Lionel posted on their Facebook page that they just completed a couple of days of Beta testing of the Base 3 on the NJ HiRailers layout. Would any members of the NJ HiRailers like to comment on how the Beta testing of the Base 3 went on your layout?
Neal Jeter
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The beta testing went very well. They are still working a few bugs out but we were impressed
That is great news to hear Ben. Once they get those bugs out, coal and diesel will be going in to get those trains running I'm sure.
The two things I liked the best was the four digit addressing and the ability to control LionChief with the cab2. The new app is cool
Well, isn't the 4-digit addressing only really useful for the future?
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Well, isn't the 4-digit addressing only really useful for the future?
I believe that is correct, John. When the Base 3 was first announced, I asked if it would allow 4 digit addressing of older Legacy and TMCC engines. Dave Olsen said that would not be possible (unless they have come up with some way to make it work).
The vision class a is capable
What? What a wanker this thing is! Not backwards compatible with older TMCC engines? useless!
@Don Beck posted:What? What a wanker this thing is! Not backwards compatible with older TMCC engines? useless!
You must have read something wrong. It is fully backward compatible except for four digit addressing. Do you have 1000 engines
@Don Beck posted:What? What a wanker this thing is! Not backwards compatible with older TMCC engines? useless!
That isn’t true. It will address the older Legacy and TMCC engines, but will be limited to ID’s of 1-99 like the current CAB1 and CAB2.
So then whats the big deal issues with 4 digit addressing if its limited to the newer engines?? Why exactly does one need this then? To run LC? Oh please...another solution to a problem that doesn't exist!
@Don Beck posted:So then whats the big deal issues with 4 digit addressing if its limited to the newer engines?? Why exactly does one need this then? To run LC? Oh please...another solution to a problem that doesn't exist!
You don’t need it to run LC or TMCC, or Legacy but some folks actually have more than 100 engines.
Pete
Thats an expensive add on for folks that have 100 engines...way to go Lionel...cant wait to see it in action and get users feedback..OY
You can use the cab number as your address. Duh. It’s perfect for a club environment.
Who cares? Ive been collecting for 50 years, i have 30 engines. How many people here have 100 engines? You mean to tell me that CAB3 has all that? What Clubs? This was developed for clubs? Big deal. A gigantic waste of $ and time for what seems to be marginal new widgets
First Lionel gets lambasted for not innovating, producers are doing nothing to bring new people to the hobby, theres too many controllers, they need to consolidate them. Well they did. Never understood why something is hated before its even produced. Cant we just wait and see then complain when it doesnt work (e.g. the Bluetooth app control)?
@Don Beck posted:Thats an expensive add on for folks that have 100 engines...way to go Lionel...cant wait to see it in action and get users feedback..OY
You are overlooking that both the CAB1 and CAB2 are no longer being produced, so, going forward, folks who don’t want to pay exorbitant prices for older technology can purchase the CAB3 and use a smart device as a controller.
Doesn't matter. It will work, eventually. Lionel has been touting this for a year or more. whats the big innovation? 4 digit addressing? WOW. I get reason for the APP (I dont like it, i'll stay with my CAB2 thank you)
@Don Beck posted:Who cares? Ive been collecting for 50 years, i have 30 engines. How many people here have 100 engines? You mean to tell me that CAB3 has all that? What Clubs? This was developed for clubs? Big deal. A gigantic waste of $ and time for what seems to be marginal new widgets
So don’t buy it. Stop complaining about something you have no idea what it does. I have over 300 engines. I like it. And I am one in 75 members
@Don Beck posted:Doesn't matter. It will work, eventually. Lionel has been touting this for a year or more. whats the big innovation? 4 digit addressing? WOW. I get reason for the APP (I dont like it, i'll stay with my CAB2 thank you)
You have no clue what it does
Really? Ive read what it is supposed to do. Its been in many catalogs. Not impressed Good for you and your 300 engines. you are in the minority, I would guess. Have fun
@Don Beck posted:Really? Ive read what it is supposed to do. Its been in many catalogs. Not impressed Good for you and your 300 engines. you are in the minority, I would guess. Have fun
Looking at what you read and didn’t understand here I doubt you read those catalogs right. There are plenty of people with over 100 engines You should try to get out more
I ordered a Base 3 because I understood it to be a "bridge device" that facilitates control across technologies and controllers, giving me more choices on how I choose to control trains and some degree of future-proofing since it's not dependent upon a hardware controller. Despite the long wait, I think that's worthwhile. It was only a month ago that my layout-under-construction became able to run trains, so I have no long-term habits and biases. Had I been running trains for years using one of the hardware controllers, I might not see an advantage, at its price point.
When/If, this finally comes to market, we all will see if this is the 'game changer' that Lionel hopes it will be, I doubt it, even if it works perfectly. Onward, this entire CAB3 discussion is pointless until people have it in their hands...
@Don Beck posted:When/If, this finally comes to market, we all will see if this is the 'game changer' that Lionel hopes it will be, I doubt it, even if it works perfectly. Onward, this entire CAB3 discussion is pointless until people have it in their hands...
Did you READ the title Do you know what a beta test is. Do you want to complain that it wasn’t tested too
@Don Beck posted:When/If, this finally comes to market, we all will see if this is the 'game changer' that Lionel hopes it will be, I doubt it, even if it works perfectly. Onward, this entire CAB3 discussion is pointless until people have it in their hands...
Ummm, …,they just had it in their hands Don, ….that was the whole point of the exercise, …..no??….I’m not seeing how that’s pointless, …..
Pat
Can I paraphrase this famous statement:
"A closed mind is a terrible thing to waste."
Not picking sides but..... Oh, I forgot, I have a cab 3 on order.
@bluelinec4 posted:
Thanks for sharing the photos, Ben. When I found out that the Base 3 wouldn’t allow 4 digit addressing to my older engines, I decided that I would not be an early adaptor, but, with the CAB1 and CAB2 sunsetting, my other concern is using the app. I’ve tried the current app and found it seriously lacking when compared to my CAB2, but your photo seems to show the new app will be much more robust and closer to the CAB2 screen. Can you tell us how the new app compares to the CAB2??? While the slide speed control may be more prototypical, I think I prefer my red wheel. Thanks.
@Apples55 posted:Thanks for sharing the photos, Ben. When I found out that the Base 3 wouldn’t allow 4 digit addressing to my older engines, I decided that I would not be an early adaptor, but, with the CAB1 and CAB2 sunsetting, my other concern is using the app. I’ve tried the current app and found it seriously lacking when compared to my CAB2, but your photo seems to show the new app will be much more robust and closer to the CAB2 screen. Can you tell us how the new app compares to the CAB2??? While the slide speed control may be more prototypical, I think I prefer my red wheel. Thanks.
I used the APP extensively during the BETA testing and it supports all the TMCC/Legacy functions with the added ability of running LionChief RF and Bluetooth engines. It is essentially a functional replacement for the CAB 1L, CAB2 and the Lionchief remotes with the addition of functions such as the 4 digit addressing and whatever Lionel may announce in the future. So you don't need any of these remotes to run your trains, just the BASE3 and the new APP. You can still use the CAB1L or CAB2 with the new Base3 but you don't get any new Legacy function. Just the existing 2 digit addressing. The CAB1 is NOT compatible with the BASE3.
NJ Highrailers thanks for giving the new Base3 App and base a spin on your fabulous layout, and a few pics. Fantastic choice to beta test at!
Jim
I guess you just can't please some folks no matter how hard you try. There are always a group of whiners on this site that have nothing better to do. They always see the negative and never the positive aspects of what a new product can deliver.
As an example, let's say I do not currently own any engine that requires a remote because I'm new to the hobby. However after attending York I now have five engines that require some sort of remote due to their operating system. If that were to happen then I would need a remote to run those engines - correct?
But the remotes for some systems are either out of production or being phased out. This new command base addresses that issue perfectly for me. As I can now buy any older system and run that engine as well as any new future engine Lionel may produce. This is a Win Win for the new hobbyist.
Let's say I'm an old timer and I have several engines that require several different remote systems. Do I really need to have a bunch of remotes readily handy to run them all? Potentially yes depending on the system and number of users. Let's also assume I've dropped a couple and they no longer operate. What am I supposed to do?
This scenario can be rectified by the use of the new Lionel Base 3. Its just that simple.
For those of you who have remotes and only a couple engines - then this new option may not make sense to own.
If you are one of those individuals then I would recommend that you NOT knock down a new product because it poses no advantage to you. Instead you should either be quiet or support the efforts of Lionel to produce an offering that has the potential to solve issues that others may be experiencing.
Keep an open mind and try to see both sides of an argument, and you'll live a happier and fuller life for it.
I have a CAB1 and a half dozen Legacy engines. I am not going to pay 2 times msrp for a used CAB2, especially with no guarantee of spare parts being available down the road. 4 digit addressing is no incentive for me to buy. A functioning system that allows me to use all the capabilities of my Legacy engines at a price point that is now lower than what’s on the market is my incentive.
Thanks for giving feedback on the testing. I can think of no better place to put the new system to the test. Glad to hear we’re getting closer to a functioning product as designed and advertised.
The Base 3 is cool. My thinking is it will offer Lionel much more flexibility to new add features. We’ll just have to wait and see!
First off kudos to Lionel and the NJHR's for testing the Base3 on what is probably one of the most challenging environments and layouts. I am guessing it went well as I don't see any tinfoil hats in any of the pictures but that Hot Dog hat is concerning. I suspect that there are few layouts, only 3 others come to mind, that could have taxed the Base3 and find any issues Dave and the team need to address. Personally I am envious. LOL!
Second, I have no qualms with folks who feel that they don't want to early adopt, are happy with what they use (even those conventional guys that will eventually chime in, LOL!), are unsure about using an app vs a remote, asking questions that may seem basic. It's how we all learn. Constructive dialog even when critical is always good.
Then there's the other people, the few who wake up every morning and start the day by kicking the cat. They must be fun at both funerals and weddings. I consider the source and pretty much it becomes background noise. Not one constructive comment or observation. Just ranting.
Lionel and especially Dave has said he wants this right from the start. I'm glad to see he is out and about on some of the biggest layouts doing the testing. While he may not find every bug, I suspect very few will get by. I'm confident in the system and pre-ordered it. I look forward to having the Base3 Users Group meetings or as we'll have to call them now the BUG Meetings again at York, hmmm we may have to work on that. Lionel has always been a great contributor to our past meetings and even if they don't attend I'm sure we can count on them to support our meeting.
So to sum up, thank you NJHR and Dave! I'm sure I just painted a target on my back but I don't care. I'm excited about Base3 and the things it's advertised to do and the thing we probably don't know it does yet. If you don't need all of what it has to offer then just keep using your CAB1 systems, Legacy systems, or transformer control. It's not a requirement to run your trains.
I am another one that has over 150 engines both in TMCC and LEGACY. I also have ordered the BASE3 and am looking forward to running my engines with it. My biggest concern is loading all my engines into the new system. I now have a cheat sheet of all the engines and being not a big deal to see what number they are, it would be nice to have the capability to scroll by either number or name to find the engine. I hope this will be an easier way to store and look up engine ID.
MARTYE about BUG BASE3 USERS GROUP, maybe BUGGED BASE3 USERS GROUP GETTING EVERYTHING DOWN?….. or BUGGER BASE3 USERS GROUP GETTING EVERYTHING RIGHT…. or maybe not…..😁😉😔🤔😱
@bluelinec4 posted:
The beta testing we
nt very well. They are still working a few bugs out but we were impressed
To the NJ HiRailers,
Thanks for testing the Base 3 and I must say you have one heck of a layout.
This layout is simply incredible! 
Also are those vending machines along a wall for dispensing food or for trains?
I visited your website and was very impressed by its content and professional look and feel.
Great job guys keep up the good work! 
It’s good to see it out in the wild! I’m hoping that it will support new features in future Legacy releases. I’d like to be able to control every feature to my liking like lighting and sound levels. I think the app could be cool if they take advantage of a typical smart device’s features beyond just screen interaction.
@MartyE posted:I am guessing it went well as I don't see any tinfoil hats in any of the pictures but that Hot Dog hat is concerning.
LOL Your the first to notice that hat Jim traded in his tinfoil hat for the hot dog hat
Actually Jim is our fireman chef on Wednesdays He usually makes hot dogs for everybody and one of the members bought him the hot dog hat
Nice to see that it does exist.....like Santa and talking M&M's......
I'm sure if it can handle the NJHR layout, it will work just fine on our railroad empires. I like the case too. Nice to see that Dave is testing in real world environments.
I only added a Cab-1L to my layout last year and already have 3 remotes (MTH RC, and Menards F3) under the layout. I've been on the fence about using the apps but being able to consolidate everything Lionel onto one device makes sense. At least I could still use the 1L remote.
Now we are going to need to add cup holders to our control areas.....
Bob
PS- haters are gonna hate.....
@laz1957 posted:I am another one that has over 150 engines both in TMCC and LEGACY. I also have ordered the BASE3 and am looking forward to running my engines with it. My biggest concern is loading all my engines into the new system. I now have a cheat sheet of all the engines and being not a big deal to see what number they are, it would be nice to have the capability to scroll by either number or name to find the engine. I hope this will be an easier way to store and look up engine ID.
MARTYE about BUG BASE3 USERS GROUP, maybe BUGGED BASE3 USERS GROUP GETTING EVERYTHING DOWN?….. or BUGGER BASE3 USERS GROUP GETTING EVERYTHING RIGHT…. or maybe not…..😁😉😔🤔😱
With one button you will be able to see, scroll through and select any engine stored in the Base3. You'll also be able to transfer your roster from the Base2 to the Base3.
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