A Couple Of Cab 1 Questions

Did you try fresh batteries?

There's no simple way to add the LED, I'm with Chuck, try fresh batteries.  Since the other CAB1 works, it's not likely to be the base.

At one time, we had discussed cleaning the contacts on a Cab1.  Some reference here,  but unfortunately the older thread is gone.   If you can get the Cab-1 apart, a dry soft cloth, can be used to re-condition/clean the touch pad contact points.  Aux1 may be the contact most likely to fail first.   I had some success with this on older Cab 1's . IMO   Mike CT 

Some of these Cab 1/Command bases are 20 years old.

If that doesn't fix the key pads, you can go for the silver bullet.   This renews the conductive pad on the rubber keypad contact surface.

Could the  Cab-1s Crystal be loose. I can`t remember exactly where it is located but someone will .

Worth a look, see here for location.  Remote the batteries and you can access it.

All good suggestions guys, thanks. Will work through them and see if there is any joy. I figured as long as the base led is flickering, the batteries are strong enough to get a signal out. Am I Wrong?

Rod

I did have my other Cab 1 apart and cleaned the keypad to get a balky whistle button going again. I used isopropyl alcohol and a micro fibre cloth. Seems to work great again, but from what I can see with the uncommunicative Cab 1, the buttons are not the problem.

Rod

Antenna connection was another problem.  Some went with a smaller rubber antenna as a  replacement for the metal telescoping antenna, that, often, was broken, or became disconnected at the base. 

Rod, does the "bad" Cab1 blow the horn/whistle? I have heard low batteries wouldn't convey the Red speed wheel. Have you tried just the TMCC Cab1 base without the Legacy Cab2 base? (I understand your "Good" TMCC controller currently operates the trains)

I just pulled one of mine apart and washed the keypad with a soft brush and soapy water, rinse well.  Dry even better. After blowing dry with compressed air I let it sit out overnight.  Works like new now.  I have also had good luck with TV remotes giving them a bath. But I do keep a bottle of the conductive paint Gunrunner mentioned for hard cases.  J

BobbyD posted:

Rod, does the "bad" Cab1 blow the horn/whistle? I have heard low batteries wouldn't convey the Red speed wheel. Have you tried just the TMCC Cab1 base without the Legacy Cab2 base? (I understand your "Good" TMCC controller currently operates the trains)

Thanks BobbyD, the uncommunicative Cab1 won't blow the whistle or do anything else. It was the good Cab1 that needed the keypad cleaned. Sorry for confusing the issue.

The uncommunicative one makes the base red led flicker with any action including throttle knob, whistle, etc etc. So in my feeble mind I figured that means the batteries are good, the Xtal is seated and doing its thing, and the antenna is ok. There is just no action with any tmcc engine for some reason. Does this make sense? Testing continues.

Rod

@Rod Stewart posted:

I was also wondering if there is any way to add a tiny led to a Cab 1 that would glow when it is active, and go out when the Cab 1 has gone to sleep? That way you would know when it is on, and when the batteries are dead, etc., instead of trying to guess what is wrong.

I read somewhere that the Cab1 goes to sleep after 30 seconds of inactivity, so that should give you a rough estimate of when it is active/sleepy.

@Rod Stewart posted:

Thanks BobbyD, the uncommunicative Cab1 won't blow the whistle or do anything else. It was the good Cab1 that needed the keypad cleaned. Sorry for confusing the issue.

The uncommunicative one makes the base red led flicker with any action including throttle knob, whistle, etc etc. So in my feeble mind I figured that means the batteries are good, the Xtal is seated and doing its thing, and the antenna is ok. There is just no action with any tmcc engine for some reason. Does this make sense? Testing continues.

Rod

Since the led is lighting on the base when you operate the remote it must be getting a signal. But it must be a scrambled signal if it will not operate the train. The base can't be the problem if it works with another remote.  I would still try some new batteries and make sure the contacts are good in the battery box because there really isn't anything else you can do without special equipment to analyze the signal. I have never heard of this problem.

When the CAB1 (or CAB1L) is in sleep mode, it's still looking for any key or control activity to wake up.  I've had a train running for half an hour and then picked up the CAB1 and it immediately responds to the controls