used DCS track interface unit

There are many enhancements to the Rev L TIU, one being better signal quality to the track.  If you can get the older unit for a good price, it's not a bad deal, but if it's more than about $50-60, I'd buy the new one.

All TIU versions will support the newest firmware revisions.  Note that the TIU and the remote must have the same versions to work correctly.

As far as I know, the USB port is the only hardware change.

when you are bidding, keep in mind that you can get a brand new one for about $165.  Good luck.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

There are many enhancements to the Rev L TIU, one being better signal quality to the track.  If you can get the older unit for a good price, it's not a bad deal, but if it's more than about $50-60, I'd buy the new one.

Same here....Each tiu has 4 channels  and anyone  of them can let go or already be faulty   , with no way of testing  I'd buy new.

someone told me a revision "M" is coming soon.

any truth to that?

could MTH take old TIU's back and rebuild update them?

Dave Hikel had a nice write up about the various versions of the TIU in this thread: https://ogrforum.com/...40#36484918588547540

Dave Hikel posted:

Hi Rodger,

 

Here's a quick run through TIU history...

 

Rev. G - This was the original, released in April, 2002.  Unlike all later TIU's, the Rev G's had the black terminals on all four channels tied together.  They are also the only TIU revision without internal blade fuses and were vulnerable to shorting out with older transformers with slow acting breakers.  The G's can be identified on the outside by the lack of a revision sticker on the underside.  The G's also have a "ProtoSound 2" logo painted on the top of the case.

 

Rev. H1/H1A/H1B/H2/H2A - The "H" revisions added the blade fuses for auxiliary circuit protection and isolated the black terminals on each channel.  The G and H revisions all used 5 volts chip sets.  The various alpha numeric iterations within the "H" revisions represented minor hardware changes on the circuit board.  All "H" revisions came with an identifying sticker centered on the underside of the case.  The H1's were painted with the "ProtoSound 2" logo, but from the H1A on MTH switches to the DCS oval logo on the top of the case.

 

Rev. I/I1/I1A/I3/I3A/I3B - The "I" revisions moved from a 5 volt to a 3 volt chip set.  The various alpha numeric iterations within the "I" revisions represented minor hardware changes on the circuit board.  All "I" revisions came with an identifying sticker centered on the underside of the case.  MTH used a sans serif font on the revision stickers, which has often lead to confusion.  Many people mistake the "I" for a "1."

 

Rev. L - So far there has only been a single variation of the Rev. L.  The L uses a 3volt FPGA chip set with improved signal recognition, which effectively improves track signal quality.  The "L" also added a USB-B port, which can be used in lieu of the RS-232 port to connect the TIU to a PC for updating firmware and transferring files.  You can identify the Rev. L by the sticker and the USB-B port.

Thanks much!  That's the kind of feedback I was looking for.

If it was me, I'd absolutely not purchase a used, non-Rev. L TIU.

There's no end to the problems that people can inflict on a TIU through ignorance, laziness, carelessness, or a combination of all three. Further, the Rev. L is considerably improved technically over all previous versions and a new unit, purchased from an authorized MTH dealer, will have a 1-year warranty.

So, do you feel lucky today?  

Barry Broskowitz posted:

If it was me, I'd absolutely not purchase a used, non-Rev. L TIU.

There's no end to the problems that people can inflict on a TIU through ignorance, laziness, carelessness, or a combination of all three. Further, the Rev. L is considerably improved technically over all previous versions and a new unit, purchased from an authorized MTH dealer, will have a 1-year warranty.

So, do you feel lucky today?  

I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well to tell you the truth in all this excitement I kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow your head clean off, you've gotta ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?

Thanks Harry, I mean Barry.

Yeah, great movie!

Barry, No... not feeling lucky which is why I asked the pros out there. 

so what to do with the old tiu's???

Big--, It's one thing when you have them, and another when you're thinking of buying them.  I have 2 original issue Rev G's.  Both still work; one is running my grandson's layout & the other I use on my workbench.  But I wouldn't buy someone else's.  I have a Rev H or I (I forget which) which is my layout, as is a new Rev  L.  I also have a Rev L that gave me so many problems it stays in a pile of junk.