DCS Remote Commander - does not seem to work

I have the same problem.  I have also been meaning to ask about this.  I bought a DCS Remote Commander about 6 months ago and could not get it to work.  Tried on two PS2 engines with no luck.  The engines work fine in conventional with the old infrared remote (including sounds and couplers) using the button tapping sequences.  I checked the track voltage with the Remote Commander set up and it seems to be good. I was using a Z750 transformer and of course with the Lock-on that came with the Remote Commander.  The engines just sit there and will not do anything.  I put it away and forgot about it.  Probably something I am doing wrong.

Ted,

You said it has been reset to the factory setting, but do you have the full DCS system along with the DCS Commander?  That is the only way to do the reset, I believe.  (I just reread though that you have the Commander and not the Remote Commander).

R. Hales,
See the comment to Ted.

Hope I'm being helpful.

I have only tried a conventional reset.  I don't currently have a full DCS setup.  One of the two engines I tried the Remote Commander on has never been run in full DCS by me and was bought new.  Do I need to get a full DCS reset before the Remote Commander will work?    And if so, what actions dictate when a DCS reset is required?

Thanks Mike!

I'm not sure why the one you bought new wouldn't work, unless someone was testing it somewhere on the full DCS system and did not reset it before sending.  If you bought one used, that would most likely be the case.  I ran into this a few years back and here is the thread.

PS2 Not Responding to DCS Commander

Bob,

In order to operate a PS2 or PS3 engine with the DCS Remote Commander, the engine must be either factory-fresh or be reset to factory settings. There are 4 ways to do this and a conventional reset is not one of them:

• Use a DCS TIU and DCS Remote to Factory Reset the engine.
• Use a DCS TIU, DCS WIU and DCS Application to Factory Reset the engine.
• Use a DCS Commander (not the DCS Remote Commander) to Factory Reset the engine.
• Use the DCS Commander itself to Factory Reset a late model PS3 engine only by following the instructions on page 204 of The DCS Companion 3rd Edition:

Newer PS3 engines, manufactured starting in 2014, may have the capability to perform a Factory Reset through a combination of button presses (SND, DIR, -). This is made possible by revised firmware in newer (2014) PS3 engines.

Not4e that if thee engine is factory reset and then re-added to a DCS Remote, DCS Application or DCS Commander, it will not work with the DCS Remote Commander until it is Factory Reset once again.

This and a whole lot more about DCS is all in MTH’s “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 MTH's web store!

Thanks Mike and Barry.  OK, I am sure now that I need a DCS reset.  The one engine I bought new, a VO1000, was ordered from MTH through a local train hobby shop (Meisel Hobbies and unfortunately is long gone)  and I asked them to test it before I took it home.  While I don't remember for sure, it was probably tested on their DCS system.

One question I still have though, what dictates when a DCS reset is required?  Will it continue to be OK with the Remote Commander as long as I don't add it to a DCS Remote?  If I get the Remote Commander set working, I will probably never run in conventional again.  But what if I did?

Thanks again!

thanks - i used my DCS/TIU to factory reset the engine - when i put it on the track that the DCS remote commander is wired to - i have voltage, the engine sits there no sound - i press startup and nothing happened - the light on the DCS Remote Commander is green and goes out when i press any of the hand held remote - i have checked and there is 18-19 volts on the track?  is the too much for the DCS Remote Commander?

Bob,

Will it continue to be OK with the Remote Commander as long as I don't add it to a DCS Remote?

Yes. it should.

Ted,

Is this a PS2 engine? If so, it sounds as if the reset didn't "stick", most likely due to a weak battery in the engine.

Charge the battery until the engine makes startup sounds for 6 seconds or more after track power is turned off. Then, do another factory reset from the DCS Remote and try the DCS Remote Commander again.

Thanks Barry!

Great news - i successfully got my DCS Remote Commander to work!  I tried again to do a Factory reset - my DCS handheld showed on the "reset engine" screen - two lines - both saying "reset to factory settings" - i had clicked on the top one at first - but that did not work - so this time i clicked on the second line - hit select and got a message that the engine had been reset - i waiting 30-40 seconds and then tried it on my test track and the remote DCS Commander worked fine - don't know why there were the two lines on the DCS Screen both saying the same thing - anyway - the help and directions were great - appreciate the responses.

Ted,

don't know why there were the two lines on the DCS Screen both saying the same thing

That's because they aren't the same, rather, they're different.

One is a Feature Reset which wouldn't help your situation. The other is a Factory Reset, which, as expected, resolved your problem.

This and a whole lot more about DCS is all in MTH’s “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 MTH's web store!

thank you - bad eyes !