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LUG Fall 2018

Welcome to the Legacy Users Group Fall Meeting

Friday October 19, 2018       7:45AM in the Orange Hall Meeting room

*** Please note that we will be going to a Fall York only meeting from here on out provided that the EDTCA can provide the room for the fall only. ***

Hi folks!  Once again we will be holding our meeting at the EDTCA York Meet.  It's a time to get together and see what is happening in the world of Lionel Legacy.  We hope that you will use this thread to ask questions that we can submit to Lionel regarding the Legacy system and because Bluetooth has been incorporated into Legacy engines we'll add those questions as it pertains to Legacy into the mix.  

Right now the agenda is wide open.  I am working on a few things but if you have a suggestion of something we should cover please add it to the thread.  Hopefully with the help of Lionel we can add it to the agenda. We hope to have representatives from Lionel to join us to provide a peek into what's new, see what's happening, and to answer questions about Legacy and Bluetooth as it pertains to Legacy.

 

The agenda is posted and available to download.  Please print out a copy as we will have a limited amount of copies available.

 

Some updates to the agenda...

Also Bob Phillips will join us to talk about his new book, Modern O Gauge Remote Control Lionel TMCC & LEGACY Basics & Advanced.  Bob also has released a couple of DVDs that also cover TMCC and Legacy operations. 

 

Some guidelines for the questions is to make them as clear and precise as possible so you get the best answer to your question.  I may tag you back for clarification.  Keep the production type questions about making specific engines, cars, etc for the folks at the Lionel booth.  General Lionel Customer Service questions can be asked but specific questions and concerns should be taken to the Lionel booth.  I know some of the questions can be answered by the folks on the forum but I feel it's my job to submit all questions to the folks at Lionel so please refrain from answering here on the forum.  Questions will be cut off on October 5th so that we can get them to Lionel in a timely manner.

We as always have invited representatives from Lionel to join us for our meeting.  I've heard from Dean and Dave an unfortunately they will be unable to attend.  We've reached out to Ryan and he said he would see if he can make it.  He has a lot on his plate at York so we'll see how things work out.  Dean said Aaron Fraser is attending York so he may stop by and say hi. 

We plan on recording the meeting to be available for viewing for those that cannot attend.

I'll add more information to this post as it becomes available. As always we will have some flyers from the LCS Partners available.  Once we have an agenda and the questions submitted, I will post them here in a pdf for download.  We encourage you to print out your copy for the meeting.

Without further ado... Let's get those questions in.  

Attachments

Last edited by MartyE
Original Post

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I will have to ask if Lionel will permit us to use any of their show items for the morning.  I suspect without a Lionel representative that is probably be impossible.  I'm hoping even though Dave isn't attending maybe if he has anything interesting that he is permitted to share back in the lab he could possibly do a short power point on it that I could present.   

Last edited by MartyE
Severn posted:

My question after thinking about it and trying for new is this: the radio tower, the sound box cars should really be command-able LCS devices as well, why not make them LCS devices in their own right?

Severn, I think I need a little more detail.  I'm not sure what the question is.  Do you want them to be Bluetooth or Legacy?  I just want to make sure I send the question correctly.

Last edited by MartyE

It could be done either way -- the general explanation is to issue a command through the LCS "infrastructure", and it gets to these devices in some manner.  Example might be to issue a sound selection on these devices at point in time, or location based on the engine going over the track sensor.   They'd have to add receivers to get commands, and they'd probably need to add to the command set also.  ("Boxcar1: sound index 7, play 5 secs")

Make sense now?

Note: currently the LCS interface would be the LCS wifi connection. if they want to provide a bluetooth interface for commanding ... i'm all for that also.

I was thinking about doing a review of some basic Legacy principles for folks just starting with Legacy.  Programming an engine ID, loading a module or manual load of engine info, some basic techniques.  

Does that interest anyone?  For the last few years we really focused on LCS and the newer tech I thought it would be good to look back a bit.

MartyE posted:

I was thinking about doing a review of some basic Legacy principles for folks just starting with Legacy.  Programming an engine ID, loading a module or manual load of engine info, some basic techniques.  

Does that interest anyone?  For the last few years we really focused on LCS and the newer tech I thought it would be good to look back a bit.

Marty that would be good because I always wonder how many people utilize the full capability of Legacy or DCS because of a lack of study or understanding what's under the hood if you will. To get the full experience!

Last edited by dk122trains

Thanks for the feedback.  While I don't want to bore the folks that are early adopters, sometimes I think the meetings can be overwhelming to newer attendees.  I think with the basics covered might help ease that.  I hope to have a mix of older and newer as things become available. I'll see what others thoughts are before I go to far on a presentation.

Hi Marty,

Thanks for coordinating the Legacy Users Group again for October 2018--

1. I guess I am a big supporter of identifying more resources on education of Legacy Basic, and Legacy Advanced (Layout Control System - LCS). Documenting in a central way The Forum (lots of dedicated topics on Legacy stuff), Lionel and YouTube and books and DVD's. I have Legacy but not LCS -- I think it is because I don't know how to learn about it. I see a lot of "boxes / modules" with a lot of unclear "initials" that are the LCS part numbers, but unclear how to put it all together. I search the Forum and get lots of great pieces of info, but not coordinated/ central hub of where to go. That being said, reviewing at the Legacy User's Group meeting some of the basics again and getting on video would be very much welcome. 

2. With the newest Lionel Fall 2018 catalog now has the 2 parts I am interested to learn more about. Specifically LCS CSM2 (6-85295) $109.99 List Price that controls 7 DZ2500 switches + 4 blocks; and the new LCS CSM2 DZ2500 "Breakout Board" (1908010) $24.99 List Price. I read the catalog but I am not sure if there are installation instructions I can print out now and better understand what I am buying/ or additional parts ( cables, power supplies, other LCS modules, etc) required if I do not have any LCS parts now?? I now have a DZ2001 Data Driver now, so do I need the Breakout Boards?? What are the benefits to using the 2 new modules?? How can I get better educated here? ( I asked similar questions that were touched-on in the April 2018 LUG meeting already-- sorry if I am repeating myself !!??)

3. Are there cable / wiring diagrams that give a good overall view of the cables/ modules connected together??

Regards,

Carl J

Two questions related to Bluetooth:

1. Can you control two Legacy engines separately with Bluetooth with the same engine number or is it the same a Lionchief plus where they operate together? 

2. Any plans to have either the Legacy Controller or the LCS Ipad app be able to control Bluetooth or Lionel chief plus engines and Legacy engine/cars so you only need one controller going between engines and LCS accessories?

 

Hi Marty-

I saw a posting on the Forum under another topic where Rudy from Lionel posted a link to the Lionel Layout Control System (LCS) site-- there I have found a lot of great info and a great index with FAQ's-- probably others already knew of this link but here it is again--- http://www.lionel.com/lcs/index.html  

Just an update to this index needed by Lionel to add the newest CSM2 and Breakout Board introduced in 2018.

Carl J

John Graser posted:

Two questions related to Bluetooth:

1. Can you control two Legacy engines separately with Bluetooth with the same engine number or is it the same a Lionchief plus where they operate together? 

 

John

2 engines that are the same SKU number?  Just want to make sure I ask the right question.  So if 2 folks in a club have the latest scale Polar Express what happens?

MartyE posted:
John Graser posted:

Two questions related to Bluetooth:

1. Can you control two Legacy engines separately with Bluetooth with the same engine number or is it the same a Lionchief plus where they operate together? 

 

John

2 engines that are the same SKU number?  Just want to make sure I ask the right question.  So if 2 folks in a club have the latest scale Polar Express what happens?

Yes,  (when running under Bluetooth).

John

Hi Marty,

My question is will Lionel eventually upgrade the legacy iPhone app so that you can increase or decrease the amount of momentum for the (M) setting like you can with the cab2 remote?  Right now I think the settings are locked at 1 for low, 4 for medium and 8 for high.  Also would they consider adding the speed limit feature as well.  

Thanks,

Blake Morris

Just about a week to go for questions that can be sent to Lionel. October 5th is the deadline.  Also if you have any thoughts on anything that needs some review we can cover that too.  Right now I am planning a review of Legacy basics including a short history.  This will probably bore seasoned users but we do get some new folks in so this may help them.  We will also upgrade bases and remotes to 1.6 and 1.61 respectively.  Also will do LC Universal remotes.

 

So now some other business...

It seems interest in the meeting is starting to drop.  In the past we would have over 4 pages of questions and responses by now.  Depending on the turnout of this meeting I may entertain stopping it all together.  I'm just not sure we have enough material and interest to maintain the meeting.  Dave has suggested that there is some items in the pipeline that we could show and discuss in the future so we'll see.  Currently I am planning to do a fall only meeting from here on out but depending on the turn out in October we may have to consider if we've run the course.  

This is not just the Legacy meeting either.  I also keep an eye on the DCS meeting thread and that too has seemed to have less replies and activity than usual.  Maybe we've peaked.  Anyways I will not make a decision either way until after the fall show.

Thanks everyone!

Severn posted:

I may be able to drive for the meeting but that's it.  It's not very likely frankly but not impossible.

Personally I wouldn't.  It's being recorded and no one so far from Lionel have indicated they are attending.  I am waiting to hear from Ryan Kunkle if he'll drop in before the meet.  It maybe one of our shorter meetings.

Well, I'd like to see the new LCS CSM2, IRV2, and sensor add on in action...  there was the LCS monitor software, there's of course their control software.  there's the 3rd party folks...

btw, that reminds me -- IK made my little LCS project open in the sense that you have to join gitlab and then you can join the project.  It's my fledgling java LCS software.  Sorry to say at this point I've not had time organize it more fully or include a build file, etc...   on the list but haven't gotten to it.

https://gitlab.com/Severn/jLCS

If I did all that I'd probably just make it public.

 

MartyE posted:

Just about a week to go for questions that can be sent to Lionel. October 5th is the deadline.  Also if you have any thoughts on anything that needs some review we can cover that too.  Right now I am planning a review of Legacy basics including a short history.  This will probably bore seasoned users but we do get some new folks in so this may help them.  We will also upgrade bases and remotes to 1.6 and 1.61 respectively.  Also will do LC Universal remotes.

 

So now some other business...

It seems interest in the meeting is starting to drop.  In the past we would have over 4 pages of questions and responses by now.  Depending on the turnout of this meeting I may entertain stopping it all together.  I'm just not sure we have enough material and interest to maintain the meeting.  Dave has suggested that there is some items in the pipeline that we could show and discuss in the future so we'll see.  Currently I am planning to do a fall only meeting from here on out but depending on the turn out in October we may have to consider if we've run the course.  

This is not just the Legacy meeting either.  I also keep an eye on the DCS meeting thread and that too has seemed to have less replies and activity than usual.  Maybe we've peaked.  Anyways I will not make a decision either way until after the fall show.

Thanks everyone!

MartyE,

Hope attendance picks up.  

Being on the West coast (and not being able to get there) having your videos of the meeting I find out thing about Legacy I wouldn't otherwise.

Thanks for putting these together.

John

QUESTION 1:  When editing a track plan/diagram in the LCS app the magnification feature does not work (spreading of the thumb and pointer finger).  Can/will the engineers turn this feature on?  It would make tapping/selecting Label Boxes and other items, much easier.  Thank you.

QUESTION 2:  What is the status of creating the ability to upload LCS diagrams to the cloud?

QUESTION 3:  How do you change the order of the LCS diagrams?  I would like to swipe less.

Lionel, thank you for the LCS app, I will never build a physical control panel again!

Last edited by T4TT

OK guys we are in the final week to ask questions that we'll send to Lionel.  I am going to see if we can get some more information on the new LCS modules and components.  As stated in the announcement I hope to do a brief history of Legacy and review some of the more basic aspects.  I realize this will be a bit of a bore for some but we have new folks in that we want to make sure we don't leave behind. The plan is to show some of the menu items for setting up Legacy, the basics of entering and engine, and some of the unique features for Legacy.  I don't want to spend a lot of time but do want to cover some.

Unfortunately without Dave attending York, we will not have Q&A directly from Lionel but I will field questions from the group.  If I don't know the answer I will forward them to Dave and make sure they are in the summary.  

We will as always make sure you know about the LCS partners and where to find them as well as aforementioned Bob Phillips to talk about his DVDs and Book.  Well talk about John Will's signal booster.  Unfortunately John won't be able to do a presentation at this time but hopefully if he attends he can add to the conversation.  The meeting agenda is light.  We should easily have everyone out to the hall before 8:45.  As always I will be available to do Legacy upgrades, make 1.6 base and 1.61 cab modules, and even upgrade universal remotes at the end of the meeting.

Remember there will not be an April meeting.  We won't meet again until fall 2019.  

 

Questions due by Friday October 5th.  No other questions will be accepted after to makes sure Lionel has time to answer.

CAPPilot posted:

I will be there.  Items of interest to me are:

LCS IRV2 plus IVR2 Add-On Sensor.  Differences in operation from sensor track.

LCS STM2 vs LCS CSM2 for DZ-2500.  Do you need both?  Do you need the Breakout Board?

LCS CSM2 DZ-2500 Breakout Board.  How does this work without DZ-2001 Data Driver.  Is it the same as the ERR board, or has it been changed.

I'd also like to see a wiring diagram of how to setup a DZ-2500 to show correct position on the LCS app, to include the breakout board.

Tomorrow 10/5/2018 is the last day for questions.  No questions submitted after tomorrow will be guaranteed to be answered by Lionel. 

 

By the way I do think it speaks volume to why we are not continuing with 2 meetings by the response here.  In the past we would be easily on page 3 or 4 by now with questions and responses.  We are still on page 1.  The DCS meeting is similarly tracking.  We will continue with the fall meeting unless the interest continues to drop.

Date corrected!

Last edited by MartyE

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