TIU can't find locomotive

First question, do you have power to the track?  Have you gone through Troubleshooting in instructions?  Before the TIU can find a loco, you need to go through the procedure, "Add New Engine".  (in Remote go to Menu - System - Engine Setup).

Stephen,

   My 1st recommendation is to get both Barrys book the DCS O Gauge Companion Vol 2 and the OGR Video Guide to DCS and review them both.  Identify which TIU & Engines you own and proceed from that point.  Make sure your P2 or P3 engines are compatible with your TIU, just because you bought the TIU new, it does not mean it's the latest revison.  Several of the people I have helped lately, purchased new older TIU's, that needed updated.  Make sure your equipment matches.  Set your DCS up with your track and transformer correctly from the beginning, reference the book and the video as you build your layout.  I highly recommend a programming track when setting up your DCS,

it makes programming engines a lot quicker.

PCRR/Dave

Ive gone through the correct procedure in the menu,and theres plenty of power to the track, the TIU and hand held are REV L with 4.2

(cTr...Choose the Right)    Stephen from Down Under

Stephen,

   You now might want to check the batteries in your P2 engines, do it on a Programming track.  Sounds like you might have a couple of very weak batteries in your P2 engines, I recommed BCR's.

PCRR/Dave

Thanks to every one for your help so far, I stole the hand set cable off the phone and tried plugging the hand set in to the TIU and BINGO!! locomotive found.The hand set with cable disconected says "no RF signal" So now what?, the nearest dealer is 800miles away and no tech person, its still under warranty, I do remember seeing some info on this problem,It might be easier if I could fix it myself!! Does any one know where I can find that info?

(cTr...Choose the Right)     Stephen from Down Under

I sounds like it's a transceiver board that has floated out of its socket in the TIU, remote or both.

To reseat them, follow these instructions from pages  of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Since reseating a floating transceiver board in the TIU is considerably easier than reseating the transceiver board in the DCS Remote, it's suggested to check the TIU first by proceeding as follows:

• Remove all connections to the TIU

• Turn the TIU over and remove the 6 Philips head screws that hold it together

• Turn the TIU right side up and remove the top half of the case

• Facing the channel input ports, the transceiver board is on the lower right side of the case. It will have a short black wire connected to it. This wire is the antenna

• Press down gently on the transceiver board to reseat it. Also ensure that the black wire antenna is lying flat. Do not under any circumstances lift up on the transceiver board or antenna!

• Place a piece of soft, nonconductive spongy material above the transceiver board so that it will hold the board in place when the top of the case is replaced

• Replace the cover, turn the TIU over and replace the screws

• Turn the TIU right side-up and reconnect all wires to the TIU.

 

Check if the problem is resolved. If not, proceed to reseat the transceiver board in the DCS Remote as follows: Opening the DCS Remote can be extremely difficult and can cause problems with the DCS Remote! You should consider having this done by an authorized MTH service center!

• Open the battery compartment door on the back of the DCS Remote and remove the batteries

• Remove the Philips head screw inside the battery compartment

• Before opening the DCS Remote's case, note that when the DCS Remote is opened, there will still be a black wire connecting the two halves of its case

• Begin to separate the two halves of the DCS Remote's case by pushing outwards from inside the battery compartment while squeezing the bottom portion of the top of the DCS Remote. This requires considerable patience, particularly when opening a DCS remote's case for the first time

• Once the bottom of the shell begins to separate, gently continue to separate the two halves of the case and open the DCS Remote like a book, taking care not to damage the wire connecting the two halves of the case

• The transceiver board is located at the top of the DCS Remote behind the LCD screen. Do not under any circumstances lift up on the transceiver board or black wire!

• Press down gently on the transceiver board to reseat it

• Place a piece of soft, nonconductive spongy material on top of the transceiver board so that it will hold the board in place when the DCS Remote is reassembled

• Carefully line up the two halves of the case and gently but firmly snap them back together

• Replace the Philips head screw, the batteries and the battery compartment door.

 

Check if the problem is resolved. If the problem persists, the TIU or the DCS Remote may be damaged. To determine which device is damaged, it is necessary to substitute a known, good device for the TIU and the DCS Remote, one at a time, and note if the new device can communicate with the original device. Once a device is known to be defective, it should be returned to MTH, an authorized MTH service center, or where it was purchased, so that it may be repaired.

This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site! Click on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!

Thanks Barry... this is most helpful and I will have to get your book, many thanks again.Ill post the results.

(cTr...Choose the Right)     Stephen From Down Under

another thing you can check to make sure the wires are correct.Try switching your wire run to the track.I know if the wires are crossed in 3 rail you will get the no eng on track.Good luck

another thing you can check to make sure the wires are correct.Try switching your wire run to the track.I know if the wires are crossed in 3 rail you will get the no eng on track.Good luck

 

He finds engines when tethered. The wiring is fine.

This is how i found the board (RF) when I took the top of, It seems to have come completely disconnected.

"All's well that ends well" I placed the boards pins back where they belonged,about an inch from where they should have been and pressed down gently, problem solved!!   Thanks again every one for your input, and especially Barry

(cTr...Choose the Right)       Stephen from Down Under

Always check for loose boards when problems pop up on new product just out of the box.Mac