Skip to main content

As noted on the title I cannot get the WiFi light on the WIU to come on. Hooked it up according to the Directions but I get nothing else. LAN light stays on and WiFi light is out. I have WiFi in my house and still nothing. MTH WiFi channel does not appear on the drop down list in settings. Anyone have any ideas. Just another note the TIU has been updated by MTH to support the WiFi system.

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

poconotrain,

Since there is no ethernet cable attached it sounds like the WIU is not getting past POST (Power On Self Test).  On my unit when powering up I get:



1. Green Power LED on.
2. Blue LAN LED on as it checks for a physical network connection, then off.
3. Blinking White WPS LED on, then off.
4. Blue WiFi LED on, then off.
5. White WPS LED flashes once, and the Blue WiFi LED comes on then flashes intermittently indicating WiFi traffic.
6. Usually somewhere between no.3 & no.5 the Pink TIU LED comes on.

So I'm wondering if POST is failing half way through No. 2 leaving the Blue LAN LED on.  The only thing I can think to check (and unlikely) would be to inspect the fingers inside the ENET jack to look for a short.  My next call would be to MTH Support.  Or perhaps someone with greater WIU knowledge on the forum will chime in.

Hope this helps at least a little bit.

Barry

@barnun posted:

poconotrain,

Since there is no ethernet cable attached it sounds like the WIU is not getting past POST (Power On Self Test).  On my unit when powering up I get:



1. Green Power LED on.
2. Blue LAN LED on as it checks for a physical network connection, then off.
3. Blinking White WPS LED on, then off.
4. Blue WiFi LED on, then off.
5. White WPS LED flashes once, and the Blue WiFi LED comes on then flashes intermittently indicating WiFi traffic.
6. Usually somewhere between no.3 & no.5 the Pink TIU LED comes on.

So I'm wondering if POST is failing half way through No. 2 leaving the Blue LAN LED on.  The only thing I can think to check (and unlikely) would be to inspect the fingers inside the ENET jack to look for a short.  My next call would be to MTH Support.  Or perhaps someone with greater WIU knowledge on the forum will chime in.

Hope this helps at least a little bit.

Barry

That’s a good lot of info. I have a friend that has the system coming over. From what you gave me sounds like something in the Unit itself.
Thanks

@barnun posted:

poconotrain,
Had one additional thought in a 'just for giggles' vein ....
Unplug the TIU cable and test. That would eliminate that cable and the TIU.
Barry

I think that is a good test. The why behind that is the TIU (rev L) can borrow 5V logic power across the USB. If the TIU does not have a constant aux power in or fixed1 power input- then it is effectively stealing power from the small 5V PSU powering the Wifi. That might lead to a brownout condition (low voltage) and thus why you WIU does not act properly.

IMO, this is a shortcoming of how the TIU is documented and how it was sold. I understand the desire to simplify things- less power supplies less wires and connections- but in the end it led to compromises. The TIU is a micocontroller and needs power. Assuming fixed1 input alway being powered is not an absolute guarantee and then the "what if" it's not powered and we have these other systems plugged in (WIU, AIU) and they need power and are expecting the TIU to be powered.

How much would it have killed MTH to include an aux TIU power supply in the box? Let alone make it more prominent in diagrams as a requirement rather than optional.

Again, between the documentation not telling the user conditions where aux power is almost a must, to another crazy thing I've seen, people stating that aux power of the TIU was not recommended. Sorry, I just cannot support either of those 2 things without a hefty explanation of a condition where it makes any logical sense.

Make sure the HOME / MTH mode switch is fully seated in one position or the other.  You can also do a factory reset on the WIU.

"Resetting the WiFi Interface Unit
If it becomes necessary at any time to reset the WIU to its initial factory settings, such as to de-install and reinstall the WIU to move it to another layout or before giving it to someone else, the process to reset the device is straightforward:
1) Power-on the WiFi Interface Unit normally and wait a minute or two for its PWR, Wi-Fi and TIU LEDs to light
2) Press the Reset button on the WiFi Interface Unit for a full 10 seconds
3) Disconnect the WiFi Interface Unit from the TIU
4) Unplug the WiFi Interface Unit’s power supply from its AC outlet.
The WiFi Interface Unit has now been reset to the exact condition that it was in when it came from the factory."

In your particular situation, wait a few minutes with the WIU powered on to proceed to step 2.

Last edited by H1000

I think that is a good test. The why behind that is the TIU (rev L) can borrow 5V logic power across the USB. If the TIU does not have a constant aux power in or fixed1 power input- then it is effectively stealing power from the small 5V PSU powering the Wifi. That might lead to a brownout condition (low voltage) and thus why you WIU does not act properly.

IMO, this is a shortcoming of how the TIU is documented and how it was sold. I understand the desire to simplify things- less power supplies less wires and connections- but in the end it led to compromises. The TIU is a micocontroller and needs power. Assuming fixed1 input alway being powered is not an absolute guarantee and then the "what if" it's not powered and we have these other systems plugged in (WIU, AIU) and they need power and are expecting the TIU to be powered.

How much would it have killed MTH to include an aux TIU power supply in the box? Let alone make it more prominent in diagrams as a requirement rather than optional.

Again, between the documentation not telling the user conditions where aux power is almost a must, to another crazy thing I've seen, people stating that aux power of the TIU was not recommended. Sorry, I just cannot support either of those 2 things without a hefty explanation of a condition where it makes any logical sense.

Vernon Thanks. The TIU is powered by the #1 fixed terminal of my Z4000. I’m going to go to a Z1000 Auxiliary brick to power it. That might do the job. MTH explanation is very vague on that part. I will give it a try.

I have 3 TIUs and 3 WIUs.  I had a problem that one of my WIUs didn't cycle and only the power light would remain on instead of the Power, TIU, and Wi-Fi.  After determining it was not the cord, I went back to the tried and true method of keeping the power on at the TIU and plugging and unplugging in the WIU until it worked.  Last time it took nearly 30 minutes for it to work, but now that its on, I am leaving it on.  Luckily for me the TIU it's connected to doesn't have power going through it so I leave it on.

Good luck,

John

Add Reply

Post
This forum is sponsored by MTH Electric Trains

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×