Where to get information on how all this works?

Hi Dave, with conventional locos, ie, no remote control function built in, you can still remotely control their running, using MTH's DCS system. The heart of the system, the TIU, has 4 outputs, 2 of these are variable, meaning the hand controller can be used to vary the voltage to the track. This system also has 2 fixed voltage outputs that you can use to control the latest command control locos. It can also be used to control Lionel's TMCC system, with the addition of extra hardware. You can learn the basics from reading MTH's website and on line catalogs, and for in depth help, you can purchase the DCS Companion which is a detailed complete bible on the subject.

Operating conventional locomotives with a CAB-1 Remote Controller is very simple.

You need just three basic components:

• A PowerHouse Power Supply("brick"), OR another transformer with a Power Adapter Cable (6-12893) - your old transformers will work to get you started.

• A PowerMaster for each track/set/power district you want to control(one for each of your transformers).  Up to ten per layout can be used.

• A CAB-1 Remote Controller

I guess the first question is...

Do you want to run your trains with a remote?  Do you plan on buying command engines?  If so will they be Lionel, MTH, or a combination.  It's easy to push a command system but it would be premature to recommend one based on the small amount of information provided.

Thanks for all the replies!

Dave and Rob, What changes are required to my engines for the MTH DCS or Lionel CAB-1 system. I was under the impression that they would need upgraded to do any of this but both your responses lead me to believe that this is not true. I will review the MTH Website as well.

MartyE Good questions! I would like the capability of running them with a remote and not have to stay seated in one location at the transformer and control box. I will be adding to my collection as time and money allow and have no idea what that means in terms of future purchases. Currently my intent is a steam era layout but I purchased the Black Diamond Railway DVD's and although I haven't watched them in their entirety I am impressed by this layout which runs both steam and diesel. This layout uses the MTH DCS. If I have a DCS or Command System I probably would purchase engines that are already configured for this. As far as brand I guess it's hard to say but I would probably want to be as flexible as possible.

As you all can see I don't even know enough to know what questions to ask!

Although I am bewildered by this I feel I am in a good place as construction has not begun and nothing is in concrete yet. Although finances are always a factor and concern I'd rather spend a little more now if it puts me in a better position down the road. I just want to make the most informed decision I can without suffering a serious case of buyer's remorse later.

Thanks again for all your help.

Dave

Looks to me like you would be a good candidate for a DCS system. You have a smaller layout and conventional engines to start with. The DCS system will get you up and running fastest. The problem is I do not know if the DCS upgrade kit will work for an old stile open frame AC motor. Perhaps some of the others will know the answer to that. I thought they were limited to DC can motors. The only problem is that without buying additional equipment you will be limited to MTH equipment, although that isn't that bad.

Al

Looks to me like you would be a good candidate for a TMCC conventional system. You have a smaller layout and conventional engines to start with. The TMCC system will get you up and running the fastest.  TMCC(and DCS) command upgrade kits can be used to control open frame AC motors, that have constant(non reversing) DC applied to the field(full wave bridge) and the reversing DC to the armature(in series with the field), the only problem being that you would need some way to affix a tach tape to the rotating assembly for the tach sensor.  With the simple addition of a Command Base, you can run all Lionel Legacy & TMCC Command equipment in TMCC Command mode.  With a basic TMCC Conventional setup(transformer-PowerMaster-Cab 1), you can most all MTH equipment in conventional mode.

Dave,  Operating Conventional trains remotely only requires a system that remotely can control track voltage.

The trains you have only function based on voltage changes to the track, and DC offsets sent on the track (Bell, Whistle buttons).

The Command systems mention can control the track voltage as mention, but they do much more and that is a whole different ball game.

The engines need to be Command Engines.  They have electronics in them and the Command systems talk to the engines and the engine does the command all while track voltage is at full voltage 18Volts.  This means your conventional engine will be at full throttle.  It gets more involved.  There are several good books on the subject.  Stop by your LHS and they should be able to show you the systems and how they work.  G

As it stands now, the two locomotives you have now can only be run at the same time if they are on electrically seperate tracks. If you incorporate two loops of track on your layout that are electrically seperate (they can be physically connected with switches, but the center rail has to have a gap between the two switches connecting them), then you can run the two locomotives unmodified using either of the two systems, with DCS being the one that needs no extra equipment for such an arrangement.

There are command upgrades for standard AC motors, but only for Lionel's TMCC system. And they have to be wired into the loco's electricals, either by you or a service tech (at a cost that may exceed the $70 or so each for the command boards)

Lionel's TMCC (Trainmaster Command Control) has been supplanted by the more upscale Legacy system. It does more, and the features it shares with TMCC are backwards compatible (the newer remote will run older TMCC locos, but obviously you need the newer system to control the newer features of Legacy locos). There are no upgrade boards for Legacy. Lionel has seen to that (current management declared the TMCC licensing program to have been a mistake from their POV).

TMCC control boxes and remotes were discontinued with the advent of Legacy, and are becoming scarce as a result, so any pointed attempt to make your current locomotives command compatible may cost more than you'd like to spend (i.e. having to buy a Legacy remote+control box) this early in the game It's not impossible--such an effort just happens to reside firmly in "when you can afford to ignore being economical" territory.

---PCJ