Z1000 Brick and the DCS app

By app I assume you mean using a smartphone/tablet as the remote control.  This sends wireless commands via WiFi.  MTH DCS engines do not directly "understand" WiFi so you need something to translate the remote commands to the DCS signals that the engines understand and which reside on the rails.  The MTH Explorer and the MTH WIU/TIU combo can perform this translation.

The Z-1000 brick could provide the "raw" electrical power.

It sounds like the MTH explorer for $150 and a power supply would be the least expensive option to run a subway set with Proto Sound 3.  I assume all the functions would be on the app.

EDIT:  In looking over past posts regarding the Explorer and subway announcements, it appears that a combination of the MTH Explorer and the app will NOT work to trigger station announcements.   That means a very expensive TIU and WiFi setup is the only option.

Can anyone confirm this?

John

  In my research, I found a TIU (especially a REV L) ends up being the best bang for the buck...even though they’re fabulously expensive right now.  This TIU has apparently squashed previous issues with signal, and other ‘problems’ associated with earlier  versions.

  I’ve also read the explorer has issues running various PS 2 engines.

From reading the manual included in my new subway set, and the DCS companion book, many of their features are available running subways conventionally.

Tom

@FlyPlanes-PlayTrains posted:

  In my research, I found a TIU (especially a REV L) ends up being the best bang for the buck...even though they’re fabulously expensive right now.  This TIU has apparently squashed previous issues with signal, and other ‘problems’ associated with earlier  versions.

  I’ve also read the explorer has issues running various PS 2 engines.

From reading the manual included in my new subway set, and the DCS companion book, many of their features are available running subways conventionally.

Tom

Do the station announcements work in conventional?

Thanks,

John

agreed, looking for someone with a DCS explorer and subway set to see if you can program the announcements a-la-conventional mode way instructions (using direction buttons etc), but in the app

According to the “conventional” section of my PS-3 Chicago Yellowbook set’s manual;

”To activate the TAS, press and hold the bell button for approximately 2 seconds.  If you do not wish to stop at the station that is announced after activating TAS, press and hold the bell button again without throttling down the train.”

It also appears that besides transit announcements, firing the coupler, speed control, locking direction, learn mode, auto & manual mode are available to a conventional operator through different sequences of horn/whistle & bell button pushes.

Hope this helps

Tom

@FlyPlanes-PlayTrains posted:

According to the “conventional” section of my PS-3 Chicago Yellowbook set’s manual;

”To activate the TAS, press and hold the bell button for approximately 2 seconds.  If you do not wish to stop at the station that is announced after activating TAS, press and hold the bell button again without throttling down the train.”

It also appears that besides transit announcements, firing the coupler, speed control, locking direction, learn mode, auto & manual mode are available to a conventional operator through different sequences of horn/whistle & bell button pushes.

Hope this helps

Tom

Thanks,

Seems strange that it isn't possible with the MTH Explorer.   There are an awful lot of posts here on DCS, TIU's, etc dating back years.   A bit overwhelming when trying to decide whether or not to purchase a (second hand) subway set just because MTH is (was) the only recent game in town.  A large expense just to run it well.

John

@FlyPlanes-PlayTrains posted:

According to the “conventional” section of my PS-3 Chicago Yellowbook set’s manual;

”To activate the TAS, press and hold the bell button for approximately 2 seconds.  If you do not wish to stop at the station that is announced after activating TAS, press and hold the bell button again without throttling down the train.”

It also appears that besides transit announcements, firing the coupler, speed control, locking direction, learn mode, auto & manual mode are available to a conventional operator through different sequences of horn/whistle & bell button pushes.

Hope this helps

Tom

If its just the bell button to activate, couldnt a DCS explorer do that via the app?
My app with the dcs explorer has a  bell button (albeit, it toggles on or off the bell, unsure if that makes a difference with the transit sequence)

Can’t really confirm or deny if explorer will activate TAS.  It certainly seems feasible, being only a sequence of timed button pushes, but I don’t know.  On the other hand, since explorer is running things in a command environment, it’s also feasible that transformer button pushing sequences really aren’t ever used, and therefore wouldn’t be ‘seen’ by the subway as anything other than may rapid horn blows.  I’m far from an expert on this, I’m just relaying how I’m interpreting info I’ve read.  Perhaps someone with total system knowledge will chime in.  

  As far as the great expense of a full DCS system, I was there too until recently.  As primarily a TMCC user, it finally dawned on me that if I want certain items in certain roadnames, MTH/DCS was going to need to be implemented in to my layout.
As for subways, for the cost of a Lionel subway (if you can find one)  you could probably purchase a MTH subway & a TIU for nearly the same price.  

Also, stop trying to justify it...just get it.  Maybe conventional running will suit you just fine.  You’ll find most of us here have succumbed to this, our addiction and repeatedly make irrational and expensive train purchases.  To prove this, I just pre-ordered a MTH Lehigh Valley VO-1000 last night from           Mr.Muffin...talk about “I WANT I WANT I WANT I WANT!!!!

Tom