Maybe none of the Beta testers should get ice cream for missing it.

Marty, I think they should not only get ice cream, but lots of hot fudge atop it. (No nuts; they're fattening). Imagine wanting to run trains and having problems with the software.

I suspect we've all encountered coumputer software revisions to fix a bug, which in turn brings new bug(s). One can only hope it doesn't happen here.

Another good feature is moving the zero voltage softkey to the first group to appear when TRACK is pressed, and providing that it can be done on all tracks at once.

quote:

"Then again what do I know? I'm sitting in a 53' white box watching TV"

Turn off TV & turn on trains.

quote:

Marty, I think they should not only get ice cream, but lots of hot fudge atop it. (No nuts; they're fattening). Imagine wanting to run trains and having problems with the software.

What no whipped cream, sprinkles and cherry?

Let's add another Rev G to the list. I didn't know what the problem was until I checked the forum and read this post. At least now I know - and thank heavens for this forum. Instead of reaching for a 22 caliber solution, I will assert a bit of patience and see what MTH has to say.

For the record, I have two TIU's and I am pretty sure they are both "G's". Both were back for repairs at different times and worked fine until the 4.0 upgrade. I've noticed the problem on one TIU so far - it uses Var 1 for one of my subway lines. The second TIU's Var 1 covers a yard, so I have not checked for the problem there yet. I will later, and post an update.

I'm not going to get itchy for updates from any of the beta guys - I really understand the point Barry made. What I would like to do is hear more about what the technical issue is. I find it quite interesting that software is behaving differently on fixed and variable channels. AND that this difference does not appear to occur on newer TIU's that have different electronics (traces, fuses, whatever) than the older "G" version. Beyond that, from what I have read, it doesn't ALWAYS appear.

When situations like this arise, it becomes something of a mystery in my consciousness, and like a good mystery novel, I like to get to the page near the end where I go "oooooh". Not knowing would be horrendous, and hearing something I don't understand would be just fine - I'll ask Barry for a translation.

Frank, I had the VAR 1 problem exist on one Rev G but not on the other. (BArry had the same experience.) Both of mine had been back to MTH under warranty and both presumably got the upgrade, which one recent post on the forum said made them Rev H's without the fuses.

I agree, I'd like to know what the technical problem was (I might not understand it, but I'm willing to try).

Frank & Robert,

When I have an explanation of what causes the Rev. G V1 problem I'll post it on the forum.

I have found one way no to lose the use of the Var 1 channel. It may be dead with respect to a DCS signal, but I placed a TMCC loco on that track and the TMCC signal is fine (not through DCS, of course). So, for the time being, I will use the TMCC remote for that track.

quote:

Originally posted by Medicine Man:
I have found one way no to lose the use of the Var 1 channel. It may be dead with respect to a DCS signal, but I placed a TMCC loco on that track and the TMCC signal is fine (not through DCS, of course). So, for the time being, I will use the TMCC remote for that track.

I suspect the TMCC would work through the DCS too because the TIU communicates to the TMCC command base directly.

Earl

Just a wild guess here, but since the problem seems to be only some of the Rev G TIUs, could it be that there was a latent problem in some TIUs that was there but not noticed until this software upgrade?

In other words, maybe the problem is not the software upgrade... but something in the TIU hardware...

quote:

could it be that there was a latent problem in some TIUs that was there but not noticed until this software upgrade? In other words, maybe the problem is not the software upgrade... but something in the TIU hardware...

Nope, that's not the case.

Progress Report

The problem with Rev. G Variable Channel #1 operation has been corrected. MTH, I and other beta testers have verified that the bug, indeed, has been slain.

The problem had to do with debug code in the TIU software that was set to sense if a port line had voltage present at Variable 1. Based on the particular port, this would only occur on Rev. G TIUs.

At this time, MTH is working on correcting a few additional, more obscure issues in 4.0 and expects to have a new release available as early as next week.

Earl, I'd appreciate it if you would change the name of this thread to "TIU Rev. G Variable 1 Issue Corrected in Beta". That should alert most interested parties to review the latest posts.

Thanks!

quote:

The problem had to do with debug code in the TIU software that was set to sense if a port line had voltage present at Variable 1. Based on the particular port, this would only occur on Rev. G TIUs.

What's that mean?

quote:

The problem had to do with debug code in the TIU software... would only occur on Rev. G TIUs What's that mean?

Debug code is that code that is written to permit the programmer to capture and view specific parameters that will provide an insight into a programming issue. TIU code, I am certain like most mulitplatform code, has specific paths of program executing depending upon what hardware the code identifies that it is running on. Depending upon its environment, the code then executes that specific set of unique code for that particular handware.

Barry

Thanks for the update.

Chris

Barry, The Var 1 bug was reported on some Rev 'G' TIUs but not others. Is the reason that only some Rev 'G' TIUs were affected due to the configuration that the TIUs were in when DCS 4.0 was loaded (e.g. Fixed or Variable, etc.) or was the difference due to a hardware difference between Rev 'G' TIUs?

Thanks...
Earl

Earl,

I'm not certain and meant to ask that question, myself. It's possible that there are minor differences in some Rev. G TIUs that made them susceptible to the bug, however, I'm more inclined to think it's a bit of inaccurate reporting.

Generally speaking, when the V1 channel was in variable mode, no power was passed to the output side of the channel. When in fixed mode, however, power was passed but the DCS signal was not present.

I believe that all Rev. G's exhibited some version of the above.

This is good news Barry. Thanks for passing it on. And as I emailed you, what you described is the way mine behaved exactly.

quote:

Originally posted by Barry Broskowitz:
Earl,

I'm not certain and meant to ask that question, myself. It's possible that there are minor differences in some Rev. G TIUs that made them susceptible to the bug, however, I'm more inclined to think it's a bit of inaccurate reporting.

Generally speaking, when the V1 channel was in variable mode, no power was passed to the output side of the channel. When in fixed mode, however, power was passed but the DCS signal was not present.

I believe that all Rev. G's exhibited some version of the above.

Barry,

You stated "I'm more inclined to think it's a bit of inaccurate reporting." You need to find the guy at MTH that you were reporting your Rev 'G'/DCS 4.0 problems to at MTH during the initial Beta testing and punch him right in the nose because he said he could not duplicate your Rev 'G' problems.

Earl

Earl,

quote:

You need to find the guy at MTH that you were reporting your Rev 'G'/DCS 4.0 problems to at MTH during the initial Beta testing and punch him right in the nose

Aren't you the same guy who said not to treat anyone like they were children?

Sometimes you need to get their attention.

This is great news. Since I have my 3rd TIU on order, now I can get it loaded with the latest software before I take it home from the hobby shop! (and get the other TIUs loaded as well).

Chessie, Ron, of Engine House Hobbies, upgrades all of his hardware with the latest software before it goes out the door - unless you want to stay with 3.11.

quote:

Originally posted by winrose46:
Chessie, Ron, of Engine House Hobbies, upgrades all of his hardware with the latest software before it goes out the door - unless you want to stay with 3.11.

Well, since I have the TIU ordered from Engine House Hobbies, that is why I am glad MTH has fixed the problem. I will just have to bring my other TIUs in when I pick up the 3rd one so Ron can upgrade them all together.

I don't mean to seem dumb, but I have 5 TIU's that I have been stockpiling over the years for my retiremnet layout which I am not starting to build. How does one determine which variety (EX G) does one have. Where is this labeled?
Larry S

The version number is on the bottom. If nothing is anotated then you have version G.