Large Scale Central

MTS Seminar in North America

General Discussion
#1

This just dropped into my inbox. It may be of some interest to some of you:

The first-ever North American MTS seminar will cover decoder installation and much more.

The first-ever North American LGB MTS training seminar will be held August 4-6 in Freehold, New Jersey at the LGBoA warehouse. The two and one-half day program will be offered independently by LGB partners Bob Brashear and Calvin Lane.

The seminar will cover a wide variety of topics including:

  • LGB MTS electronic basics
  • Data transmission and decoder responses
  • Decoder installation
  • MTS-PC software (including installation, applications, interfacing, contact and schedule control)

The fee for the seminar will be $220.00 ($198.00 for LGB Club members). Class size will be limited to 20 students. If you would to receive detailed registration information as soon as it is available, please send an email to [email protected].

#2

I don’t have the MTS system,which it sounds like a great system . I think it’s great that LGB is having a class to learn more about operating, I’ve heard how complicated it can be to setup. But, it seems like a ripoff to have to pay several hundred dollars to go learn how to use it from the company that produces it ! And probably have to travel on top off that. Am I wrong or what ? I would think they would put on free seminars to better promote the product and boost sales of it. Just my thought for the week :>)

#3
Bryan Johnson said:
I don't have the MTS system,which it sounds like a great system . I think it's great that LGB is having a class to learn more about operating, I've heard how complicated it can be to setup. But, it seems like a ripoff to have to pay several hundred dollars to go learn how to use it from the company that produces it ! And probably have to travel on top off that. Am I wrong or what ? I would think they would put on free seminars to better promote the product and boost sales of it. Just my thought for the week :>)
Bryan,

Good points!

Actually there are a few more nits to pick on this one.

EPL/LGB and LGBoA have prided themselves since they came out with the MTS system that it is a “user friendly” plug and play system. Of course those people who either did some thorough investigating/checking, bought a system and tried it or had the “pleasure” of trying one at an acquaintance’s know that this is not the case.
One could read the manual in German or in English, one would still be scratching one’s head. One “neat” feature in the manuals are the “Hints”, any user will ignore the “Hints” at his/her peril! Same goes for any remarks addressed to the “advanced user” (a relative term!).

The MTS1 was a system that could most generously be termed an entry level system at a mid-level price i.e. you overpaid for what underperformed. There were more work arounds required than Dr.Carter had liver pills, to make it work in a halfway acceptable fashion.
The MTS2 was/is marginally better with a few extra features. The upgrade was at the users expense i.e. no such as downloading and installing an upgrade from the internet.
What the MTS3 offers will be known soon enough from the users. :wink: When buying any MTS system always ask about the upgrade path.
The decoders are still “wanting” both in performance and features.

If anyone wants a reasonably good system that will accept the existing MTS components (handhelds etc. etc.) I advise to go the Massoth route http://www.massoth.com/index2.html

All in all I can see the need for the training courses, but if I would be a MTS user I would certainly question the cost of a course for a “Plug and Play” system. Just like a question expensive courses by the 'puter software generators. Give us good manuals, good, knowledgable tech support, good user groups and we’ll figure out the rest without being indoctrinated on “just how good the system is”.

BTW my recommendation to anyone contemplating DCC for Large Scale in the garden:

1.Download the manuals etc. etc. from the following mfgs
http://www.digitrax.com/
http://www.lenz.com
http://www.massoth.com/index2.html
http://www.ncedcc.com
http://www.zimo.at or http://www.mrsonline.net

and read them!

  1. Check out the user groups

  2. Try out different systems. There are some users who swear that the handheld is the most important part of any system. I agree to the extent that a good handheld is a good part of a good system.
    However even an excellent handheld will not overcome the shortcomings of a mediocre system, there are quite a few large scalers in the garden who tossed or sold the mediocre stuff (to who I don’t know :wink: ) and bought a real system.

I grant LGBoA good sense in going “outside” for the technical advise/instructors. I know Bob Brashear from various fora and we chat on the phone once in a while. He knows his DCC!
And he runs a large indoor Large Scale layout that is powered by a NCE command station, uses a different make of booster (four boosters), utilizes mostly ZIMO decoders (he strips and tosses the MTS decoders, sometimes along with the rest of the innards of the LGB engines).

Now since you’re still reading :wink: :wink: a bit of history on the MTS System. The MTS1 was designed and produced by Lenz but since LGB wanted to keep things at a “simple level” Lenz either bowed out - memories of Märklin - or LGB decided to change to Massoth because they produced the LGB sound boards. MTS2 - to the best of my knowledge - was already produced by Massoth.
Massoth then decided to produce and promote their own system called DiMAX, along with OEMing the LGB stuff.

I guess it is the old story; an OEM may grow tired of producing strictly material that doesn’t keep up with the developments in the field. LENZ apparently did with Märklin and LGB.