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I have noticed I have some ps2 3 volt steam engines that I have upgraded to bcr's and wait for the bcr to charge a minute or even longer and they startup just fine but sometimes the volume comes on low but the second startup is just fine so I don't worry about it never had any issues other then that !

works great I installed one in A mth challenger great running engine

 

Alan

The reason I ask is because 3 of the 4 PS3.0 engines I own will come up in conventional mode after about 20-30 seconds upon powering up on FXD channels - thus even though they should be seeing the DCS signal they're defaulting to conventional after 20-30 seconds. To avoid this, I have been addressing with remote before that happens ~ within 10 seconds. (all three that come up in conventional mode were purchased this year so they're probably the latest from MTH, fwiw, the only one that doesn't was purchased last year). I am running on FXD channels to mainlines, version 4.3.

I am guessing I'll have to live with this once my yard is finished, but since my yard tracks will be toggled I guess its not a big deal.

Could it be my TIU's are ready for the retirement home? I think I bought them 2004 to 2005.

Last edited by Paul Kallus

John,

That signal is output when a channel of the TIU is first powered, and it last around 7-8 seconds

Just to be clear...

The watchdog signal issued every time that the voltage at the output of a TIU channel changes from 0 to any other value, and it is present for 5 seconds effective with DCS 4.0 or later.

Prior to DCS 4.0 it was only present for 1/2 second.


DCS Book CoverThis and a whole lot more is all in “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!"

This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at OGR’s web store!

Out of curiosity, is there a technical reason, with DCS's two way communication being a major bullet point of the system, that DCS engines couldn't be programed to send out a "I'm here!" signal when they are powered on.  The TIU could then be watching for this signal and if received send out a watchdog signal?  

In other words, assuming an update to the TIU software, to provide for this capability, and an update to the software running on newly produced engines to provide for the "I'm here" signal, would the system allow for this without a redesign?  

JGL

Barry and John, I think the watchdog signal is there and A-Okay - since the PS2.0 engines are staying quiet until addressed.

Gregg - all my engines (PS2.0 and PS3.0) come up in conventional on the VAR channels set to Fixed. Its these latest PS3.0 engines coming up pre-maturely on both FXD channels that is puzzling. Does anyone have MTH's latest batch of PS3.0 steamers to try out to verify?

Last edited by Paul Kallus
Barry Broskowitz posted:

John,

That signal is output when a channel of the TIU is first powered, and it last around 7-8 seconds

Just to be clear...

The watchdog signal issued every time that the voltage at the output of a TIU channel changes from 0 to any other value, and it is present for 5 seconds effective with DCS 4.0 or later.

Prior to DCS 4.0 it was only present for 1/2 second.


DCS Book CoverThis and a whole lot more is all in “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!"

This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at OGR’s web store!

Barry,

 

I recently had a conversation with Jason,and he said the watchdog signal is only present less than a second.  Was he mistaken?

Dave

 

Dave,

I recently had a conversation with Jason, and he said the watchdog signal is only present less than a second.  Was he mistaken?

I communicated with Jason a little while ago and it turns out that we were both mistaken, and that the issuing of the watchdog signal is a little more complicated than one might suspect.

The watchdog signal is a command that is sent repeatedly when a channel output goes from zero to some other voltage, until one of the following occurs:

  • 44 seconds elapses (this may have been stated to you by Jason as 1/2 a minute or less than 1/2 a minute). Note that this duration is subject to change in future DCS release if the number of data packets in the command changes the time required to send the command there requisite number of times.
  • Another command, such as Startup, is issued on that channel.

The way I intend to state the duration of the watchdog signal going forward is:

"The watchdog signal persists for the lesser of 44 seconds or until a command is issued on that TIU channel."

That pretty much sums it up.  

 

Last edited by Barry Broskowitz
Barry Broskowitz posted:

Dave,

I recently had a conversation with Jason, and he said the watchdog signal is only present less than a second.  Was he mistaken?

I communicated with Jason a little while ago and it turns out that we were both mistaken, and that the issuing of the watchdog signal is a little more complicated than one might suspect.

The watchdog signal is a command that is sent repeatedly when a channel output goes from zero to some other voltage, until one of the following occurs:

  • 44 seconds elapses (this may have been stated to you by Jason as 1/2 a minute or less than 1/2 a minute). Note that this duration is subject to change in future DCS release if the number of dat packets in the command changes the time required to send the command there requisite number of times.
  • Another command, such as Startup, is issued on that channel.

The way I intend to state the duration of the watchdog signal going forward is:

"The watchdog signal persists for the lessor of 44 seconds or until a command is issued on that TIU channel."

That pretty much sums it up.  

 

Huh?   Now I'm really confused.  If that's the case(44 seconds) why are engines starting in conventional . No commands are given.

Gregg,

If that's the case(44 seconds) why are engines starting in conventional . No commands are given.

They shouldn't. Obviously, something in Bob's layout, TIU and/or engines isn't quite right. Regardless, there's nothing "confusing" about this at all.

5 seconds is an eternity in terms of the speed of electronic components. For the purposes of the watchdog signal, the difference between 5 seconds and 44 seconds is of no consequence.

Last edited by Barry Broskowitz
Barry Broskowitz posted:

Dave,

I recently had a conversation with Jason, and he said the watchdog signal is only present less than a second.  Was he mistaken?

I communicated with Jason a little while ago and it turns out that we were both mistaken, and that the issuing of the watchdog signal is a little more complicated than one might suspect.

The watchdog signal is a command that is sent repeatedly when a channel output goes from zero to some other voltage, until one of the following occurs:

  • 44 seconds elapses (this may have been stated to you by Jason as 1/2 a minute or less than 1/2 a minute). Note that this duration is subject to change in future DCS release if the number of data packets in the command changes the time required to send the command there requisite number of times.
  • Another command, such as Startup, is issued on that channel.

The way I intend to state the duration of the watchdog signal going forward is:

"The watchdog signal persists for the lesser of 44 seconds or until a command is issued on that TIU channel."

That pretty much sums it up.  

 

I was just getting ready to post this question..had some pre draft text ready.  The DCS knowledge on this forum is incredible

I can hear the data  packets   (watch dog) going out on my AM radio when plugged into the same wall outlet as a spare tiu   (using an aux power supply)

I'm guessing 3 seconds max on fixed 1 when the voltage  is raised above 0 ,  Pretty much  the same as it  has been . I suppose it doesn't really matter how long if everything is working as it should.   I'm still a little concerned about Proto-3 missing the WS.( some do some don't).

Gregg posted:

Has anyone actually charged up a proto-3 and then shut  down the layout. Immediately power up again. Does  the engine that misses the WD the first time   miss it a second time? 

Yes to above. TIU on >DCS remote on>eng all and start. Occasionally 1 of my PS3 engines in a 5 engine MU will miss the "wd". Repeat my previous procedure immediately and all good. I am a violator of dirty track though.

Gregg posted:

Has anyone actually charged up a proto-3 and then shut  down the layout. Immediately power up again. Does  the engine that misses the WD the first time   miss it a second time? 

yup all the time on one ps3 engine but did noticed that if I run for long time say hour and shut down. Then it seems to start up just fine.

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