TIU upgrade problem

Mike,

Please be more specific. Relate exactly what you do and exactly what happens.

Barry,

I start DCS and get the screen as shown on page 136 of your manual. I click on oprions, select Serial Port and then "Auto Search for TIU" and get TIU found on COM3. Then I click on the TIU icon, select the location of the tiu software in My MTH File and it responds searching for TIU on COM3. After it spins for awhile I get an error message saying it is having trouble locating the TIU and to try recycling power on the TIU. I have gone through this several times.   

Mike,

Did you forget to insert the 1/8" stereo jumper cable between the TIU's ProtoCast and ProtoDispatch ports, as directed by the on-screen instructions during the TIU software upgrade process? That puts the TIU into program mode.

When you ask the Loader Program to "Find TIU", it looks for one that's not in program mode. However, when the Loader Program looks for the TIU during the software upgrade process, it looks only for one that's in program mode.

Is it advisable to connect the stereo jumper BEFORE powering up the TIU for the update, or doesn't it matter?

John,

Is it advisable to connect the stereo jumper BEFORE powering up the TIU for the update, or doesn't it matter?

It's not advisable, rather, it's required!

The cable must be inserted before the TIU is powered up. If the TIU is powered up and then the cable is inserted, the TIU is not put into program mode. 

Kinda' thought that, glad to hear it confirmed.

Barry,

I have the stereo cable pluged in before I power up the TIU and everything is hooked to the PC before I bring up the loader. However this was not so the first time I tried it, could this be the problem? If so how do I solve it?

Mike,

First, make sure that it's a stereo cable. A mono cable will not work.

If it's the right cable and you plug it inbefore you power up the TIU, the TIU's LED won't blink at all when it gets power. The LED will just come on steady. If it blinks with the cable inserted, either the cable is bad or mono, or it's not plugged all the way in.

Barry,

The Led blinks once without the cable pluged in when powered up. It does not blink with the cable pluged in when powered up. I have followed the on screen instructions and tried different sequences with the same result. Always get a warning that it is having trouble locating the TIU and to recycle the power, same results. 

Mike,

Everything you're reporting sounds right. Some questions:

• You say this is your "second TIU". Did the first one upgrade OK? If so, what Rev was the first TIU? Can you try upgrading it again?
• What version of Windows are you running?
• What version of the Loader program are you using?

Barry,

Thanks for all the help.

My first TIU is Rev L and came with latest software and I have not updated it. This is the first time I have tried to update a TIU.

My Laptop is only 2 months old and has latest version of windows.

I downloaded the loader 64 bit with net. Could this be the problem?

Mike,

Did you install .NET? If not, you should.

Just a thought, why not connect the Rev. L TIU and see if the PC can find that one as a test?

My bad, did not have a stereo cable just thought I did. I missed the led blink, just got back from Radio Shack and now the load worked fine. Sorry for the trouble.

I really appreciate all the help, if not for this forum I would be up a creek without a paddle. There are no train buffs within a 100 miles and even further for a hobby shop.

Again THANKS!

When I did the upgrade I found that I had to shave off a little of one plugs plastic (maybe 1/32" or so) so the plug was fully seated in the jack.  For some reason, plug being just slightly out broke the connection.  Weird that the TIU stereo jacks are so "intolerant" of a plug's sllght misalignment.  The plug tip, ring and sleeve metal contacts are certainly wide enough that the jack's contacts should touch. Maybe the machine making the jack was having an off day.