MTH DCS SYSTEM

[Anonymous]

I need help getting sounds,turning on lights to my MTH engines useing my remote.I have mth remote hooked up with the Lionel Train command,useing the cable provided, I can get my remote to find all of my engines and put them in active,but i can't get anything else turnrd on.My engines don't have any sounds,lights or can I get the remote to turn on any other train functions.What am I doing wrong. I have power to all tracks ,with more then enough voltage.I think it has to be somewhere in the wireing,or I bought a faulty DCS SYSTEM? I did get the trains couplers to work.
Ant help would be appreciated.
Danny

[spankybird]

Did you press the "Start Up" button [?]

[laz 57]

TPDCHIEF,
My TMCC Lionel engines do the same thing. Thats why I use both the DCS for MTH control and the TMCC for LIonels. I can't get my lights to work on the Lionels with the DCS so thats why I use both.
laz57

[Anonymous]

I haven't tried putting on any lionel engines yet.I was trying to put the MTH trains in the system first. I can get the remote to recognize them on thge track and get them to run,but no sounds lights or anything else,but the couplers lock and unlock,and yes I hit the start up button,or the trains wouldn't have current to run.
Thanks
Danny

[Anonymous]

OK could my trouble be in the size of my wireing.I just read to use 16 gauge wireing,and I was useing 20 gauge wireing,could this have an effect on my MTH system putting out commands from the remote.I am new to this and I need the help of train hobbist like you people.
Thanks in advance
Danny

[spankybird]

QUOTE: yes I hit the start up button,or the trains wouldn't have current to run

This is not true. If you do not use the start up button, and just roll the thumb wheel, the train will start to move without sound or smoke. You already have power to the tracks, 18 volts or so.

[spankybird]

Does your DCS work ok without the TMCC command base connected [?]

[Anonymous]

I disconnected my lionel command base and tried,same thing happens.What about the differant gauge wire,would this make a differance
Danny

[Anonymous]

Hey Spankybird
Just talked to a gentleman about the start up button,and he says your correct about this,but also if the wireing is not thick enough it won't carry enough voltage from remote to engines,so he advised it could be the combination of the two causing my problem.It's woth a try.I have someone coming over monday morning and upgrading my wireing and now that I think about it I might have been hitting the start up button after the train started to run,I made a note to hit the start up buttom immediately after the remote recognize the engine,is this the correct procedure.
Thanks In Advance
Danny

[spankybird]

After you select your enigne, by pressing the thumb wheel, then press the start up button. It will take a few seconds for it to start up. Then once the sounds and lights are on, you can trun the thumb wheel to give it speed.

tom

[Anonymous]

Hey Tom
It works,was the combination of the two.Tmorrow I'm going to try and see if my lionel TMCC command trains will work someone says not all the functions work with the DCS system,tomorrow will tell.If not I guess I can use my cab #1 controller.What do you think,you seem when it comes to trains your very knowledgeable. Again Thanks
Danny

[spankybird]

A Cab1 would be a good idea for use with your TMCC engines. Some things are easier to do with the Cab1.

[Anonymous]

Tom Got A Problem
After I had all my engines active in the remote and working,my friend put several engines in the inactive mode. When we tried to put them back into active they would not respond We then erased the memory and tried to start all over.The lionel TMCC engines went in very easy.When we started to add the MTH DCS engines nothing, The system can not find the engine on the track.What did we do wrong and what must I do to correct the problem.Dam thought I had it made untill now.
Depressed In Ohio
Danny

[Anonymous]

To add an MTH (PS2) engine you should have it on the track with no other engines. Either take all other engines off the track or send power through the DCS system to only the section of track with the engine on it you wi***o add.

My layout is wired like a traditional layout with blocks, I will turn power off to all other tracks other than the one I want to add an engine to, and then DCS never has a problem finding the new engine.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Howdy,will try in the morning and I'll let you know if it works tomorrow nite
Thanks
Danny