I was ready to run at the club tonighr and now my DCS App is telling me I need to buy the upgrade to make it work. I paid for the full system years ago. What's going on here?
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Simple, did you clear or reset the app?
On that device are you on the internet and connected- using the same account you bought the upgrade license with?
Yes nothing has changed on my end.
Scott
Again, the system gets it's license key using the same Google Play account or Apple account (Android VS iPhone).
You have to be connected to the internet or celular data- and then the DCS app will show the upgrade license. Once it has it, you can disconnect from the internet and it caches it.
Also, if you changed brands (Android VS IOS) then you have to buy the license under than app store brand account.
In other words- all my apple devices get my "upgrade" apple DCS license, and my Android (example Amazon Fire tablet) I had to buy the upgrade on it, but now any Android device I can have that license.
Hmmm, for FWIW, just fired up my iPhone and got a similar problem- I can buy the upgrade but I know I already had......
I had to log into the app store- just to make sure I was still logged in, open the DCS app, at the top right under the upgrade there is a "Restore" I hit that, and then my License showed up.
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Just had the same issue a few minutes ago. I’m sure it’s fine all do the restore
I just had to do a restore on mine, so it seems to be a system wide glitch.
Just when you want to relax and run trains.....
It's always something!!
Oh Boy! Something else to reboot, reinstall or upgrade. This will attract new folks to the hobby. Gives a whole new meaning to Model Railroading is Fun! Who could have guessed that vintage handhelds would be nostalgic? OK. I feel much better now. 
Earl
Hmmm, I do not remember ever having to reset my KW. 
@scott.smith posted:I was ready to run at the club tonighr and now my DCS App is telling me I need to buy the upgrade to make it work. I paid for the full system years ago. What's going on here?
just bend over, they know every one will pay
My DCS handheld remote doesn't have that error sign 
@IRON HORSE posted:My DCS handheld remote doesn't have that error sign
For that matter, neither does my conventional ZW... 
Mitch
Wow such panic and doom. You guys must be real fun at kids parties.
@IRON HORSE posted:My DCS handheld remote doesn't have that error sign
Nor my Cab-2
Your Cab-2, DCS remotes, and ZW don't fit in a shirt or pants pocket either.
No issues with the android app to report. Everything worked on my devices without any reset. Maybe just an Apple thing?
Every now and then when Apple pushes updates to iPhones that may contain updated security patches, various apps need you to 'restore purchase'.
It's not a big deal. No doom and gloom. It happens across the board. It is not just a thing with train control apps.
Although I can see where it is fun to get snarky comments in about technology. 
@PRRMP54 posted:Hmmm, I do not remember ever having to reset my KW.
Sure you did. Every time a consist went off the rails and caused a short circuit the circuit breaker on your KW tripped.
Removing the offending rolling stock from the derailment and restoring it to a non-shorting position on the track was the 'reset'.
Mike
@H1000 posted:Your Cab-2, DCS remotes, and ZW don't fit in a shirt or pants pocket either.
No issues with the android app to report. Everything worked on my devices without any reset. Maybe just an Apple thing?
While it fits in your pocket, your phone does you no good for running trains when it's in your pocket.
It also does you no good for doing so while you're on it during a phone call. (Don't tell me that the answer's simple here and it's to just use the speakerphone. It's not that easy to multitask when trying to concentrate on two important things at the same time. Something's going to cross tracks, collide, or go out of control.)
Mike
Thanks for the info ....this happened to me this morning as well... I purchased the upgrade in 2017...never happened before. I love the app and I love running trains with DCS... thanks again. I recently hooked up my MTH gas station to the AIU and I love activating it with the app.
@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:While it fits in your pocket, your phone does you no good for running trains when it's in your pocket.
It also does you no good for doing so while you're on it during a phone call. (Don't tell me that the answer's simple here and it's to just use the speakerphone. It's not that easy to multitask when trying to concentrate on two important things at the same time. Something's going to cross tracks, collide, or go out of control.)
Mike
Do you really need your fingers on the buttons like a nervous wreck the entire time?!? There were times back in the old remote days with DCS remote, I had the automatic shutdown set to 30 minutes. Guess what I didn't push any buttons in that stretch of time and my remote was turned off when I did want to use it. And yes, I know that is an adjustable setting and just like screen timeouts on phones, that is also adjustable.
I have dedicated devices for running my trains, you couldn't call those phones if you wanted to. However, I have taken speakerphone calls on my active phone and run the DCS app at the same time. So yes, you can take a call and run trains at the same time, I've done it, and it's not that hard. Modern smartphones can multitask. Most of the time, my phone isn't even in the same room when I run trains. I want to run trains, not talk on the phone.
@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:(Don't tell me that the answer's simple here and it's to just use the speakerphone. It's not that easy to multitask when trying to concentrate on two important things at the same time. Something's going to cross tracks, collide, or go out of control.)
Also, wearable tech like smartwatches and Earpieces don't cause much interruption when taking a call. If my smartwatch or Bluetooth earpiece is connected to my phone, I can answer using either of those devices, and the running app on my phone will only see a small, brief drop-down indicating an incoming call. As soon as I answer (or decline) the call on my watch, earpiece, or phone, the drop-down is gone and the app is fully functional again.
I called Dave Krebiehl last night before I posted this topic and left him a message. He responded via email this morning. MTH made no changes, this was an Apple issue where Apple required the reset. I only use my old I-Phone for DCS so it only functions as a remote. I hadn't been into the Apple App store in years. I had to go back home and get my old I-Pad to reset my Apple password. After the reset all functions well. Thanks Vernon for the answer.
Scott Smith
@H1000 posted:Do you really need your fingers on the buttons like a nervous wreck the entire time?!? There were times back in the old remote days with DCS remote, I had the automatic shutdown set to 30 minutes. Guess what I didn't push any buttons in that stretch of time and my remote was turned off when I did want to use it.
Most of us are operating the layout, not simply starting the train around its loop and standing back to watch for half an hour.
Operating. Not hovering like a nervous wreck. Operating.
A phone needs yours eyes on it in order to get your fingers to the correct place to make a selection (in addition to making the selection). A handheld does not. Physical buttons are important. This applies to many, many devices, not just model railroads. Automobiles and real locomotives come to mind.
Most importantly, because of this on the phone, finding the place to push any button requires extra time that you may not have when you need an emergency stop. If you're not quick enough will some one get hurt? Not likely with small trains, but you may hit your pocketbook quit hard if you're into large, highly-detailed, scale-sized locomotives and they crash.
Mike
BTW, I love the APP. I am running two TIU's at the club networked together with the WIU's. The phone finds the engines and I can switch between the 8 trains I run at the same time each week with ease. The remote signal is week with the distance between the rooms. The remote response is slow with 8 trains running and it has a difficult time finding all the locomotives. I don't have any of those issues with the app.
Scott Smith
@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:Most of us are operating the layout, not simply starting the train around its loop and standing back to watch for half an hour.
Operating. Not hovering like a nervous wreck. Operating.
A phone needs yours eyes on it in order to get your fingers to the correct place to make a selection (in addition to making the selection). A handheld does not. Physical buttons are important. This applies to many, many devices, not just model railroads. Automobiles and real locomotives come to mind.
Most importantly, because of this on the phone, finding the place to push any button requires extra time that you may not have when you need an emergency stop. If you're not quick enough will some one get hurt? Not likely with small trains, but you may hit your pocketbook quit hard if you're into large, highly-detailed, scale-sized locomotives and they crash.
Mike
Mike, I have operating layouts too. They have accessories and switches, and all sorts of other things that are more than just running an engine. I had some of the same concerns you hold today. In fact, I did my own at-home social experiment of the remote vs the app with identical operating sessions and had my wife record both experiences so that I could determine exactly how my screen time was spent with each device. I can bore you with the details but I spent just as much time looking at each one and this was in the early days of me using the app, I am much more proficient with it now.
The remote had the advantage of buttons but by my standards, it is slow. The scroll wheel can only go so fast before it scrolls down instead of up, the display is only 4 lines, and has a resolution quality comparable to a 1980s Gameboy, I don't know about you but it can be hard to read. Finding those physical buttons when operating in low light situations is hard because the bulk of them all have the same tactile feel and now you need to look at the remote to see the labels but the buttons aren't backlit, only the screen.
This has all been discussed and beaten to death before in other threads and the pros & cons have been laid out for both sides of the argument.
@scott.smith posted:I called Dave Krebiehl last night before I posted this topic and left him a message. He responded via email this morning. MTH made no changes, this was an Apple issue where Apple required the reset. I only use my old I-Phone for DCS so it only functions as a remote. I hadn't been into the Apple App store in years. I had to go back home and get my old I-Pad to rest my Apple password. After the reset all functions well. Thanks Vernon for the answer.
Scott Smith
Scott; I’m not clear on what exactly you had to reset here. Can you please elaborate? Was it the DCS WiFi password on your iPhone or the password for your iPhone itself?
Thanks,
Curt
@juniata guy posted:Scott; I’m not clear on what exactly you had to reset here. Can you please elaborate? Was it the DCS WiFi password on your iPhone or the password for your iPhone itself?
Thanks,
Curt
Your Apple app store ID to reset your DCS App.
Scott
Thanks Scott. Changed Apple password on both iPhones I use to run trains. Opened MTH DCS WiFi app store, found my premium license, hit restore. It prompted me to key in new Apple password, did that and - it still doesn’t work. 🤔
Alternates with error messages “connection failure” or “no WIU/TIU found despite green, pink and blue lights glowing brightly and steadily. (And I’ll note the mode switch is on MTH - where it’s always been.)
Already got my train running in for the day using my DCS remote. I think I’m gonna call it a night before one of these iPhones goes down like a Chinese balloon…😉
Curt
@juniata guy posted:Thanks Scott. Changed Apple password on both iPhones I use to run trains. Opened MTH DCS WiFi app store, found my premium license, hit restore. It prompted me to key in new Apple password, did that and - it still doesn’t work. 🤔
Alternates with error messages “connection failure” or “no WIU/TIU found despite green, pink and blue lights glowing brightly and steadily. (And I’ll note the mode switch is on MTH - where it’s always been.)
Already got my train running in for the day using my DCS remote. I think I’m gonna call it a night before one of these iPhones goes down like a Chinese balloon…😉
Curt
Are you back on MTH WIFI? You have to switch back to a regular wifi to reset the password after it is reset you have to switch it to the MTH WIFI.
Scott
I had both phones on our home WiFi when I reset Apple passwords and “restored” the WiFi app. Gonna sleep on it and revisit tomorrow. Supposed to be a rainy day anyhow - perfect for the basement.
Curt
I just read this, went downstairs and tested my MTH DCS iPhone WI-FI app on my layout.
It worked fine.
You all can rest easy now.
I got the same error and haven’t changed anything. 40 years in IT tells me new software is coming. 😀
@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:A phone needs yours eyes on it in order to get your fingers to the correct place to make a selection (in addition to making the selection). A handheld does not.
Mike
As someone who has written thousands of programs I can a-test to this.
The first time was watching women type in checks at the Federal Reserve. They would keypunch with their right hand and flip checks with their left. They would never take their eyes off the checks. The error rate after a 40 hour week was negligible and they were FAST.
The second time was watching claims being entered on a mainframe at truck dealerships. Type type tab, type type tab. Again error rate was nothing.
New software is great but you need to know when to stop and leave a proven approach alone.
Personally I use the handheld for my “L” and phone app for lower level mainlines. Advantages to each and no clear winner.
Why are folks resetting their Apple Passwords when all you need to do is restore the app purchase?
@MartyE posted:Why are folks resetting their Apple Passwords when all you need to do is restore the app purchase?
Because, it was so long ago and they do so few app purchases they forgot their app store login. I would not knock people for this.
@Vernon Barry posted:Because, it was so long ago and they do so few app purchases they forgot their app store login. I would not knock people for this.
It is called "Old Timers" or CRS (Can't Remember Stuff"!
@Vernon Barry posted:Because, it was so long ago and they do so few app purchases they forgot their app store login. I would not knock people for this.
I'm not knocking this but it's not a requirement.
@MartyE posted:Why are folks resetting their Apple Passwords when all you need to do is restore the app purchase?
Maybe because I haven't signed into Apple since I bought the DCS APP. I thought I remembered the password, but Apple said I didn't.
Scott Smith
