DCS Remote Thumbweel Skiping

I would say, "No."  Not solved.  Condition still encountered.  On some, I get the speed reducing if I increase speed too fast.

Nope not solved...works the same way

Thanks guys!  As I feared.  Bummer. 

I also have a first-generation model.  Not only does it often skip, but it's slippery!   Sometimes when I'm doing a lot of switching, I'll use a rubber thumb cover from an office supply store (the kind you would use to turn pages or count money.)  IMO the ergonomics of the thumbwheel are dreadful.  Hard use of the "push-to-enter" feature can eventually cause the thumbwheel to crack.  And servicing these remotes is a headache best left to experts. 

Several years ago begged Mike Wolf to make a new / redesigned remote, to no avail.  It's also a shame the DCS Commander has a limited feature set and doesn't operate the older Proto-2 locos, because I don't always need walk-around control, and like the tactile feel of that controller MUCH better! 

I think the company's strategy is to encourage users to control their trains from touch screen devices.  If you have PS3 locos, you could also control them with DCC; some of the 3rd party DCC hand-helds have better ergonomics than the DCS remote.

One more thing... on pretty much all of my locos, I set the Accel to "1" and Decel to "2", so even if the remote skips, the train doesn't suddenly speed up or slow down.

IMO, the thumbwheel is the biggest failure of the DCS remote.  They should have spend the extra ten cents and gone with an optical encoder design instead of the discrete contact based design that quickly deteriorates!

Ted S posted:

 It's also a shame the DCS Commander has a limited feature set and doesn't operate the older Proto-2 locos, because I don't always need walk-around control, and like the tactile feel of that controller MUCH better!

The DCS Commander works with ALL PS2 & PS3 locomotives. The engine will need to be factory reset in order to have the proper DCS ID to operate with a DCS Remote Commander.

EDIT: I meant to say the DCS Remote Commander

noswad posted:

should I expect a brand new one to still have this issue.

I have a brand new one and it has that issue. 

gunrunnerjohn posted:

IMO, the thumbwheel is the biggest failure of the DCS remote.  They should have spend the extra ten cents and gone with an optical encoder design instead of the discrete contact based design that quickly deteriorates!

I have 3 DCS remotes. Only one, had the thumbwheel in need of replacing. It was my first and well over 10 years old (15?). The other still two work perfectly.

I think heavy thumb pressing can accelerate their demise. Our grandkids have played with mine since they were old enough to run the trains. So I know that they have had some good use and still work well. I think the design of the wheel housing is a weak spot.

 My girl presses our remotes upstairs so hard, I could hear the plastic stressing. After wearing out a few remotes and telephones, I tried to coach her on not pressing so hard. I think some users get confused when a remote takes longer to do it's job? So they press harder to get a reaction.

You really should try the wifi app.... works lots better - no error messages; no engine not found.... fabulous, really.... 

MikeH posted:

noswad posted:

should I expect a brand new one to still have this issue.

I have a brand new one and it has that issue. 

same

Same with mine.  You got to go slow.  Just don't drop these remotes.  The wheels break easily.

I've noticed on 2 of my remotes that if I move the thumbwheel slightly between clicks the smph increases or decreases. I find myself constantly grabbing a remote over smart device as I know where all the buttons are without looking at the thing...and it's easier to drink a highball or a beer with remote in one hand and drink in other! 

Engineer-Joe posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

IMO, the thumbwheel is the biggest failure of the DCS remote.  They should have spend the extra ten cents and gone with an optical encoder design instead of the discrete contact based design that quickly deteriorates!

I have 3 DCS remotes. Only one, had the thumbwheel in need of replacing. It was my first and well over 10 years old (15?). The other still two work perfectly.

I think heavy thumb pressing can accelerate their demise. Our grandkids have played with mine since they were old enough to run the trains. So I know that they have had some good use and still work well. I think the design of the wheel housing is a weak spot.

 My girl presses our remotes upstairs so hard, I could hear the plastic stressing. After wearing out a few remotes and telephones, I tried to coach her on not pressing so hard. I think some users get confused when a remote takes longer to do it's job? So they press harder to get a reaction.

I'm not talking about breaking the thumbwheel supports, I'm talking about the encoding contacts on the thumbwheel.  An optical encoder would allow smooth control, not the up and down random jumping of the speed that the DCS remote does.  I have four of them, and all but one have lousy thumbwheel control.  Contact cleaner fixes them temporarily, but they quickly develop bad habits again.

I concur with GRJ.....optical is they way to go!! I use Lionel's TMCC with remote to control my Smoke Fluid Loader (the DCS Remote was just NOT cutting it with this accessory) and it works "slicker than snot" . GRJ even confirmed that the Lionel remote's red dial is optically controlled (this was in a OGRR Forum post quite a while ago regarding getting my Smoke Fluid Loader to work).

And when I add engines to DCS, I have to push the DCS remote's thumb wheel at an angle to get the remote to accept a letter. Pressing the thumb wheel straight down does not work for me/my remote.

Just my 2 cents......

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Engineer-Joe posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

IMO, the thumbwheel is the biggest failure of the DCS remote.  They should have spend the extra ten cents and gone with an optical encoder design instead of the discrete contact based design that quickly deteriorates!

I have 3 DCS remotes. Only one, had the thumbwheel in need of replacing. It was my first and well over 10 years old (15?). The other still two work perfectly.

I think heavy thumb pressing can accelerate their demise. Our grandkids have played with mine since they were old enough to run the trains. So I know that they have had some good use and still work well. I think the design of the wheel housing is a weak spot.

 My girl presses our remotes upstairs so hard, I could hear the plastic stressing. After wearing out a few remotes and telephones, I tried to coach her on not pressing so hard. I think some users get confused when a remote takes longer to do it's job? So they press harder to get a reaction.

I'm not talking about breaking the thumbwheel supports, I'm talking about the encoding contacts on the thumbwheel.  An optical encoder would allow smooth control, not the up and down random jumping of the speed that the DCS remote does.  I have four of them, and all but one have lousy thumbwheel control.  Contact cleaner fixes them temporarily, but they quickly develop bad habits again.

I understood what you were saying. My thumbwheels work fine in that regard. I have never had to clean them. Maybe you should swap yours out? Were they bought used? Well, even my used remote works perfectly.  The one wheel that wore out did start to skip. I do know what you're describing here.

 The very post above this talks about pushing at an angle so I figured that's where this complaining would lead to. 

Junior posted:

I concur with GRJ.....optical is they way to go!! I use Lionel's TMCC with remote to control my Smoke Fluid Loader (the DCS Remote was just NOT cutting it with this accessory) and it works "slicker than snot" . GRJ even confirmed that the Lionel remote's red dial is optically controlled (this was in a OGRR Forum post quite a while ago regarding getting my Smoke Fluid Loader to work).

And when I add engines to DCS, I have to push the DCS remote's thumb wheel at an angle to get the remote to accept a letter. Pressing the thumb wheel straight down does not work for me/my remote.

Just my 2 cents......

I get a kick out of comparing with the big red knob on the TMCC remote control. Mine works but it's worse than my DCS versions. Maybe it's just the older TMCC engines I run?  The knob wonders all over before the engines react and then they usually over react to speed commands.

"You really should try the wifi app.... works lots better - no error messages; no engine not found.... fabulous, really.... "

The wifi is like boiled beef tongue.  You either like it or not.

Hey RJR....

Boiled beef tongue.....really? There's an image I won't soon forget! 😁  

Junior posted:

Hey RJR....

Boiled beef tongue.....really? There's an image I won't soon forget! 😁  

How about "Headcheese"!!