dbaker48,
I was not sure if you had a wiring problem or something else as I have had my DCS system for almost 6 months with no trouble from it. Glad to hear that you fixed it.
I try not to be prejudice against Lionel or MTH but I tell the facts as I know them to be. Maybe it is just luck of the draw but I have had some problems with Lionel in the past 12 years or so and had to either sell it or just eat the cost of the product as Lionel claims "they never heard of one of the problems that I was having with one of their switches # 6-23011 & 6-23010 O gauge switches."
From the way it sounds the guy Ole Timer does not have the DCS system and is listening to hearsay or gossip about MTH"s DCS.
Lee F.
Lee,
I really did appreciate you post, I chose to just ignore the other one. I don't know the actual cause of the problems I had or the extent. But this is what I am suspecting now.
The ZW and Cab1 problem I was having was due to the barrel of a spade terminal depressing the reset button on the back of the ZW transformer. I have a Lionel amp and voltage gauge (optional from Lionel) mounted on the back of the transformer. The programming and calibration reset button is very close to the U terminal on the back. I believe the lug swiveled applied pressure to the button, and when power was fired up caused the transformer to recalibrate to 17volt start up mode.
The Big Boy, is responding as a result of the tach reader, not registering correctly. There is some warnings that this could be the result of excessive smoke fluid getting on the strip. The other potential is a result of the ZW/Cab1 issue resulting of incorrect voltage being supplied to the track when I tried a reprogramming of the BB.
I own quite a bit of the MPC era products, and when you talk about quality, the products available today are awesome. What I do NOT understand is all the BIAS either for or against both Lionel and MTH, I find it ridiculous Thank God these people have NO real influence on anything that really matters or make my choices for me.
Thanks again for your assistance.
Don
Ole Timer wrote: YET ANOTHER MTH HORROR STORY .... they have lousey electronic systems plagued with issues !
Are you going from personal experiance or are you just sounding off from reading some of the forum posts?
As far as I know MTH has very good electronic systems!! IF the MTH systems were so plagued as you make them out to be why would people still buy them??
If I am reading all the forum topics correctly it seems that Lionel is plagued more with defective workmanship in the past 10 to 12 years than any other company making model trains.
Don't know if this may help with the DCS system but have you tried using DCS only on one track and see how the locomotive does, wire the track exactly as MTH says to do this may help.
Also sounds like you have a problem with either Cab-1 or the ZW, I am not using TMCC so I don't know what to tell you.
From what I can gather from the forum posts that I have read I would not use TMCC and DCS together on the same system even though Lionel and MTH say that it is safe to do.
Going back to around 1984 Toyota had a problem with putting in aftermarket radios in their cars, the alternator would cause a high pitched squeal to come across the amplifier output of the aftermarket radio, maybe this is a similar issue although not addressed in the long term by either Lionel or MTH as they usually test for a few months then release stuff.
UPDATE --
Regarding the BB problem, still unresolved, but some good news. I contacted MTH I was concerned as to whether the warranty was still valid. I purchased it in March, and it had been sitting the LHS for over 2 years. MTH said absolutely valid, since I was the original owner. They seemed to think it is probably the tach reader. Recommended I get it to one of their national service centers. Closest one is in either Reno, or Phoenix. Before I do that I do want to try the reprogramming. WHICH brings up the next problem.......
The ZW I am using will not let me adjust the voltage from Throttle A down. To date I have done the following on this issue....
Replaced all the batteries, disconnected the DCS TIU completly, rewired the track using TMCC only. Still the Cab1 will adjust B, C, & D, but not A. As soon as power comes up (9v) then when I select Trk !, and touch the dial it jumps up to 17v and stays there. The only way I can get it down is doing an Alt 0, which resets throttle A, then back to the same problem. I've disconnected the Xfmr from the layout, still same result. Talked to 2 different Lionel service centers, 1 said it could be the Cab1 remote, the other had know idea. Lionel said call back Wednesday, so emailing the "factory". I took the Cab1 to a LHS (where I bought it), and it worked fine on their layout and ZW. The owner said "Don't know what to tell ya." Quite a bit of difference between HIM and the customer service of MTH and their dealers.
So have visitors coming over tomorrow night, so connected the layout using B,C,& D. Will be able to run the trains anyway. Interesting note though, all the TMCC engines run OK, only have the one MTH. So right now have two unrelated problems I think.
Oh I will get it all going again! Trivial problems, but does occupy time.
Goodnight All....
Along with what Tom mentioned make sure the tether plug is connected correctly, do not put it in upside down as this will short out the circuit board for sure according to the hobby shop I deal with in Miami FL.
Another thing about DCS is to make sure the DCS system battery is fully charged, on steam locomotives it is in the tender, don't know about diesels.
Hey Don,
Tom has a good idea there. My MTH Commodore acts up every once in a while. The problem is the tether from the tender to the loco. I unplug and reposition it and then it works fine. Hope thats all your problem is. Good luck.
Hi Don,
You could have a break in your wire harness from the tender. This usally happens by the molded end at the engine.
I am a person with a very active inner child. This is why my wife loves me so. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. OTTS Founder www.spankybird.shutterfly.com
Have you checked the batteries in the hand-held remote control?
Maybe this is a service issue or maybe this is a DCS issue.
I had a little episode the other day and had to hit the E. stop button as the DCS remote refused to function properly, my Reading T-1 refused to obey the speed control wheel on the remote and all sounds stopped from the engine and headlight went out also, was not using any other feature so I am trying to rule out cross-signal interferance from the remote.
I talked to somebody where I work about radio signal interferance and he told me about how a two-way radio will interfere with a paper shredder, yes a paper shredder! The two way radio if strong enuff or close enuff will make the shredder activate if turned on as shredders use a low frequency signal to detect a piece of paper, and I have seen this happen, the two way radio was about three feet from the paper shredder and the send button pressed and the paper shredder started working, I thought this was a fluke so he proved it two more times.
Is it possible C.B. radios are interfering with the DCS/TIU by MTH?
Don,
Sounds like a tach reader or board issue. It could just be that the tach reader failed, or something may have gone out on the PS2 board. Try running the engine in conventional to check that the battery is good. A weak battery can cause all kinds of strange problems. While in conv. mode, try a reset (1 bell, 5 whistles, from neutral) and see if that helps. If the problem still persists, call MTH and speak to a tech. Try the reset first, sometimes it helps.
I have the 4017 Rail King Big Boy, suddenly it is acting a little unusual. It will intermittingly speed up to maximum, then suddenly slow back down. When this happens all sounds are interupted, then resumes when it slows up.
I have checked signal strength, it is 10 everywhere on the track, voltage is constant 17v, cleaned the track, no help.
Any ideas? Or is this a service issue?
Thanks,
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