Why go with DCS?

Simply, it is what I consider to be the most advanced sound and wireless control system available in G scale today and has an intuitive user friendly remote.  

Some key items and features to note:

• Cost:  "PS2 Upgrade kits" which includes all you need for sound and control for your engine is only $180

• Sound quality:  Is outstanding and (I believe) is best on the market as any of my videos will show.  Feel free to ask those who have had DCS installed in their non-DCS engine and they will tell you.

• Smoke system:  Best on the market and is synchronized with sound chuffs.  See any of my videos to see what I mean

• Speed Control:  Utilizes an optical reader that actively reads motor speed to adjust power to the motors to precisely control/maintain chosen engine speed.  Each engine will actively maintain the dialed speed.  This allows for flawless running multiple engine consists with pusher engines! 

• User experience:  Completely changes the user experience of running trains all through your remote

  • VOLUME CONTROL:  sound volumes (Bell, Whistle, Engine, Cab chatter) can all be individually adjusted from a scale of 0-100% 

  • LIGHT CONTROL:   turn lights on/off (cab, headlight, marker lights, number board lights, firebox lights) with the press of a button

  • SMOKE:  Turn smoke on/off, Control smoke volume (Min, Med, Max)

• Maintenance odometer:  Never have to guess when your engine next needs maintenance.  You will get a reminder when it's time to perform the periodic maintenance on each individual engine.

• Track Voltage:  Instantly find out what the track voltage is at the spot your engine is at right then.

• Usage Odometer and clock:  Buying a used engine?  Always know how many scale miles or hours of usage an engine has been run.  (cannot be reset)

• Remote is software upgradeable:  Meaning additional features and enhancements will be periodically released typically from user feedback.  And this of course is always FREE.

These are just a just a few of the features DCS has to offer.  See the overview video series below for a more detail review.

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Overview Videos: (Under software release 3.11)

I decided to go ahead and make a complete overview of the DCS system so folks can see all that it can do. (Note, this is running DCS software load 3.11)  4.02 is now out.

Here is the entire set. Please remember this is done off the cuff & unscripted and intended to review most of the most commonly used features. It's not fancy! There are a number of features I've not used so I don't really know what they do for you, but this is generally an even more comprehensive overview than even the MTH DVD. I still recommend anyone wanting to know more, request the DVD from MTH. There may be a couple of things I may be wrong about on some of the features I'm not familiar with, but you will get the idea.

You should be able to see finally with this set of videos why I'm so sold on DCS.

If you have trouble reading the text on the remote, download a higher bit rate version. I recommend you right click on the link and save the file to your system first before running.


Part 1
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_1_of_6_150kbs.wmv - 3mb - 2:52 mins
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_1_of_6_1000kbs.wmv - 21mb - 2:52 mins

Part 2
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_2_of_6_150kbs.wmv - 12mb - 11:17 mins
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_2_of_6_512kbs.wmv - 42mb - 11:17 mins
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_2_of_6_1000kbs.wmv - 83mb - 11:17 mins

Part 3
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_3_of_6_150kbs.wmv - 10mb - 8:49 mins
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_3_of_6_512kbs.wmv - 33mb - 8:49 mins
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_3_of_6_1000kbs.wmv - 65mb - 8:49 mins


Part 4
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_4_of_6_150kbs.wmv - 10mb - 8:58 mins
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_4_of_6_512kbs.wmv - 34mb - 8:58 mins
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_4_of_6_1000kbs.wmv - 66mb - 8:58 mins


Part 5
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_5_of_6_150kbs.wmv - 7mb - 5:56 mins
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_5_of_6_512kbs.wmv - 23mb - 5:56 mins
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_5_of_6_1000kbs.wmv - 44mb - 5:56 mins


Part 6
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_6_of_6_150kbs.wmv - 10mb - 8:49 mins
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_6_of_6_512kbs.wmv - 34mb - 8:49 mins
MTH_DCS_Overview_Video_6_of_6_1000kbs.wmv - 66mb - 8:49 mins


 

PFA (Passenger/Freight Announcements):  This is an added sound sequence feature not shown in the overview video series above.

MTH_DCS_PFA_Video1_of_3_2100kbs.wmv - 74mb
MTH_DCS_PFA_Video1_of_3_1000kbs.wmv - 36mb
MTH_DCS_PFA_Video1_of_3_150kbs.wmv - 5mb

MTH_DCS_PFA_Video2_of_3_2100kbs.wmv - 82mb
MTH_DCS_PFA_Video2_of_3_1000kbs.wmv - 40mb
MTH_DCS_PFA_Video2_of_3_150kbs.wmv - 6mb

MTH_DCS_PFA_Video3_of_3_2100kbs.wmv - 77mb
MTH_DCS_PFA_Video3_of_3_1000kbs.wmv - 37mb
MTH_DCS_PFA_Video3_of_3_150kbs.wmv - 5mb
 

Protocast feature:  This allows you to connect a CD or MP3 player into the TIU and play music through your engine's speaker.  (great for Christmas or Halloween trains)

MTH_DCS_Protocast_Video_1_2100kbs.wmv - 41mb
MTH_DCS_Protocast_Video_1_1000kbs.wmv - 20mb
MTH_DCS_Protocast_Video_1_150kbs.wmv - 3mb

MTH_DCS_Protocast_Video_2_2100kbs.wmv - 18mb
MTH_DCS_Protocast_Video_2_1000kbs.wmv - 9mb
MTH_DCS_Protocast_Video_2_150kbs.wmv - 1mb

MTH_DCS_Protocast_Video_3_2100kbs.wmv - 50mb
MTH_DCS_Protocast_Video_3_1000kbs.wmv - 24mb
MTH_DCS_Protocast_Video_3_150kbs.wmv - 4mb

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      Photo Overview of Remote menus:

              (Under software release 4.02)

(NOTE:  This will be expanded as time allows to show additional menu item layers)

Power up info screen:

 

Engine Select menu: (Press green button)  This allow you to select an engine.  Active engines (on the track are listed first), Inactive below the Inactive line

Engine Select Menu	w/ Engine Selected

 

 

Main Menu: (Press the Menu button - SOUND, CONTROL, SYSTEM, ADVANCED)

Main Menu: (Sound, Control, System, Advanced)

 

SOUND items:

Sound options #1	Sound options #2	Sound options #3	Sound options #4	Sound options #5

 

CONTROL items:

Control options #1	Control options #2	Control options #3	Control options #4

 

SYSTEM items:

System options #1	System options #2	System options #3

 

ADVANCED items:

Advanced items #1	Advanced items #2	Advanced items #3

 

Soft-key options: (S1 thru S5 + More option)

Softkeys #1	Softkeys #2	Softkeys #3

 

More softkey items:  (Items 1 thru 40)

Press MORE button	More items #1	More items #2	More items #3	More items #4	More items #5	More items #6
More items #7	More items #8	More items #9	More items #10	More items #11	More items #12	More items #13
More items #14

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How does DCS compare to other control systems available in Largescale today?

 

The answer to this could get in-depth, but I think you should start by just looking at the remotes these other systems use.  This and the DCS overview video series above should give a pretty good idea as to how it stacks up.

Click for review of some other remotes:  http://www.rayman4449.dynip.com/Remotes.htm

 

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