Tonight was the first time we tried to run a TMCC engine through our DCS remote. At first nothing would happen, even though we programmed in the engine etc, we couldn't control it from the remote. Our problem was this, we had connected the Trainmaster to the TIU through the special cable. We were getting flashing lights on the Trainmaster so we knew we had communication, but no control. The problem was we also had the original Trainmaster hooked to the track also. As soon as we took that one off line, we had control, so I thought I'd pass on that tip. Dave
Come visit the North Schuylkill High Railers display layout. Open every Sunday 12-5. Conventional, TMCC, & DCS 24' x 55 multi-level Schuylkill Mall, Frackville PA.
Posts: 432 | Location: Reading, PA, USA | Registered:: January 08, 2005
Our problem was this, we had connected the Trainmaster to the TIU through the special cable. We were getting flashing lights on the Trainmaster so we knew we had communication, but no control. The problem was we also had the original Trainmaster hooked to the track also. As soon as we took that one off line, we had control, so I thought I'd pass on that tip. Dave
Hi Dave, Are you saying you tried putting the "U" connection from the Command base through the TIU? Or are you saying you had both the TMCC & Legacy base connected to the track?
Hi Dave, Are you saying you tried putting the "U" connection from the Command base through the TIU? Or are you saying you had both the TMCC & Legacy base connected to the track?
It sounds like he had 2 Command Bases connected. When he removed the 2nd one connected to just the track everything worked.
There is a special cable that runs between the Command Base and the TIU. There is a big port for this on both units. Maybe USB? The U connection still goes to the track so the Lionel handheld can be used.
If using Legacy the orginal Lionel Command base is not necessary for DCS handheld control. It is necessary to use the orginal Lionel handheld with the Legacy system.
Jim C Heard it from a friend who heard from a friend who knows someone that the trains keep running around
Posts: 1034 | Location: Liverpool,NY | Registered:: February 03, 2006
We had 2 command bases hooked up at the same time. One directly to the track that had been there for the last 1.5 years. The other was connected thru a special serial cable to the TIU. We have DCS and TMCC. We don't have Legacy. Thanks, Dave
Come visit the North Schuylkill High Railers display layout. Open every Sunday 12-5. Conventional, TMCC, & DCS 24' x 55 multi-level Schuylkill Mall, Frackville PA.
Posts: 432 | Location: Reading, PA, USA | Registered:: January 08, 2005
Good info guys. I took a slightly different route. I have DCS, TMCC, and Legacy. Everyone seems to get hung up on using the cable that came with Legacy. I used a generic " Y " with the single end hooked to my TIU (not Legacy base). Now on the legs of the Y, I did the following. Between one end I installed the original DCS/TMCC cable hooked to the Legacy base. That is from information received from Barry Broskowitz a while back. The other end of the Y with the newer DCS/TMCC cable to the original command base. I have Legacy hooked to one power strip and the Command base to another. Whatever system I desire to use, I just flip the switch on the power strip. Works perfect. I am basically a DCS guy but do have TMCC and Legacy.
The other end of the Y with the newer DCS/TMCC cable to the original command base. I have Legacy hooked to one power strip and the Command base to another. Whatever system I desire to use, I just flip the switch on the power strip. Works perfect. I am basically a DCS guy but do have TMCC and Legacy.
Marty, I run both systems simultaneously on the same block (loop) without any issues. You do not need to select one or the other; use both.
I have a DCS handheld for each loop and one Legacy handheld for two engines each. I have my cousin's daughter from France over for her vacation and even with their not utilizing handhelds(they did not want to control any engines), I got 8 loops going with 24 trains for the 30 minutes while she and her friend watched them with open eyes. I was too busy to take their photo. That 24 included 4 Legacy engines, 1 conventional (its own loop), 19 MTH trains (28 MTH engines) and no derailments. I did not want any collisions (to mess up their enjoyment) so 8 trains stayed parked on their loops as well as one loop that is covered with junk (on the "L"). When I get everything running simultaneously I can not utilize the Legacy controllers except to get them started and I adjust their slack with the DCS controller because as you said "the Legacy handheld is a handful."
