Thoughts and review? Seems you can hook up your DCC and dcs components to run any manufactures trains and to get the full benefit of the MTH trains In one unit.
No, that’s not the case. Running DCS requires trains with DCS decoders. Only MTH makes engines with their own propietary decoders, and MTH does not sell the decoders separately.
So, you are limited to MTH locomotives. Newer MTH engines, though, sometimes come equipped with dual-mode decoders that can operate on either DCS or DCC. They are starting to see the light.
Yes, Rome didn’t fall in a single day. [:-^]
The engines made today by MTH have decoders that run on DC, DCC and Dcs. The dcs commander allows you to switch between all of the above in one unit. Beings I don’t run operations I was wondering how the dcs commander has performed when running trains from any mfg.
I have not used the dcs commander and am looking for some feedback on it.
David,
[#welcome].
Unless the only locomotives you have are from MTH, the DCS Commander will not work. It will only work with MTH locomotives. If you have any other brands, you will have to get some other control system for them.
Because of this, I will not buy the DCS commander, as I am not interested in spending big $$$ for just one companies equipment, as I am not interested in most MTH locomotives, as they do not fit my era. And, I have many locomotives from other manufactureres, so I would need to have a DCC system anyway.
And, point of note, MTH DCS Commander system puts out MORE than 18Volts, so is not at all compatable with any other locomotives, only MTH DCS equipped. And, only MTH sells DCS equipped locomotives, as they hold the patent and copyrights to it. That is also my complaint about MTH locomotives, they require more power than NMRA standard, therefore will not operate properly without the MTH incompatable with others system. That might work just fine with O-scale, where MTH sells way more products, but is a very bad idea in HO-scale. NMRA standards and recommendations exist to allow train locomotives from company A to work with track from company B, the control system from company C, and rail cars from company D. MTH is set to work differently, they are set this way: MTH locomotives are set to work with company B track, MTH control system, and company D rail cars. And, conversely, Company C control system is made, per NMRA standards, to work with company A,C,D & E locomotives, where MTH DCS control system, not made to NMRA standards, is made to work ONLY with MTH locomotives.
Shame on MTH for this, but they do not comply with the NMRA standards for control systems, power requirements, or locomotive compatability with their DCS system.
If I were ever to buy any MTH locomotive (one I have looked at), it would have the DCS system torn out, or be DC only that I hard wired a DCC decoder into. I will not be forced to purchase extras jus
The above by rickstrains4824 is mostly untrue. All MTH locomotives built in the past couple of years can run on DC, DCC or dcs.
The dcs commander only controls your DCC , DC or dcs. Yes you need a DCC system that hooks up to the dcs commander to use DCC. Plus you get the full benefit of the MTH engines when you hook up the TIU from MTH.
I really like like mth steam engines, the sound, smoke and smooth operation are great. I also have quite a few of BLI steam engines also that are just as nice. So it seems the dcs commander will fit the bill when it comes to controlling all my engines.
I think I found my choice to control my trains, thanks everybody,
dave
I have run my MTH Railking locomotive with ProtoSound 3 decoder with my NCE DCC system (there is a screwdriver switch to change from DCS to DCC). It also works with AC. I have not tried it with DC, but the litereature says it will work. I don’t have any MTH HO locomotives so I don’t know if HO ProtoSound 3 is the same as the O version.
Enjoy
Paul
my mistake that I said you needed the MTH TIU to access dcs with the dcs commander. That is not the case.
David,
Seems to me there is a bit of a miscommunication issue here. I was referring to the original question, the MTH DCS control system. Not the MTH HO Scale locomotives.
You are correct, the locomotives will work with any DC, DCS, or DCC system.
However, the MTH DCS system will not, work with any DCC or DC locomotive, unless they finally got smart and complied with NMRA Standards. (Which, last I seen, they did not… Why else do the reviews in MR state that MTH HO locomotives have a power rating higher than 12V? NMRA Standards do not.)
I will here bow out from further discussion, as I am now unsure what the question really is.
Ricky W., aka ricktrains4824.
Yes, I ran the DCS system with my HO MTH engines. I like the system a lot–very easy. Once you get use to re-ordering the quick function keys in the lcd display so that the functions you want to use most are in the first page, it gets better. Also, the fact that dedicated keys are present for smoke, horn, whistle, is nice. I found switching between engines took a little longer than with a standard dcc system–something to keep in mind when the layout gets busy. I would say it is a better user interface than the MRC prodigy (the other system I have experience with). I did end up going back to DCC because the inventory of MTH trains was just too limiting.
Don’t have either one so I guess I am somewhat unbiased. What will you do if MTH leaves the market? No big deal with all the others as they are very compatible.
I’m not certain what the original question was either. But so far as the MTH system running DCC locos goes, from what I read about the MTH DCS Commander it allows one to hook up a DCC system to the Commander’s input and run a DCC loco.
Unless I’m not understanding the claim.
Here is a link to the Commander information: http://mthtrains.com/news/068