DCS control system......I need an EXPERT

Phil...why didn't you post this on the MTH DCS forum?  We moved it there...

My mistake.  Thanks a lot.

How many engines are on the track when your trying to add or communicate with your engine?

Typically 4 - 6.

I strongly recommend that when you are about to add an engine, you have no other locos on POWERED tracks.  You might consider using the MTH loader cloning/backup/restore feature to assure that all of your remotes have identical content.  I recommend always using a specific remote to add engines, and then cloning it with the others.  I do that, so all 4 active remotes are identical, with no engines having different IDs in different remotes.

What RJR said plus no lighted rolling stock or caboose, nothing that picks up power!     (1)  Locomotive only.

The poster also mentioned he couldn’t add a TMCC engine. Other than adding it to the wrong TIU that doesn’t have the TMCC cable. Not much can go wrong. The layout doesn’t even need to be powered.

@Dave_C posted:

The poster also mentioned he couldn’t add a TMCC engine. Other than adding it to the wrong TIU that doesn’t have the TMCC cable. Not much can go wrong. The layout doesn’t even need to be powered.

I'm wondering if there is noise on the power source messing up the signal.  But I wouldn't think this would apply to each block.  And, I'm assuming, the blocks are isolated.

I have 16 blocks;  each powered by a 180w Lionel Brick.  I sometimes even have trouble when only the single, relevant  block is powered.  Also, the various 'error' messages vary from day-to-day;  OUT OF RF RANGE,  ENGINE NOT ON TRACK,  even NO ENGINE TO ADD....all being spurious.

I read your words as saying that each block has its own PH180, but I'll assume you mean a single PH180powers all 16.  That is not a problem IF you can turn off 15 blocks.  If not, you have to either remove everything from the layout or set up a separate programming track.  I'll wager that if you have multiple remotes, some locos have different IDs in each.

what are your signal levels on the engines should be all 10"s? or close to that i would check each tiu and check signals with remote!

Alan

to Dave C:  Yes;  you're right.  I do NOT have trouble adding TMCC engines.  Thx.

to RJR:  I have 16 blocks AND 16 180w bricks....1 brick for each block.

By new engines. Are they Proto 2’s being added or new Proto 3’s ?  Proto 2’s will add with a dead battery. As long as power remains on they will run. If you are adding them. Then shut down power to layout. They will come up as Engine Not on Track. They need a good charge to retain their memory.

That’s a lot of power and TIU’s. Any way to simplify the layout into just one block. So your only dealing with a small area. Sort of a large programming track. It could be a starting point for signal strength and sorting out your engines and remotes.

I wouldn't accept David's advice to buy new engines.  PS2 was far more reliable than PS3, in my view, and none of my 20 or so PS2 engines have batteries.  I have refitted all with supercapacitors.  I also would not unblock the layout.  Good electrical distribution demands multiple feeds to track and DCs is not tolerant of multiple feeds to the same block, I am told.  5 TIUs, feeding 20 signals into the same block, is an invitation to a system collapse.  Do note that when you start a PS3 engine after it has been shut down awhile, the capacitor is dead.  So after assigning an ID, let the engine stay powered for a minute or so to assure it has the power to save the changes.

One idea would be to reset a remote, wiping it out.  Then put one engine on a programming track and try to add it.  When you have done so, the system will indicate the ID of that loco.  Write it down.  Reset the remote.  Go the the next engine.  Then you'll have a written list of all engine IDs, and will spot any duplicates.

Then take a reset remote, and start adding engines, correcting any duplicates.  When you go to add the first engine, the remote should give you a list of all open slots.  When all are added and you have the softkeys set for each loco, save to computer and clone another remote.

By new engines. Meant. New to the layout. Looking back. I could have left that sentence out.

I agree. A layout this large needs to be blocked. My suggestion was just to not power up 15 of the 16 blocks. Just leave one powered up for testing only. A programming track would work. I just figured he already has one in place.

From what I gather from the original post. It all worked good enough at one time and some engines have no issues other than what seems to be a bad track signal in spots. I think you have to get one good working engine with a perfect 10 in one block. Then proceed and test each one. Tweak as needed. Rule out the layout and then proceed to the engines.

I agree with your second paragraph.  I have 70 blocks on 6 channel.  I leave only block powered up, with nothing but the new engine

Alan:  I'll make some signal strength measurements tomorrow....at 10 smph.

I did some SIGNAL STRENGTH tests:  Royal Hudson 2860 @10 smph.  Results,  covering about 1 lap....~150 ft of track:  1,2, OUT OF RF RANGE,1,10,OORFR,10,OOR,10,OOR,1,OOR,3,4,OOR,2,10,10,OOR,9,OOR,1,OOR,1,OOR,4,10,9,10,9,10,9,OOR,10,OOR,9.OOR,10,1,OOR,1,10,OOR,10,10,OOR,10,10,OOR,10,1,OOR,1,OOR,`,10,1,10,OOR,10.. STOP TEST.

CONCLUSIONS? Well,  except for many OUT OF RF RANGE reports,  and the 'jumps' from GOOD to POOR, I have NO IDEA what to conclude!