|
|
Post by dennym57 on Aug 19, 2024 14:52:42 GMT
For the first time since the club formed, they are installing a MTH DCS controller. The club was founded by people who run Lionel, but now since the membership has grown, there are members who are strictly MTH.
Now they can utilize the full potential of their MTH engines.
|
|
|
|
Post by curtis on Aug 26, 2024 13:02:53 GMT
They will definitely NOT be sorry. I am mostly MTH and PREFER that over Legacy any day of the year.
|
|
|
|
Post by dennym57 on Aug 26, 2024 15:17:02 GMT
They will definitely NOT be sorry. I am mostly MTH and PREFER that over Legacy any day of the year. To each his own. I like both.
|
|
|
|
Post by harborbelt70 on Aug 27, 2024 6:12:46 GMT
They will definitely NOT be sorry. I am mostly MTH and PREFER that over Legacy any day of the year. To each his own. I like both.
|
|
|
|
Post by superwarp1 on Aug 27, 2024 11:23:25 GMT
To each his own. I like both. WHAT! Sorry but with all the issues with the DCS signal and needing magic bulbs, and home run wiring to get it to even work prior to the Rev. L TIU. I have to strongly disagree with that statement. With TMCC/Legacy needing only one wire to connect to the layout only those with bad grounds or very large layouts which 99% of us don't have TMCC/Legacy is by far the most reliable.
Now as stated each is to his own on which system you prefer. I have both, but at this point I've converted all my MTH engines to Legacy. Legacy control and sounds are by far superior, IMO to PS2/3/DCS
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam on Aug 27, 2024 11:28:14 GMT
I'm DCS only and have had very little problems. My layout is small, so maybe I am not really exercising it much.
|
|
|
|
Post by trainman9 on Aug 27, 2024 12:15:51 GMT
Perhaps many of the issues with DCS have been resolved but I think that a certain wiring method is still needed. I’m not sure with you can just install it in an existing layout without making some provisions for the wiring.
Although I have never personally had what would be considered a large layout when we did TMCC/Legacy demos at train shows the layouts were considerably larger. Most of the modular groups seem to be able to operate both systems with consistency and those layout are usually rather large. The only time we had any issues was when we were doing a TMCC demo at a train show in Timonium MD at the fairgrounds. There was a regional rail line adjacent to the building we were in and there was some interference from the signaling system when a train would go by.
|
|
|
|
Post by Country Joe on Aug 27, 2024 12:29:55 GMT
My layout was roughly 11’ x 20’. I didn’t use star wiring and had zero problems with DCS. No issues whatsoever. I chose DCS over TMCC/Legacy because I ran semi-scale on my 031 and 036 curves. Railking was a better buy with better sounds and features than LionChief Plus or anything else they made.
For what it’s worth, if I ever have room to build another O gauge layout I would go with post-war and MPC Lionel and conventional control though there’s very little chance that will ever happen.
A club should have both Legacy and DCS as well as conventional control so all members can happily run their trains.
|
|
|
|
Post by bluelinec4 on Aug 27, 2024 13:23:14 GMT
We have a pretty large layout We have had problems with both systems but have rectified most Myths that have been stated above for DCS on smaller layouts are the need for a magic light bulb and star wiring The biggest Pain in the butt to troubleshoot is Lionel loss of signal in spots We have a car that we send around to measure signal strength Low signal spots get ground wires strung above We have ground wires everywhere The pain is if you string a ground wire it may detrimentally effect a different track When DCS loses signal the train proceeds When TMCC loses signal the train stops
|
|
|
|
Post by dennym57 on Aug 27, 2024 14:14:06 GMT
I don't have any problems with signal loss on my layout or the club layout. The club layout was designed by a Lionel repair tech. I don't what was done, I was recovering in the hospital when the layout was built.
|
|
|
|
Post by rtraincollector on Aug 27, 2024 14:27:59 GMT
My layout was roughly 11’ x 20’. I didn’t use star wiring and had zero problems with DCS. No issues whatsoever. I chose DCS over TMCC/Legacy because I ran semi-scale on my 031 and 036 curves. Railking was a better buy with better sounds and features than LionChief Plus or anything else they made.
For what it’s worth, if I ever have room to build another O gauge layout I would go with post-war and MPC Lionel and conventional control though there’s very little chance that will ever happen.
A club should have both Legacy and DCS as well as conventional control so all members can happily run their trains. 
|
|
|
|
Post by rtraincollector on Aug 27, 2024 14:34:36 GMT
I have a friend that is part of the train club in San Diego, CA. and I believe they have both on there layout, now once a while they will have a problem but usually it's the engine not the system.
Anything is going to have a problem once in a while.
|
|
|
|
Post by Country Joe on Aug 27, 2024 14:41:58 GMT
My layout was roughly 11’ x 20’. I didn’t use star wiring and had zero problems with DCS. No issues whatsoever. I chose DCS over TMCC/Legacy because I ran semi-scale on my 031 and 036 curves. Railking was a better buy with better sounds and features than LionChief Plus or anything else they made.
For what it’s worth, if I ever have room to build another O gauge layout I would go with post-war and MPC Lionel and conventional control though there’s very little chance that will ever happen.
A club should have both Legacy and DCS as well as conventional control so all members can happily run their trains.
|
|
|
|
Post by curtis on Aug 27, 2024 15:56:01 GMT
I have both systems in use on my main layout and actually love both. I will admit that I have more problems with Legacy than MTH, but I did no run the extra ground plain wiring either. That to me just seems like a big turnoff for running trains, on different levels especially.
|
|
|
|
Post by dennym57 on Aug 28, 2024 1:23:17 GMT
I have both systems in use on my main layout and actually love both. I will admit that I have more problems with Legacy than MTH, but I did no run the extra ground plain wiring either. That to me just seems like a big turnoff for running trains, on different levels especially. What kind of problems are you having. I've run Legacy for years with no problems.
|
|
