Is my DCS Remote Dead?

Look closely at the keypad for a stuck-in button. If that's no it, you could try a "blind reset". which is tricky at best, particularly if you don't have a spare remote to use as a guide.

The next thing to try would be to re-update the remote's software to whatever version it currently is.

As a last resort, open it up and have a look. At that point, there's little to lose.

Are you saying that the DCS remote screen says "no active DCS engines" ?

Have you tired to tether it? The board inside comes unplugged if jarred. Even if it's partially unplugged, push it back in.

Maybe I'm not understanding what you said?

Joe,

I understood him to mean that the screen is blank, however, I most certainly could be misinterpreting what he said, as well. His post was not at all very clear.

I couldn't believe you did not say to tether it as I read it. So I re-read it again, and again, and then posted.

I would credit you for understanding half of these posts as I give up! I see that it could just mean that the screen is blank too. I should have caught the "sanded the posts" meaning better.

Did the old batteries leak?  If so maybe the wires to that battery holder corroded an broke off, hence no power.  G

OBASHER,

  1st try putting a different new set of Batteries in you remote.  You may have gotten a hold of some old batteries sold as new.  This just happened to me.

Make sure the Batteries are seated properly in the DCS Hand Held remote and that the Batteries are actually good.

PCRR/Dave

My original remote lost power a year or two ago.  With Barry and Greg's help, I safely got the cover to the remote apart.  I re-seated the board, still nothing.  It turns out there was very little solder on one of the battery leads and it had come loose.  As I remember, it wasn't the easiest thing to re-seat that newly soldered contact pin back into it's slot.

Jerry

I am responding to some of the comments and suggestions made in the last day. Barry is correct that there has been no response  on the view sceen to any "turn on" with button s5. I dont know what a "blind Reset"  is and I cetrtainly don't know how to do it (?)and I don't have a spare remote (yet). I would like to re-update the software but don't know how to do it as I am using an iMAC. Seems Like I need a windows program to download it.

I have opened th DCS and it seems like all is well wih the connections (no loose attachments) and no loose soldering contacts . To answer other inquiries,no I was not saying that the remote screen says "No Active DCS Engine" See Above. I have not tried to tether it. But wil try to do so. The board does not seem to be be unplugged. Regarding the MTH Service response the old batteries did not leak and the battery conacts were all cleaned. I apologize for my poor DCS knowledge but I am 77 Yrs old and am not DCS competent by todays standards. I am still  interested in getting my remote to function bfore I must buy another remote

Screens do go bad, or something else happened.  Not sure why it occurred after a battery change.  G

Hi Lou:  I did place an order with the NMRRC with Bill P. in Traverse City, Michigan.  Is this part of your group? NMRA N. Michigan Model RR Club.  It is my understanding the boxcars will be in this week.

I had to send my handheld remote into MTH for a service call this past year. 2017.  Needed a new wheel and some other sidebar issues.  The price was right and it came back with all the issues resolved.

My local hobby shop called MTH at 410-381-2580 and got the return authorization number and they had me mail it to their Repair Center, in St. Joseph, Michigan.   Got it back in about ten days

Hope this helps • Gary: from Michigan

 How about the polarity of each battery?? wouldn't hurt to double check . Yes I'm sure you already  have done that.

or put a meter across where the battery wires go to and see what the voltage says. One bad battery could kill the thing. Probably not the reason but good to start somewhere.

 I would guess that a blind reset would be to do the steps to reset the remote without seeing it on the screen? Assuming that it's the reason or the cure for the screen going blank. So push the buttons in order to reset it. I think reloading the software update would be basically the same thing.

 Maybe Marty F could look at it and compare with some other failures he's seen? or GGG

Joe,

I would guess that a blind reset would be to do the steps to reset the remote without seeing it on the screen? Assuming that it's the reason or the cure for the screen going blank. So push the buttons in order to reset it. I think reloading the software update would be basically the same thing.

I have had success with once or twice both of these techniques to resurrect a "dead" remote.

OBASHER, this is not a fix for your issue, but on a remote that old, if you still have the remote opened up, take a Q-Tip and some contact cleaner or alcohol and clean the contacts on the backside of the rubber button pad and the circuit board where the buttons make contact. You'll be surprised at how much dirt builds up on the contacts over the years. Then if you do get it working again properly you will notice a big difference in the responses to your commands. No more having to push buttons twice cause nothing happened the first time.

Now as far as your issue is concerned, this has also happened to me. It ended up being the CONTRAST somehow gets turned all the way down to nothing. Try this. With the tiu turned on, try pushing the power button on your remote like you would when you normally turn it on. Wait about 10 seconds to give it time to exit the introduction screen. If you don't have the tiu powered up it will stay on the introduction screen longer. Now press the menu button once. Roll the thumb wheel down 2 clicks and press the thumb wheel in once. Roll the thumb wheel down 6 clicks and press it once. Now roll the thumb wheel slowly and continually upwards, without pressing down on it, several times until you see the screen coming back to life.  You may have to roll more then 10 times. If it didn't work, pull a battery and put it back in so that you know the remote powered down, then try again.