PS2 Upgrade questions

rtr12 posted:

Did you see this on the MTH DCS page? Windows Rev L TIU USB Drivers For DCS Loader Program

Some folks have reported having to load this driver when using Windows 10 and I think others have said they did not need to load it as it was already on their PCs. I am not a Windows 10 expert, but this might be worth a try if you are still having trouble? 

Thanks for all the help guys. RTR12, I saw your post last night and I was going to try that next but I tried it again and it worked. I made no changes to the computer whatsoever (although it did some updates on its own) and now it does see the TIU. I have no explanation why I am no longer getting the "NO SERIAL PORTS" message.

Unfortunately, now I am back to the original problem. It gets to 12% and then it hangs up. Every time. I have now tried it 4 times from the laptop. That's a total of 7 times from both computers. I am now thinking that maybe I picked the wrong file to load. I will try another file. Remember this isn't a PS3 upgrade board but a factory PS2 board from about 8-10 years ago.

There's a message that comes up on the MTH website that I never saw before. It says:

"Consumers looking to replace their production Proto-Sound 2.0 sound set with another Proto-Sound 2.0 locomotive sound set may find that the sound set doesn't load properly into the Proto-Sound 2.0 hardware. Should that happen, try searching for the model whose sound set you wish to install into your Proto-Sound 2.0 locomotive with the Proto-Sound 2.0 Upgrade Kit Sound Set."

This is what I thought I did. I picked the upgrade kit sound set.

Well, I tried another file and I got a message that I can't load a 5V in this engine. The first file I tried (the one that always hangs up at 12%) has a _3V at the end. The second file didn't have this so I thought it was okay but I got the 5V message. I then decided to try a Premier file. The file did not have _3V at the end of the file name but I didn't get the 5V message. It went to 62% before it hung up. I decided to try to the desktop again but again with the Premier file it hung up at 12%. Now I went back to the laptop and just like the original file I tried it hung up at 12%. 

This is very frustrating. I don't know what else to do here to get this file loaded. 

What is the best voltage to have going to the Fixed 1 input? 12V? 18V? 

Phil, it's been a while sense I've done an upgrade or for that fact a file swap but when I did I also had some issues with hang ups during the transfer period. I have a TIU on my work bench for doing upgrades and repair work. With a tip from another forum member I fashioned a harness with a banana plug and a pair of alligator clips. I clip one to the center roller frame assembly and the other to the frame or wheel.  Just a thought.

Milwrd

Phil, check the number of the file that says can't load a 5-volt file.  There is a bug that often a 3-volt file will give that message.  I've tried as many as a half-dozen times before it goes through.  Milwrd is giving good advice.  Try it with nothing else power-connected to the TIU.

Try using DC to power the TIU, makes a significant difference.

Here is a thread about using DC power as GRJ suggests above. I saved it some time back. It has a little more information on the how to's of using DC for loading files. I had a lot of questions myself and they were answered in this thread by GRJ, Barry and other knowledgeable folks. They answered all my questions and I think it is good info if you are trying DC for the first time. 

RJR posted:

Phil, check the number of the file that says can't load a 5-volt file.  There is a bug that often a 3-volt file will give that message.  I've tried as many as a half-dozen times before it goes through.  Milwrd is giving good advice.  Try it with nothing else power-connected to the TIU.

This is how I have been doing it. I just have a small piece of track connected to the TIU and nothing else. But thank you very much for the suggestions both RJR and Milwrd.

I am sorry I couldn't post sooner. My life is very hectic right now. What I did was kept experimenting with different voltages. Finally, when I tried 7.5 volts (AC) it worked. The file loaded and everything is fine.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Try using DC to power the TIU, makes a significant difference.

DC!!! Wow!! I would have never thought of that. I feel like Goldie Wilson when Marty McFly suggested to him that he run for Mayor! Thanks I will read the thread referenced above. Great suggestion for the next time.

Thanks again to everyone who responded and helped me out with this project. I really appreciate it.

I've had issues loading sound files, especially with PS/3, using the standard bench transformer.  They go in smooth as butter with DC powering the TIU and locomotive.  My test bench doesn't use an aux power supply, I have done that deliberately.  I power the TIU from Fixed #1 so the DC powers the TIU and the locomotive under test.

Well, at least I am not alone. Thanks John. I will definitely use DC the next time around.