TIU upgrade? WIU vs DCS Remote Control?

3. The WIU & the app (premium version) will operate accessories and switches via the AIU.

2. There is no need to buy another remote, unless (a) you will have others running trains with you or (2) you want to be sure to have one on into the future, which is a good reason.

1. Does your TIU have a sticker on the bottom stating the Rev?  If none, it's an original Rev G.  I have 2 of those still working (one on grandson's layout and one on my bench), but both went back to MTH for an upgrading hardware repair back about 2003.  But, when I put one on my layout to replace a malfunctioning Rev L (I had an earl Rev L that regularly failed, since discarded), the Rev G worked fine with the WIU as well as the remote.  Personally, I would not buy a Rev L unless I encounter a failure in the old TIU.  I do not find the USB port to offer any advantage to upgrading or anything else.

Personally, I would not get the WIU until I had my layout up and operating.  No point in introducing additional complexity as long as you already have the hardware.

Thanks for the update on the WIU and app.  It's just me, and I'm a bit of a tech-head, so having the WIU and the app running on my iPad would be cool, just not sure it's worth the ~$200 for the WIU and the premium version of the app.  Oh, who am I kidding, I'll probably buy them as soon as I get my TIU updated to the latest version and up and running.

The only sticker on the bottom of my TIU says "Contains FCC IDT8RFMT", so I agree it's probably a Rev. G.  After doing a little research, it looks like I should put a 10A fuse inline between my Z1000 and the TIU's Fixed Voltage Input to better protect the TIU, and use the 18V light bulb across the outputs trick to increase the signal strength if necessary, right?  I just bought Barry's DCS Companion and I need to read it more thoroughly, especially the wiring recommendations...

Your observations about the fuse are correct.  Depending on whatyou run, a smaller fuse would blow faster.  In the long run, a breaker is cheaper.  I get mine from marine supply houses, like ZDefender or West MArine.

I have 2 WIUs, one for each operating TIU.  Hd them since WIU first was semi-released.  Personally, I don't like them, never use them, becuase I can move around the remote faster when I have several trains running on intersecting routes.

My layout was built long before DCS.  It has some 70 toggled blocks, and a common buss running around the layout.  I just dropped in the TIUs between transfornmers and track and have been running ever since.  Barry used to shudder when he stopped by.

The 18-volt trick is interesting, because back when I ran 2 Rev Gs, some blocks needed it to avoid killing signals on other blocks, and other didn't.