prize to give away for the meeting. It was a copy of the latest revised DCS Companion 3rd Edition that was misprinted with a portion of the pages placed upside down in the binding. The winner of this unique prize was John Pignatelli.
As in the past, newcomers were welcomed to the meeting by encouraging them to ask a question.
The first question was related to the pros and cons of using solid vs. stranded 14 gauge wire on a the DCS system layout. Barry highlighted the advantages of stranded wire, and the pros and cons of using 14 gauge wire instead of 16 gauge.
The question was raised, could The DCS Companion book be available in the future in a spiral notebook form? The answer is no, it will not. The book’s publisher, CreateSpace, cannot provide the book in such a format.
An observation was made about the PS32 upgrade board; that it has code to allow it to function like a PS 2 board.
A question was asked regarding using multiple remotes. When using two remotes, is there a way to lock maximum speed in both remotes at the same time? When done is there a master remote? The answer is each that remote has the ability to restrict speed, however, this settings unique to the remote in which it is set. One remote cannot control another remote.
Will the DCS App have the ability to control track voltage? The answer is yes, however, only through the Premium version of the app.
The suggestion was made that you should plug the TIU and WIU into the same power strip together to insure that they power on and off together. This will be especially helpful when when using multiple TIU’s and WIU’s operating in Super TIU Mode with the Premium version of the DCS App.
Suggestions were made to move the DCS App’s “+” and “-“ speed increment buttons away from the speedometer to prevent engines accidentally flying off at maximum speed due to an errant button tap, and to also move the uncoupling buttons to the main app Engine Control screen, from the second app Engine Control screen, for ease in use when performing switching operations. It was also pointed out by Barry that in the current version 1.1 DCS APP, the E-Stop button was changed to require a 1/4 second press in order to activate. Further, Barry noted that he’d requested that MTH R&D also provide a positive feedback display on the app when the E-Stop function was engaged, similar to how the DCS Remote currently provides a display when E-Stop is pressed on that device.
It was recommended to follow the OGR Forum thread regarding the app’s Playable Whistle function because some folks are having issues with this function.
It was asked when the Premium version of the app will be out. The answer is that it’s currently in development and it will be out later this year.
The observation was made that if one is starting a new layout, it’s prudent to wire using a “star” or “home run” method for best results.
It was also asked if, when using a PS3 Upgrade Kit to upgrade an engine, does it matter whether you use a PS2 or PS 3 sound file? The answer is that one should use a PS2 Upgrade Sound file for best results.
It was also noted by an attendee that they found that the sounds in their PS2 diesel Upgrade Sound File were not the same as the sounds in the production sound file for the same engine.
Barry then introduced Andy Edelman, MTH's VP of Marketing, who continued the presentation.
Andy asked the group how many were using the DCS App. Based on a show of hands about 50% were using the app. Andy encouraged those who were jot already using the app to download it and give it a try at the MTH exhibit's layout during the course of the York show.
Andy reiterated that the Premium version of the app is currently being developed and is expected to become available in the fall of this year. The person in control of app development Dave Krebiehl, MTH's VP of R&D. Dave has complete control of the schedule.
The Premium version of the app will have the ability to make backup copies of the app’s data, and restore those copies into other copies of the Premium app running on other smart devices. The process will be similar to how DCS Remotes are presently backed up and restored. Andy also stated that MTH is researching the ability of utilizing the Legacy protocols released by Lionel in the Premium app, in addition to the TMCC protocols.
Andy asked those at the meeting to complete an online survey regarding MTH WiFi, and provided a link to the survey.
The new MTH 44 Tonner will be out this summer;. Its new, smaller PS3 board is currently in production. This smaller board will also allow MTH’s first S gauge engine to be available this summer.
The question was raised, will this new board be available in an upgrade kit? Andy responded that an S Gauge Upgrade Kit would be available.
The question was raised, will this new, smaller board fit in an MTH Docksider engine? Andy responded that he was unsure if it would fit.
The question was raised, will MTH produce a TIU and WIU in one unit in the future? The answer is yes, and it will cost more than either a current TIU or WIU, however, it would be less expensive than purchasing a TIU and WIU as separate units.
Andy mentioned that the Coors train technology will be introduced in the fall, in new operating cars.
The request to move the coupler control buttons to the app’s front screen has been heard and will be addressed.
Some of the, relatively minor, bugs found in DCS 5.0 will be addressed in a DCS 5.1 upgrade release.
Andy then introduced Jason Wenzel, MTH’s Service & DCS Support Manger, who continued the presentation.
Jason was asked if, in the future, MTH will make available classes to assist customers in upgrading PS1 and PS2 engines to PS3. Jason stated that it was a logistics issue and was not sure where would be the best place to conduct such classes. However, this would be considered.
Some folks related difficulties doing conversions. Jason suggested that it’s prudent to take photos in order to have accurate checkpoints to which they could refer as they implement the upgrade. He also suggested contacting MTH service for any conversion support required.
The question was asked, can a PS2 battery cause damage to an engine. Jason answered that it is rare. It was further pointed out that battery failure can sometimes be evidenced by an engine’s sound volume suddenly dropping by half.
It was asked if a PS 1 steam engine that's been upgraded to PS2 or PS3 can operated in conjunction with a later, PS3 model of the same engine in a lashup. Jason pointed out that, as long as MTH had not changed the engine’s gear ratio in the later production model of the engine, they should function well together.
The meeting concluded at 8:55 pm and MTH distributed copies of the new O Gauge 2016 Volume II catalogs.
The 22nd York DCS User Group Meeting will take place on October 19, 2016 at a venue to be determined prior to the meeting. We're looking forward to seeing many of you there!
