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DCS and Legacy are driving me crazy. Worked hard to get DCS signal up to 5 to 9 and my MTH engines run fine. But as soon as I hook up the Legacy black wire of death MTH goes wonky. The Lionel stuff works but not the MTH. WHY?
No offense but if you are not running DCS and Legacy yourself please do not respond. TMCC/Cab1 and Legacy are two different animals.
Gee...DCS not working with another system...go figure...
We have the same problem in HO. Limited use of available functions on MTH products if you are using DCC. Have spoken with some O gaugers who are frustrated that DCS is not compatible with Lionel's system. Have never heard of mixing system equipment which sounds like what you are attempting. Good luck with that! MTH does not seem terribly interested in making their gear more compatible with other systems. They call DCC users "fringe hobbyists". Until they become more interested in what the rest of the hobby is doing (don't hold your breath) this will likely remain an issue for both scales.
Have you tried calling MTH? Their DCS tech support helped me every time I had a problem. The Legacy system doesn't connect any differently than the TMCC system to the track. The May 2008 issue of CTT talks a little about DCS and Legacy, saying they were able to run both systems at the same time, on the same track with 1 transformer. It also states that the Legacy base has to be run individually from a TMCC/DCS joint hook up.
Well you can connect the TMCC base to the DCS base and run that as 1 system. You can run either TMCC and/or DCS with those two connected together.
The Legacy does not connect to the DCS system. It has to be run individually. So you can get away with using one transformer to power your layout, but the Legacy has to be connected seperatley using it's own base and the TMCC/DCS combo is connected using their bases and the connection cable.
CTT also shows a simple way of running the 2 systems on a layout with a toggle switch to select either the DCS or the Legacy system. With that option, you can only use the locos of the system you selected by the toggle.
Not sure why any one would do it that way if they will work at the same time allowing use of any and all locos.
No doubt about it though .... DCS is a pain in the ass until you learn the ins and outs.
The Legacy does not connect to the DCS system. It has to be run individually. So you can get away with using one transformer to power your layout, but the Legacy has to be connected seperatley using it's own base and the TMCC/DCS combo is connected using their bases and the connection cable.
I am not running a TMCC/Cab1. Just Legacy and DCS. I have read the info on the cable connection and it is only needed if you want to run Lionel with MTH controller or visa Versa, I do not want to do that.
So why when I connect the Legacy to the track does the MTH RF signal drop right out. I get "check track" and "out of RF range" or only 1 or 2 as a reading?
So you have both systems wired seperately to the track?
or
Are you using a distribution block instead of bus wires and feeders like MTH suggests?
My track is wired directly to a distribution block and my DCS is connected to that as well.....not the track itself.
Also I have to mention when i talked to MTH in the past about some trouble I was having with power and signal strength, they told me to get rid of my new ZW and use the brick only. I was using a ZW with 2 180 bricks and had a lot of problems with the signal dropping out. I ended up getting rid of the ZW and now only use 1 180watt brick.
MTH star pattern from the TIU fixed 1 to a distribution block with an 18V bulb.
Legacy hooked to TIU fixed 1 output, I have tried hooking it to the block and directly to the track. No difference.
My next test is to eliminate the ZW and just use the 180 W brick. Bought the connectors need to wire it up now. May not be until after Santa's visit now.
no solution I can see.
