MTH with Legacy

No

Thanks. Now I know.

Well, it's not exactly a "firm" no, but you need some extra parts to make it happen.

First off, it's a firm no if you want to run in DCS Command Mode. 

However, if you run those MTH locomotives in conventional mode, the Legacy Powermaster has macro commands that allow you to utilize many of the features of DCS locomotives and even older Protosound 1 locomotives.

Thanks very much for your reply. I would want to run all digitally so it sounds like for me that is a firm no.  I am just curious if you know, can you run a Lionel Legacy loco with MTH digital.  

Yes

I needed to be consistent with the one word responses! 

You'll need a MTH TIU and the TIU/TMCC-Legacy cable (50-1032)

I use the DCS Remote but if you can't find one (they're being phased out soon), then you'll also need a MTH WIU which will allow you to use your smartphone or tablet as a remote (via the MTH app).  Here is the WIU (50-1034)

The TIU & WIU is also available as a set: 50-1036

I don't know if you can access "legacy specific features" via the DCS remote i.e. quilling whistle, variable labor chuff , momentum and brake squeal etc.

@RickO posted:

I don't know if you can aceess "legacy specific features" via the DCS remote i.e. quilling whistle, variable labor chuff etc.

Yes, that's a good point.  I'm a diesel guy so I haven't experienced that.  I know that there is some loss of capability though.

Thanks to all. I'm probably sticking to Lionel but now I know.

DCS and Legacy signals can co-exist on the same track. If you have fewer than 3 MTH locomotives, you can connect a DCS Explorer to your layout and run the MTH units with a smartphone or tablet (at roughly half the cost of a full DCS setup). It would be the functional equivalent of running a LionChief unit amongst your Legacy locomotives.

---PCJ

@RailRide posted:

DCS and Legacy signals can co-exist on the same track. If you have fewer than 3 MTH locomotives, you can connect a DCS Explorer to your layout and run the MTH units with a smartphone or tablet (at roughly half the cost of a full DCS setup). It would be the functional equivalent of running a LionChief unit amongst your Legacy locomotives.

---PCJ

Not very practical for an existing layout. DCS Explorer does not work in passive mode. In other words, DCS Explorer must power the rails. If one is willing to remove all their current track power supplies (transformers) and power the rails only with the DCS Explorer, yes; it will work.

@RickO posted:

I don't know if you can access "legacy specific features" via the DCS remote i.e. quilling whistle, variable labor chuff , momentum and brake squeal etc.

I'm pretty sure the hardware remote only runs Legacy engines in TMCC mode.  You will need the app to access the Legacy functions.

@Oman posted:

Not very practical for an existing layout. DCS Explorer does not work in passive mode. In other words, DCS Explorer must power the rails. If one is willing to remove all their current track power supplies (transformers) and power the rails only with the DCS Explorer, yes; it will work.

Can you add a properly phased power supply to run-through the Explorer in parallel with existing layout power?

---PCJ

NO!  The explorer is providing power to the track with the DCS signal.  Any parallel power would create a problem with the DCS signal.  The Explorer is specifically designed to be a "starter" environment, not for more complicated layouts.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

NO!  The explorer is providing power to the track with the DCS signal.  Any parallel power would create a problem with the DCS signal.  The Explorer is specifically designed to be a "starter" environment, not for more complicated layouts.

. Corrected out my original replies.

---PCJ

@MartyE posted:

I'm pretty sure the hardware remote only runs Legacy engines in TMCC mode.  You will need the app to access the Legacy functions.

So if I read you right, if you use the wifi hardware (WIU) with the app you have access to all the Legacy functions? I thought that DCS, whether the hardware remote or the app, could only access the TMCC level of commands, that the legacy set of instructions was closed and proprietary and the only way to run them would be via a legacy command set. 

@bigkid posted:

So if I read you right, if you use the wifi hardware (WIU) with the app you have access to all the Legacy functions? I thought that DCS, whether the hardware remote or the app, could only access the TMCC level of commands, that the legacy set of instructions was closed and proprietary and the only way to run them would be via a legacy command set. 

You won't get all but you get the quillable whistle / horn.  200 speed steps and some other functionality.  I think there are a few things missing but off the top of my head I don't know what they are.  You will also need the Lionel SER2 to connect to Legacy to get the required Legacy access.

No matter what you do, you still need a Cab1/1L/2 base to run TMCC/Legacy and you need a TIU for DCS. So by the time you have both systems bought and installed, just run them both individually. 

If you want 1 remote, get an LCS Wifi unit and the WIU and connect them to the same wifi network. Put both Apps on an iPad or iPhone and toggle back and forth between them with the home button/swipe up. 

Thank you all again for your great inputs.