Which bundle to choose(.update)- starting basic TIU usage tonight. Advice ?

Personally I think you should go with an open system that uses DCC rather than these closed proprietary systems where one mfg controls all the recievers and controllers and devices.

My recommendation would be to buy the 50-1032 cable to connect your TIU to the TMCC command base. This will allow you to run both your Lionel and MTH command control engines with one remote. There is time enough to get a WIU later. There are enough DCS remotes around that if you need a spare, it should not be that difficult to get one.

What I anticipate is the day when the TIU/WIU are reintroduced as a single unit. That is when I would make the move. Or, better yet when MTH engines will run directly off of Bluetooth similar to what Lionel Legacy engines are doing now.

BTW, for your conventional engines you want to connect to the variable, not fixed output channels.

@prrjim I appreciate that advice- and honestly it makes sense. But I don’t run DCC.  However, DCS, IMO(besides LIonel’s TPCs) is most “inclusive”. Lionel licensed out TMCC to the likes of Atlas and Weaver, and the new LionChief 2.0+ will run on TMCC. 

Gilly@N&W posted:

My recommendation would be to buy the 50-1032 cable to connect your TIU to the TMCC command base. This will allow you to run both your Lionel and MTH command control engines with one remote. There is time enough to get a WIU later. There are enough DCS remotes around that if you need a spare, it should not be that difficult to get one.

What I anticipate is the day when the TIU/WIU are reintroduced as a single unit. That is when I would make the move. Or, better yet when MTH engines will run directly off of Bluetooth similar to what Lionel Legacy engines are doing now.

Couldn’t agree more, and appreciate the advice! But, I made sure that I purchased that cable right away . Also purchased the barrel jack adapter.

I have what’s needed to update my TIU:

1.) 9 pin serial to USB cable(ordered from amazon)

2.) Mini-audio cable or stereo cable.

3,) phone cable

The only thing I “need” is the PH-TIU connector to power the TIU itself as I’d prefer to use my PH-1 brick to power the TIU due to its built in circuit breaker. I know there’s other ways of going about powering the TIU(MTH transformer bricks or using passive mode). 

StevefromPA posted:

@prrjim I appreciate that advice- and honestly it makes sense. But I don’t run DCC.  However, DCS, IMO(besides LIonel’s TPCs) is most “inclusive”. Lionel licensed out TMCC to the likes of Atlas and Weaver, and the new LionChief 2.0+ will run on TMCC. 

I'm not sure how DCS is more "inclusive", it's a closed system that isn't licensed anywhere.  TMCC, OTOH, is available on a multitude of maker's products.  TMCC is also directly available for accessories and switches without wiring to a relay controller.

Both systems have their good and bad sides.

You may consider DCS more inclusive because you can run TMCC/Legacy equipment using the DCS remotes, but that's a product of Lionel being more inclusive and having the ability to interface to their system!

prrjim posted:

Personally I think you should go with an open system that uses DCC rather than these closed proprietary systems where one mfg controls all the recievers and controllers and devices.

So helpfull, he's already hast TMCC and just Purchased a DCS system.

It's highly unlikely your DCS remote will be incompatible with future DCS TIU/WIU updates.  There may be some limits for new functions, but incompatibility would be an act of supreme foolishness on MTH's part.  You can count on your remote working fine with future releases for the near term.  You can always add the WIU at any time point.  I would not return the system unless you plan to not use DCS, bottom line.  The actual enhanced functions to DCS over the last 17 years since the TIU/remote were introduced are pretty minimal, as opposed to refinements and bug fixes.  There simply isn't the market size to justify major changes without pretty much complete backward compatibility.  The same was true for Legacy and TMCC.  Making the DCS remote incompatible with a new system would be market suicide in my view.

I agree with above. Keep what you have. If you want to run trains from the app later just pick up a WIU and add it to your existing TIU/remote combo. 

Thank you, all, for your responses! Much appreciated! 

I would stick with what you have.  The remote & TIU is the easiest combo to use, since you don't have to bother with the wifi connection.

Does anyone know if MTH plans to integrate the TIU and WIU into a single unit in the near future? Reason I ask is that I'd like to pursue the WiFi integration but I have an older TIU and so the USB/serial adapter adds another layer of possible problems.

Thanks,

Rick

Rick, I would not buy a new TIU to go to wifi.  I have 2 TIUs on my layout.  One is usually a Rev L, and the other Is a Rev H.  I have no issues.  When I have to remove the Rev L, I slap in a Rev G; I have a spare series adapter cord for it.  Without wanting to start a brouhaha about which TIU is better, I have had no trouble with the Rev Gs (since repair in 2003) or the Rex H.  Rev L has had problems.

Updating my TIU and Remote tonight. Didn’t want to use a transformer thru the fixed 1 import and, if what I’ve read(a dizzying amount in my brain), a brick/wallwart is better. I’d prefer to do six but don’t have a brick nor an adapter cable. So I’d be using the item belowthru the fixed 1 in with the TIU barrel jack adapter. 12v, 2.1 amps. Will something like this work?

Or is using a normal transformer, with inline fuse, to power the TIU during the update OK?

Have all the other necessities: 4 pin phone cable, sabrient 2.0 usb to 9 pin serial, mini audio cable. Only problem may be(a big one) the computer, which I think has windows 10 or windows vista(I know 7 is preferred. IRC, it needs to be windows.

thanks in advance!