Please believe me when I tell you, I'm not trying to correct you. You mentioned DCS is Lionel specific. Lionel uses a form of DCS, actually, it is their system, I think I'm right on this, Mike and his crew (MTH) "borrowed" from Lionel. Lionel calls theirs Legacy. MTH just calls theirs DCS which as you are aware stands for Digital Command System. But when you look at how each is designed, Legacy does have some differentials in the command box and how accessories work. But, MTH let's all comers play with its DCS system. That way if you are like me, green and didn't know, you won't go out and buy a really cool Lionel locomotive you really like, then decide to use DCS only to find out Lionel trains won't work unless you use an L base command box that in my opinion doesn't really let you enjoy the Lionel engines the same way Legacy would. In any case, I shelved the Lionel Locomotives and only use MTH. Mainly because they are fully developed to work with DCS control, and.......Lionel's cost a lot.
Help me get started
- Thread starter Redrider
- Start date
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steelwheels
Well-Known Member
Not thinking that at all, the main point is/was not any real difference DCS & DCC think android/iphone..
Had a request to show off my train room. Since that's not possible due to room size and camera capability, this is the best I can do. I know my long winded self has gone over how it's laid out, but hopefully this photo will help you visualize what I was trying to tell you.
That rectangular white vision blocker directly in front of you is one of he four support columns that holds up the garage floor/train room ceiling. As you can tell I am M*A*S*H fan. (Swamp sign). If you read my recent reply to STEELWHEELS, again not being a jerk, just trying to help, there is one of the two Lionel ES44AC engines I bought. I like their version better. It's more realistically designed. Directly above the locomotive on the column you well see some of my grandson's Lionchief Mikado I bought right after I saw a YouTube video about it. If you look to the back on the left you'll see the toy box my maternal grandfather made for me. Ironic it was a caboose design. Works great as a conversation piece. If you look at the track layout you can see how the ovals go from close to the wall to an inner 3rd oval where the parking tracks are switch off of it down the middle of the room. There is no way I could put this monster on a bench. You can't see the advertising going on, but you can see each car is a different color. Look left and down and you'll see one of the loading docks I built. Look toward the ceiling on each side and you can barely make out the bridges I build on my grandson's track. For show only of course. One is a covered bridge and the other is modeled after the bridge in Frankfort that crosses the Kentucky River. You can see the cabinet in the back of the room where all of the DCS stuff is set up. Look far left toward the wall and you will, especially if you enlarge the photo, how I ran the wiring from the track pieces to the cabinet and ultimately up to the Track Interface box. Shout out to my grandson, if you look at the aforementioned loading dock you can barely make out a small blue item. That's his contribution to the layout. It's a lego forklift parked in front of one of many Mountain Dew cars I have. Look at the top shelf on the cabinet in the back and you'll see several old style Mountain Dew bottles I have collected. Enjoy. I'll be glad to answer any questions.
John
That rectangular white vision blocker directly in front of you is one of he four support columns that holds up the garage floor/train room ceiling. As you can tell I am M*A*S*H fan. (Swamp sign). If you read my recent reply to STEELWHEELS, again not being a jerk, just trying to help, there is one of the two Lionel ES44AC engines I bought. I like their version better. It's more realistically designed. Directly above the locomotive on the column you well see some of my grandson's Lionchief Mikado I bought right after I saw a YouTube video about it. If you look to the back on the left you'll see the toy box my maternal grandfather made for me. Ironic it was a caboose design. Works great as a conversation piece. If you look at the track layout you can see how the ovals go from close to the wall to an inner 3rd oval where the parking tracks are switch off of it down the middle of the room. There is no way I could put this monster on a bench. You can't see the advertising going on, but you can see each car is a different color. Look left and down and you'll see one of the loading docks I built. Look toward the ceiling on each side and you can barely make out the bridges I build on my grandson's track. For show only of course. One is a covered bridge and the other is modeled after the bridge in Frankfort that crosses the Kentucky River. You can see the cabinet in the back of the room where all of the DCS stuff is set up. Look far left toward the wall and you will, especially if you enlarge the photo, how I ran the wiring from the track pieces to the cabinet and ultimately up to the Track Interface box. Shout out to my grandson, if you look at the aforementioned loading dock you can barely make out a small blue item. That's his contribution to the layout. It's a lego forklift parked in front of one of many Mountain Dew cars I have. Look at the top shelf on the cabinet in the back and you'll see several old style Mountain Dew bottles I have collected. Enjoy. I'll be glad to answer any questions.
John
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That's actually a perfect example. I did however, thanks to the wife, get to watch some DVD's that were geared toward HO layouts, and one of them talked about DCC and the rather large number of devices you needed to get your train running remote. DCS uses a Track Interface box, and Accessory Interface box, and if you run WIFI, a WIU or WIFI box that allows your tablet to find the signal and via an app interface with the TIU and AIU on a much nicer digital screen versus the television remote it started with. Lionel Legacy, especially since Fastrack is a Lionel product, allows you to use special switch tracks you can program into your remote by pushing a small black button and waiting for the lamp to stop blinking. No wires. If only. MTH lets you use those same switches, but you have to program them into the app based on the AIU location you wired the switch too. Since Mike Wolf retired, I haven't seen much if any upgrades to DCS other then the TIU is now a TIU/WIU combo. As for app upgrades, or fixes to problems, it's as if MTH being parsed out to other fathers, has led to "if it works, leave it alone" business model. Then again I haven't been in the loop for several years now, and my system still works fine so I don't get as investigative as I once did. So, if anyone out there knows of any new MTH DCS changes or upgrades, minus the TIU/WIU marriage, I'd really like to hear from you. Upgrades since they were bought and Mike retired. To DCS, not engines or track or accessories. I already know ATLAS got their premier line. I bought one. And if it weren't for autocorrect I'd never be able spell premier. Except just then.
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