As you can hopefully tell by the title, this post is for O gauge train buffs who utilize the Mike's Train House Digital Command System via the WIFI box rather than the old school hand-held 70's television remote. As you painfully read my post, you will discover that though I use this form of train operation, and I would not trade it for anything else.......ok voice activated that actually works, I do have my questions and reservations concerning its design. I'm hoping that someone will read this, and instead of wanting to hang me from a crossing gate, like most of my former train buffs in that other forum, at least one of you will see that I am just trying to voice my opinion, operative word in that sentence was "opinion", of DCS as I know it to be today, my opinion of MTH' lack of vision, at least as I see it, regarding upgrades and repairs, it's hell when your boss retires and no one seems to want you to join their team, and you get parsed out to other companies, and finally, what's all this I have read recently about the new WIFI/AIU box not working well with the existing APP?
I was introduced to DCS in 2017. I kept up with it for five years. I sent MTH question after question using their "CONTACT US" feature on the website, which really should have been titled, "CONTACT US....JUST KIDDING". They did post their phone number. Bad idea. I own a phone and know how to use one. I talked to several people, all of whom were very nice, very informative, and my last contact by phone was with one of the big three that invented DCS. I learned many things about how it was designed and after a few more years learned, especially after Mike retired, they weren't going to do much with it that wasn't already done by the time the company was a former shell of itself. Railking and DCS stayed put, while parts and premier scale went to different ways.
Since reconnecting with my layout, I have become intrigued by how things are going in the model train world. One, Ebay has become a place for sellers or rolling stock to become millionaires over night. Especially if they have a car that is "rare". A car I already own is being sold by 8 different people for everywhere from 9 bucks to 40 bucks. The other thing I discovered is that MTH has supposedly posted on the APP stores an update to the DCS APP. I though, ok. Let's take a look. Then I read some reviews. "Downloaded the app, fired up the system, app won't talk to the WIFI/TIU box". At least three reviews said this in various ways. Do any of you run your trains using this method? If so, did you have any issues with the app and the new combo box communicating once you tried to run the trains? Curious to know.
Finally. Unless I'm way behind the times, this combo box system is the last upgrade to DCS I am aware of. I kept my current system because the TIU I have works just fine with the WIFI box I already have and the app I already have. Why change? Spend more money to eliminate one piece of equipment the size of a cell phone. I like spending lots of money to gain nothing. You'd think a forward thinking company would have found a less 70's way to connect the TIU and the AIU boxes. But, again, it works. Ain't broke, don't fix. Share your thoughts, I've always wanted to have an adult conversation with someone about the DCS system. One that the last sentence in the reply is not "is that adult enough for you". Come on, let me know how you like it, or how much you don't. I promise, I won't ambush you. I use the product, I didn't create it.
I was introduced to DCS in 2017. I kept up with it for five years. I sent MTH question after question using their "CONTACT US" feature on the website, which really should have been titled, "CONTACT US....JUST KIDDING". They did post their phone number. Bad idea. I own a phone and know how to use one. I talked to several people, all of whom were very nice, very informative, and my last contact by phone was with one of the big three that invented DCS. I learned many things about how it was designed and after a few more years learned, especially after Mike retired, they weren't going to do much with it that wasn't already done by the time the company was a former shell of itself. Railking and DCS stayed put, while parts and premier scale went to different ways.
Since reconnecting with my layout, I have become intrigued by how things are going in the model train world. One, Ebay has become a place for sellers or rolling stock to become millionaires over night. Especially if they have a car that is "rare". A car I already own is being sold by 8 different people for everywhere from 9 bucks to 40 bucks. The other thing I discovered is that MTH has supposedly posted on the APP stores an update to the DCS APP. I though, ok. Let's take a look. Then I read some reviews. "Downloaded the app, fired up the system, app won't talk to the WIFI/TIU box". At least three reviews said this in various ways. Do any of you run your trains using this method? If so, did you have any issues with the app and the new combo box communicating once you tried to run the trains? Curious to know.
Finally. Unless I'm way behind the times, this combo box system is the last upgrade to DCS I am aware of. I kept my current system because the TIU I have works just fine with the WIFI box I already have and the app I already have. Why change? Spend more money to eliminate one piece of equipment the size of a cell phone. I like spending lots of money to gain nothing. You'd think a forward thinking company would have found a less 70's way to connect the TIU and the AIU boxes. But, again, it works. Ain't broke, don't fix. Share your thoughts, I've always wanted to have an adult conversation with someone about the DCS system. One that the last sentence in the reply is not "is that adult enough for you". Come on, let me know how you like it, or how much you don't. I promise, I won't ambush you. I use the product, I didn't create it.
