Hi DigitalGriffin,
DigitalGriffin So what you are telling me is if I have two MTH loco's with DCS that I have to reprogram the rest of my fleet (all 40+ engines) and use a universal consist system to run them together? That mixed with the fact that I can't program CV's makes DCS an absolute no-go for me.
So what you are telling me is if I have two MTH loco's with DCS that I have to reprogram the rest of my fleet (all 40+ engines) and use a universal consist system to run them together?
That mixed with the fact that I can't program CV's makes DCS an absolute no-go for me.
Until now, that has been the case. It's because of folks like yourself that they have made the software update. Soon anyone will be able to download the updates from MTH's website for free. You do need access to a DCS system to upload the software to existing locomotives. For most people with DCC only that will mean a trip to the LHS to use their DCS system. You might also look for people in your area with DCS. Since you're in York, PA, you could go to Alexander's Restaurant on the Wednesday evening before the opening of the TCA show in April and October. That's the home of the DCS User Group meeting twice a year.
The software update allows access to dozens of CV's for speed mapping, advanced consisting, and function mapping just like most other decoders. You'll be able to reprogram to your hearts content.
BTW, a lot of folks miss a distinction. The MTH HO engines do not "come with DCS." They come with Protosound 3 decoders. The PS3 decoders can be run on DCS or DCC.
Bluegill1,What does one call someone who professes one idea and does just the opposite?
You slam all of the complainers here for making their negative opinions public about any company. You state that they should only address such comments to the manufacturer directly. To do otherwise is not only wrong, unfair, and disrespectful, but dishonorable...according to you.
Instead of doing what you said should happen (contacting people directly), here you are making negative public comments about their forum behavior. If you really believed what you wrote, shouldn't you have PM'd or e-mailed every single person that you had an issue with and talked to them privately instead of telling the whole world what you think of them?
For me, all manufacturers and posters here are fair game for both pro and con comments. If they cannot stand the heat, get out of the forum (or the business as the case may be). No one is forced to be here, no one is forced to read comments, no one has to be a manufacturer, etc.
As for MTH's quality... I don't like their toy-train ideals coming into HO scale, and I am not impressed by their quality. At my club right now, there's an MTH UP SD70Ace that's been out of the box and on the layout for 4 weeks. It's already had two stanchions broken off it and the paint has worn through in two different places on the radiator wing and the side sill. From what, I don't know, but I assume it's just from handling. I have never seen any other company's product have the factory paint wear off in such a fashion (custom paint, sure, but factory paint?). I am amazed that it's happened in such a short time. I would recommend that if you own one, try to keep your fingers off the shell if at all possible.
Paul A. Cutler III
Paul3 Bluegill1,What does one call someone who professes one idea and does just the opposite?... ... I would recommend that if you own one, try to keep your fingers off the shell if at all possible. Paul A. Cutler III
Bluegill1,What does one call someone who professes one idea and does just the opposite?...
... I would recommend that if you own one, try to keep your fingers off the shell if at all possible.
Paul,
I already sent a text messege this morning to Crandel, about this whole deranged off-topic trend on pertaining to this thread.
Secondly, I'm not clear as to who you were directing this post to, since there was no quote attached but I will take a stab at it.
This post is off- topic from the original posters intent, as has been already stated several times here now.
The focus was on the comparison of the product and should have stayed in that arena.
I allowed another individual to get under my skin, about his personal attacks and conspiricy theories towards Mike Wolf and MTH's policies, which in my opinion has no place on the forum- at all. That type of sniping should be kept off the public forum- if it must be done at all.
So, I hold my self accountable for that escelation and my profound appologies to the OP.
However, I do hold the Moderators of this forum accountable, for allowing this type of slanderous commentary to go on, which led to my response.
Crandel, if your moderating, it's time to lock this thread and after what has happened, I can't imagine you disagreeing with that.
HF1
dave hikel Hi DigitalGriffin, DigitalGriffin: So what you are telling me is if I have two MTH loco's with DCS that I have to reprogram the rest of my fleet (all 40+ engines) and use a universal consist system to run them together? That mixed with the fact that I can't program CV's makes DCS an absolute no-go for me. Until now, that has been the case. It's because of folks like yourself that they have made the software update. Soon anyone will be able to download the updates from MTH's website for free. You do need access to a DCS system to upload the software to existing locomotives.
DigitalGriffin: So what you are telling me is if I have two MTH loco's with DCS that I have to reprogram the rest of my fleet (all 40+ engines) and use a universal consist system to run them together? That mixed with the fact that I can't program CV's makes DCS an absolute no-go for me.
Until now, that has been the case. It's because of folks like yourself that they have made the software update. Soon anyone will be able to download the updates from MTH's website for free. You do need access to a DCS system to upload the software to existing locomotives.
To Dave Hikel, HF1, and other MTH supporters,
This is the whole point. It was misguided, arrogant, foolish or simply represented a total lack of understanding of the HO Model Railroad Building hobby to offer these products with a proprietary system that has poor compatiblity with the two WELL ESTABLISHED, LONG STANDING, INDUSTRY SHARED and SUCCESSFULL systems.
Whether you or others think it is better is of no importantence, because ALL prior growth of this hobby has been built on interchangablity and compatiblity. Proprietary systems will splinter the hobby and weaken the market - a problem already having negative effects in HiRail.
Like Paul, I don't care for the "toy like" nature of some products being brought to the marketplace. But that is a personal preference on my part - I will simply vote with my wallet.
This thread, and many like it before, shows the ever widening gap between the two primary groups of people who buy model trains. While some can suggest we can sing "Kumbaya" all day long, the fact remains that there is a deep divide in the nature and interests of these two groups of hobbiests.
So far, MTH has not considered me, or modelers of my "type", to be customers they are interested in.
What a shame for them, because when I buy locos, I don't buy one to put in a display case or run in circles, I buy 3, or 4 or 9 to operate a large model system.
But what do I know, I'm just a hick with some DC powered trains.
Sheldon
PS - Its not just MTH that suffers from this - the wishy washy marketing that comes from Broadway Limited is just as bad in other ways - and it comes from that same "Hi Rail" background and thinking.
Mark my words, a big change is comming, when the lastest round of "toy train buyers" gets bored, MTH and Broadway will wonder what happened. I've seen it before in this hobby, several times in 40 years.
Well, I tried. I think some responders managed to offer some relevant feedback to the OP.
Dave, I have not received either a PM or an email, and not an email notification that there is a PM (conversation is what it is called now).
Crandell