Large Scale Central

MTH - DCS App.

Other Scales O / On30
#1

So after all of these years avoiding O-scale, I will be building my first layout.

It will be a small ceiling layout in my office, I figured I would go with O-scale as my ceiling heights are only 7’ and my large scale trains will not fit.

After talking with my local hobby shop that actually still stocks a bunch of trains (in all scales) he has talked me into going with MTH.

Mainly because the amount of returns and issues he has had lately with Lionel and also because he feels the MTH trains and operating system are just superior. I have dealt with this shop for years and I trust his opinion as I can easily see the back log of locomotives they have on their repair bench.

Not saying that the MTH O-scale will be without issues, just that they have been having much better luck with MTH.

Anyway, here is the link to the app that MTH has, I am sure it is nothing new to the hardcore model train fans but it is new to me as even on my Garden Railway I am a basic Set it And Forget it operator.

https://mthtrains.com/news/595

Figure this system will enable me to hide the transformer and interface in the closet keeping my office appearance neat and UN-cluttered looking.

Just looking to see if anyone here is using this setup and what they like / don’t like about it.

I will be using MTH Premier series locomotives, will be picking my first one up tomorrow!

Thanks for any help you can give.

#2

Vic

Ask on this site as well : http://www.gscaletrainforum.com/

Ray has much info …

#3

the grandson grabs the phone instead of the remote whenever he can. Maybe we could ask him!

I prefer to use the remote outside as it’s easier to see in daylight. That maybe my biggest concern.

#4

If you want the wi-fi app, don’t you have to add the extra wi-fi system to the existing MTH wireless system?

Greg

#5

Greg Elmassian said:

If you want the wi-fi app, don’t you have to add the extra wi-fi system to the existing MTH wireless system?

Greg

You have to add the wifi module, not a big deal in my case as I am starting this with nothing. So it’s not like I am spending the money on their wireless control and no longer using it.

#6

if it’s just a loop around the ceiling, why not just use the normal wireless throttle? You have to buy a TIU anyway, right?

if you read the forums, you are adding another level of complexity, and from the questions I see on the O Gauge rr forum, more problems.

With the MTH wireless throttle, you can still stick everything in the closet, unless it’s really far away.

There also seems to be some things you cannot do with the app, you need the throttle.

Greg

#7

My main reason for not just using the wireless throttle is that I really just like the idea of using my Ipad to control the train instead.

Plus I can’t keep track of all the remotes I have laying around my house now as it is, but I only have one Ipad and I know where that is… most of the time (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

#8

I’m only going to say one last thing:

Read this forum, it appears to me that adding Wi-Fi opens a big new can of worms. Look at the posts here and see how many are on Wi-Fi.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/forum/dcs-forum

I’ve used a lot of systems, and the sheer volume of issues surprised me. Now, on the other hand, since many of the “fixes” are to completely reset everything, since you would only have one locomotive, resetting everything and re-linking the loco should not be too much of a pain.

I’ll go, I know someone is going to post on the DCS forums what a bad guy I am. Just trying to make sure your eyes are wide open, my opinion is you have too much complexity for just one train.

Greg

#9

Greg, I don’t mind the info or the help.

This will be totally new for me and I am fully expecting to have some issues (hopefully minor).

The one thing I have going for me is that my local dealer has plenty of MTH DCS stuff on hand and uses it in his own store (which is 10 minutes from me). So bringing down to him anything I have an issue with and swapping things out will not be a problem.

He is an older man that owns the shop and he knows his way well around the DCS system, I couldn’t keep up with what he was showing me it could do between the hand held remote & the wifi setup… and I am about half his age!

It will be a learning experience for certain, but at least it will give me something to do over the winter!

#10

#11

Good deal, and thanks for taking it as it was meant, helpful.

If I was to start over, and I had a raised layout, I might very well have gone 1:32 MTH plus some expensive steam… more accurate, and also now since MTH operates on DCC, that would be a good world for me to be in.

(I could have a Big Boy, Challenger, Hudson, etc, plus some cool 1:32 from Accucraft, and perhaps Aster, stuff I will probably never have in 1:29)

Hmm… come to think of it, that is an alternative control system, a small DCC system run by an app on a tablet is common in DCC… I do it on G and Z scales. But since you are OK with the cost of the MTH system, and you have an MTH dealer to support you, I’d stick with DCS unless you were going to add non-MTH locos.

Regards, Greg

#12

Joe Paonessa said:

the grandson grabs the phone instead of the remote whenever he can. Maybe we could ask him!

I prefer to use the remote outside as it’s easier to see in daylight. That maybe my biggest concern.

Joe. I really enjoyed the video with your grandson (a real model railroader, I would say) and the beautiful steam engines. Great sounds and plumes of smoke. Thanks for posting. Doc Tom

#13

Tom Grabenstein said:

Joe Paonessa said:

the grandson grabs the phone instead of the remote whenever he can. Maybe we could ask him!

I prefer to use the remote outside as it’s easier to see in daylight. That maybe my biggest concern.

Joe. I really enjoyed the video with your grandson (a real model railroader, I would say) and the beautiful steam engines. Great sounds and plumes of smoke. Thanks for posting. Doc Tom

I hope your little engines on your “Original” Kittom Lumber Company come out as well…

#14

Vincent… So glad you’re happy with the MTH DCS WiFi Setup…

Since dismantling the G gauge layout, selling our home and moving into an apartment with no room for trains, I thought I was going to be out of “train running”. But, I got into O Gauge and set up a similar layout with the MTH DCS WiFi that we run in our local mall. The run times are from 11-4:30 on the first Saturday of the month. There are 6 O gauge layouts in the room, 5 of which are running “conventional” with “transformers” and then ours, which will run both conventional and DCS WiFi. One of the other layouts is capable of running the Lionel TMCC system. It’s a real blast to have 4-500 people visit each time we run.

During the day, we will be running trains with both Apple and Android phones and tablets. Kids of all ages come in and when we tell them they can run the trains with their phones or tablets, many folks come back the next month with the DCS APP loaded and ready to link locomotives… It’s what kids are into today and they love it…

There’s one little guy who’s autistic and he’ll stand and watch the trains for more than an hour. We showed him how to blow the whistle or horn and ring the bell when he touches symbol on the screen. He’s fascinated by it… What a joy to see him participate and his mom is so very thankful for that.

One of our guys, who’s into Lionel bigtime, has a new LionChief set on order that will be controlled with the new Lionel LionChief APP for both APPLE and Android. I have that on my iPhone and iPad as well… It’s gonna be fun to work with both systems…

While the present systems out there are still good and work well, I believe this is the future of controlling our trains. And more to come.

Just my 2 cents… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#15

Over our recent vacation we had our shelving for the ceiling train in my office professionally installed, then I installed the track and put all the MTH controls inside an old record cabinet that we picked up at a consignment shop for $40.

Everything came out great, and operating the train via the DCS Wi-Fi app is a blast. Setup was easy and it is so much easier controlling a train with an iPad then a remote control.

Large Scale is missing the mark not having a setup that competes with this (unless you buy MTH 1-gauge)

#16

Joe Paonessa said:

the grandson grabs the phone instead of the remote whenever he can. Maybe we could ask him!

I prefer to use the remote outside as it’s easier to see in daylight. That maybe my biggest concern.

*Video originally posted was not showing. Now has to be https:// in the url

#17

Vic I’m not seeing the pics !!! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#18

Sean McGillicuddy said:

Vic I’m not seeing the pics !!! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Vic ? What pictures? (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)

#19

I tried for 30 minutes yesterday to post pics from my freight shed…I gave up.

The pics are in here: http://www.largescalecentral.com/filesharing/folder/view/274/west-shore-railway/parent_type/user/parent_id/4002

#20

BD5B4294-881B-4C64-AC6B-ADD0D0F015DA.jpeg posted by Vincent D’Agostino

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This is what I get trying to view it.