I am unable to upgrade the DCS software to ver 3

[bibeaud]

unable to upgrade the DCS software to ver 3I just purchased the DCS to install on my new train layout and I am unable to upgrade the DCS software to ver 3. My remote does not access the TIU. How can I fix this?

The steps taken were/with results:
1) Load TIU Code
2) Click OK (lists 6 step directions)
3) Choose TIU file and click OK
4) Setup Required – Remove Power to TIU and click OK
5) Follow the following sequence:
apply power to Fixed 1/Aux Power and click OK
6) Fail ID Status Check #1 – Click OK
7) Startup Sequence Fail – Click OK
Device not programmed – Click OK
8) Closed DCS Loader program

[spankybird]

HI bibeaud,
Well no has yet jump in here to help, so I will give this a try. I do have DCS and was able to do the upgrade.

First, when did you down load the software from MTH. If is was before Feb. 3, 2004, redo it.

Second, what verison of Windows do you use? Many people have had problems with ME.

Third, you did remove the TIU from your layout?

When you opened the loader program, did you allow it to load the upgrade file? In otherwords, don't double click on the file name.

The one step that MTH left out was to reset the TIU (via the remote) before and after the upgrade.

Make sure that all other programs that run in the backgroud of your computor is off.

Follow each step one at a time, do not combine two steps together.

I hope this helps

tom

[bibeaud]

I just received the TIU/DCS remote and attempted the upgrade "immediately out of the box" so my settings would not be overwritten. Currently, the loader program when I run it is "stuck" with the phrase "Opened COMM Port 1" and then it shows the file path
i.e. c:\program files\mth............

I just downloaded this yesterday and tried to redownload it without success.

My original problem was:
I just purchased the DCS to install on my new train layout and I am unable to upgrade the DCS software to ver 3. My remote does not access the TIU. How can I fix this?



The steps taken were/with results:

1) Load TIU Code

2) Click OK (lists 6 step directions)

3) Choose TIU file and click OK

4) Setup Required – Remove Power to TIU and click OK

5) Follow the following sequence:

apply power to Fixed 1/Aux Power and click OK

6) Fail ID Status Check #1 – Click OK

7) Startup Sequence Fail – Click OK

Device not programmed – Click OK

8) Closed DCS Loader program

I got rid of this error message by disconnecting the UPS and disabling the modem. I am using WinXP Pro SP1 (with all updates installed).



I am using a serial cord (not a null modem), a Belkin stereo mini-to-mini plug, and a RadioShack 18/24 volt transformer (in aux power - red light on constantly)



Any help and solution is appreciated! I just want to get the TIU working.



David

[?]

[spankybird]

Hi, I'm not sure how much you know about your PC. Are you sure you hve closed all other programs. Look by your system clock (lower right hand corner of your screen. Is there any icons showing. If so, place your pointer there and right click adn slecet close.

If your PC can't find com1, then you will have problems downloading.

[spankybird]

Hi David,
I have to ask if your DCS all came in one box, that is TIU and remote with video tape and manual or did the dealer sell you just a TIU and remote? If it was a set, it's hard to beleive that MTH would have two verison of the software, one different on each item.

[bibeaud]

Thanks for any help/suggestions!
[V]
Yes - I did purchase the complete DCS set (w/ book & video too). I emailed MTH and they sent me a TIU "sniffer" program to see if it could access the TIU. It couldn't. I email the results back to MTH. I am betting that I have a defective unit. I'll post any results if I can figure out the problem and get a solution. (It may also be a problem with my COM port on my computer).
David

[spankybird]

I hate it when that happens. Brand New OUT OF THE BOX and it doesn't work. [:(] I had that once with an new engine that cost $700.00. It won't run right out of the box. It had to go back to the factory. But the good new is, it runs fine now. [:)]

You'll have to check on your com1 port. You'll need that for downloads.

good luck

tom

[bibeaud]

The DCS upgrade to Ver 3 is over...Success at Last!

I want to thank Phil, the owner of Hobby Hangout in Easton PA, for all of his help. Phil upgraded DCS ver 3 onto my remote and TIU successfully.

MTH Tech Support did get back to me yesterday and reported that the results of running the TIU Detector program verified that my problem was either my 9-pin serial cable (I have 2) or my computer COM1 port is bad. I use both of these each day...perhaps the Serial cables which I connect to my UPS do not have all 9 pins attached inside the cable. I can't verify this without cutting into a working cable.

I strongly recommend that all Lehigh Valley train enthusiasts stop in at the Hobby Hangout when you are in the Easton PA area and see the display that Phil has in his store and all the great hobby products, including trains of all sizes.

[spankybird]

I am glad that you are up and running. I hope that you will enjoy DCS as much as I do. I love to be able to reset PS2 engines, like volume setting on bell, whistle, smoke rate (would you belive that the factory seting is on 80%). and chuge rate.

[Anonymous]

Hello Spankybird!

I ran into something interesting when trying to update to 3.0. I was updating a very early DCS setup for the local hobby shop-by very early, they had DCS 2.0 (I had never seen 2.0). It took me several tries to get both the Handheld and the TIU upgraded. Our PC has "Zone Alarm" installed to prevent hacking. Even though the 3.0 software was on the hard drive and we were not connected to the internet, the Zone Alarm prevented me from doing the upgrade. We kept getting messages indicating that it was trying different comm ports, over and over. Once Zone Alarm was disabled, everything was fine.

My wife is a psych major. When she was pregnant with our son, I asked if she had an inner child-she hit me...

[spankybird]

Hi Rak402.
I have also found that you have to be sure all other programs are turned off. It also pay to follow each step, one by one.

I love the TV program JAG. This was a comment made about Comd. Rabb as he was hotdoging an F14. It seems to also fit me. My wife is also a kid at heart. She collects baby dolls. Each train cost me one more doll.
tom

[Anonymous]

David,
Glad to see you are up and running! DCS can be a bit frustrating at times. (BTDT!)

For the rest of you who still need to do the upgrade, or for future reference: Watch out for ANYTHING that can grab a COMM port, even if you are not using it. I found I had to disable my modem temporarily. The worst one was the Palm pilot PDA. (It has a Hot-Sync, so it always grabs a port, whether there is anything there or not. I disabled that and the reload procedure was a breeze!

Chris
LVHR

[lionel2341]

Another little trick is to power down the TIU and back up again while it's trying to find a COM port, it will lock to COM 1.

Ernie

[Anonymous]

I have done everything mentioned in this forum. My remote responds to the upgrade, however, I cancel the upgrade due to the fact I am unable to upgrade my TIU. I have done everything mentioned in this forum. Both of my com ports are working fine. I connected my camcorder to both and it worked fine. It does what has already been mentioned, which is looking for com1 and com2. I have shut down everything the system will allow me to. I only have local services and system services running. I even disabled my network. I also powered down my tiu and powered it back up. Still unable to find the com port. Could it be my mini cable? I bought this stuff a long time ago and cannot say for sure if the mini cable is stereo. I know it is what I asked for. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Does your computer have a built in modem? If so, you will have to disable it before the software will find the correct COM port. You can not change the port setting in the software and unfortunately the autopol feature tries to find the fastest port to talk to, usually the modem. I went through this trying to get the dealer software to load on a dealer's PC. Sjcbulldog was the one that pointed me in the correct direction. Go to the Windows Control Panel and click on the System icon. Access the hardware info tab. Find your modem and DISABLE it, DO NOT DELETE/REMOVE, just DISABLE. Afte you're done with DCS, re-enable the modem.

BTW, you need to have the phone cable in the remote to TIU or this won't work either, and the RS-232 cable may be an issue. I can't remember if it's a null modem or straight modem cable (break out box comes in handy).

[Anonymous]

I do not have a modem. I do have a network and disabled the network just to see what would happen. No luck. It is very strange. I am on the xp platform. I was wondering if it could be the RS-232, but the remote is working on the upgrade, and the cable is new. I will buy a new one. I have done everything else known to man. Thanks for the information!

[wrmcclellan]

prrmJ1,

Does your PC have a real RS-232 port or are you using a USB-to-RS-232 adapter?

I have never been able to make my USB-to-RS-232 adapter work for the DCS Loader. There is an apparent USB/RS-232 driver issue that I was never able to resolve.

My other PC with an RS-232 card works fine.

Regards,
Roy

[Anonymous]

Hi, Roy! It has two RS-232 com ports. I know both work. I tested them with my camcorder. I even disabled one to make it use the other, and it does not work. Even though the cable is new, and the remote starts the upgrade process, could it still be the cable? I find it hard to believe the remote communicates, yet the TIU cannot. Thank you for the input!

[Anonymous]

Oh crap, I forgot about the UART issue. DCS communicates at a very high speed. Most vanilla COM ports have lame UARTS that top out at 28.8 or even lower. DCS software will try to run at 56K. I had to install a PCI serial card with high performance UARTS at the train shop to resolve the issue (his computer wouldn't access the TIU properly even with the internal modem disabled. When I dug through the docs, the built in com ports topped out at 9600 baud).

[Anonymous]

Awesome! I will buy a PCI card this weekend. Thanks!

[CSX FAN]

Prr

Do you have an older PC or lap top the has windows 98. When I upgrade I use and old laptop and works great. I don't have these issues at all.

The mini sterio cable will have a insulating band on it for two channels the mono won't have any bands.

Are you coming to York? I will be with the National Capital Trackers doing free software upgrads if anyone wants one.

Jamie

[Anonymous]

Hey, Jamie! I have a dual boot hard drive, and partiton 1 has windows 98. I will load everything on 98 and give it a try. I wish I was coming to York. In a new house as of 3 months ago and I live in Cincinnati, Ohio. Busy! If I have anymore troubles after I try 98 and/or a pci UART as recommended earlier, then I will have my local hobby shop do it. Thanks for the reply!!!