DCS Question

[Fred Bear]

About the time I figure out the slip switch with all the help from here and some other problems, no matter what I do to my DCS system, it's keeps saying OUT of RANGE. New batteries, TIU is plugged in, track power is up, what the heck is wrong?? Any ideas out there? Thanks, Jake

[spankybird]

Check some basics:

1. Is the TIU connect correctly, Input on the input side, and output on the output side.

2. IT the TIU powered from track power or aux (fix) power. IF track power, is that track turned on?

 3. Have you tried it to a test track to be sure all is working correctly?

[Fred Bear]

Yes, all indicators are a go, and...it was working for nearly a year before this happened. Again, this all happened after a minor derailment. Any ideas anyone? Thanks, Jake

[spankybird]

So when you tried your TIU on a 3 foot piece of test track, you still got ‘out of range' error? Then most likely, your problem is with your TIU.

 

What type of transformer were you using when you had your derailment? Did you have any type of fuse or circuit breaker in line to prevent damaging your TUI in the event of a derailment (short).

[Fred Bear]

Hmmmm, never thought of trying it on a 3 ft piece of test track. Now that's pretty sharp thinking and I'll go do that. Jake

[Fred Bear]

Just went to the train room, wired up the 3 ft piece of track, put a test bulb on it, full power, but when asked to find an engine, shows as OUT OF RANGE. Could it still be my batteries? I've replaced them once, but wasn't sure of the charge, even though I think they were new. Then recharge four rechargeables, but still says out of range. Should I go buy new AAA's? What else could be going on here. Thanks to anyone that might have an idea. Is there a board somewhere for DCS stuff? Thanks, Jake

[chuck]

You may need to do a factory reset.  (NOTE: This wipes everything, engine ID's, as well as any setting stored in the remote.  It will not affect programming info stored in your locos).  The TIU and the remote may not be communicating properly.  You can also try a direct phone cord patch between the hand held and the base (TIU).   This will eliminate issues of RF problems between the remote and the TIU but will not deal with lack of signal on the track.

[Fred Bear]

Chuck, does it take a regular phone cord to do the patch? Thanks, Jake

[chuck]

The cord is the one that goes between the telephone handset and the telephone base, usually called the "coiled" cord.  With the move to wireless handsets, these ate becoming anachronisms.  You may have to scrounge around to find one.  We kept one "old fashioned" phone handy to diagnose problems with our phone service and to use when there is a power outage.

[Fred Bear]

OK, robbed a phone cord, and I could finally reset things. Just wondering now why the remote suddenly needs a cord???? Jake

[chuck]

Cord ensures communication between the hand held and the base station.  If the two units have decided to not communicate via rf, this is one way to force them to talk to each other.  Once you've done the reset, you can disconnect the cord.

[Fred Bear]

Thanks Chuck I do appreciate all the help and from all those responding, Jake

[willpick]

Jake, what probably has happened is that the transceiver board in the TIU and/or the remote has come loose from the socket it plugs into. Have you dropped your remote lately? If it's the TIU board, that's easy to check- just remove the cover and you should see a small board that plugs into the big one. make sure it's pushed in all the way. To check the remote is a bit harder, as the way the remote comes apart is not simple. I've never done it, but if you ask how to here or over on the OGR DCS board, i'm sure you'll get a response--

[Fred Bear]

The remote has not been dropped and the TIU has been locked down forever. This all started with a simple derailing that blew the quick blow fuse ( which really worked nicely ). Does any of that make any sense? Jake

[chuck]

The derailment and fuse blow probably generated noise that the system interpreted as a command.  The "command" a) didn't make any sense since it was noise, and  b) probably resulted in the scrambled communication between the TIU and Remote.  If a hard reset cleared everything up than I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[Fred Bear]

What a weird event, the derailment, but ...the board in the TIU and the remote were both unplugged! I took them both apart, ( fixed the funky thumbwheel while I was in there ) and pushed the boards in each unit back in place. Works nicely now! Barry from the DCS forum is about a genius!  Thanks to all the responded, most appreciated, Jake