lol, I love the hot dog hat!!
Man some people love to be unhappy. Poor guy is 100% unaffected by this but still chooses to complain. That must be a rough way to live. That kind of behavior is Facebook appropriate. We get heated here but not like that.
Anyway, this is pretty exciting! I'm going to guess beta testing means they're coming around the final bend. I'm a liiiiiiittle disappointed my current Legacy engines will possibly hold me back from the four digit addressing. I would like four digit so I could just use the number on the locomotive to address it. That would be nice.
I'm very excited to see this thing get into consumers hands so we can start coming up with ways to create physical remotes. This is going to be awesome! 
I mean, just overall @bluelinec4 (bugs aside), did you like it? It sounds like it was solid.
@Allegheny posted:To the NJ HiRailers,
Also are those vending machines along a wall for dispensing food or for trains?
Those vending machines are the latest thing You put your money in the slot and a movable arm comes out and grabs your selection It drops it in a bin at the bottom
Attachments
Images (2)
@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 don't recall anyone, at Lionel or here on the forum, ever saying that Base 3 would be "a game changer".
It integrates things and simplifies operation, and in this way is a stepping stone moving forward, but there's no massive change here.
One can still use the previous systems, assuming you still have working hardware, and not be very far behind.
Mike
@BillYo414 posted:Man some people love to be unhappy. Poor guy is 100% unaffected by this but still chooses to complain. That must be a rough way to live. That kind of behavior is Facebook appropriate. We get heated here but not like that.
Anyway, this is pretty exciting! I'm going to guess beta testing means they're coming around the final bend. I'm a liiiiiiittle disappointed my current Legacy engines will possibly hold me back from the four digit addressing. I would like four digit so I could just use the number on the locomotive to address it. That would be nice.
I'm very excited to see this thing get into consumers hands so we can start coming up with ways to create physical remotes. This is going to be awesome!
I mean, just overall @bluelinec4 (bugs aside), did you like it? It sounds like it was solid.
I loved it It was tested in every mode across our layout Impressed us with the capabilities We have had numerous TMCC trial and error experiments in the past that were very frustrating and this seems to be the first well thought out and added capabilities for customers across a wide spectrum. Dave and Chris identified some minor problems that were brought back to the powers that be that will hopefully be addressed. I am confident they will be because DAve is a train guy that cares about customer appreciation even if he does like the SP.
@Chris Lord posted: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.
Thank you CHRIS….this will be exciting.
@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
I'm closing in on 100 engines. Just gimme a little more time, I'll get there!!!!! 
That's great news @bluelinec4! Happy to hear it.
@Dave Olson's love of the SP will be overlooked for the time being
@bluelinec4 posted: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
Thank goodness. I thought it was a requirement to operate Base3.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:It can happen, it happened to me.
Geez John. Talk about going overboard with a hobby. Not to mention the other hundred or so steam locomotives you have. Only, what becomes of all of them when you pass? 😳
@BillYo414 posted:I would like four digit so I could just use the number on the locomotive to address it. That would be nice.
Technically while not 4 digit addressing, you can use the road number of the locomotive to select it by using the "select" button on the left hand side of the LCD screen and punch in the road number. You are selecting the road number rather than the TMCC address.
That being said 4 digit addressing is definitely a feature I am looking forward to.
It happened to me also. I needed a panorama to get it all in!
Attachments
Images (2)
How much of that very large thing contains functioning electronics? In this era of miniaturization it should not be the size of a smart car.
@Allegheny posted: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!
If you have not been there, I do suggest trying to get out there to see the layout in person. The HiRailers are very welcoming to anyone that comes through their doors, and their hospitality is first rate. When they had the OGR 50th Anniversary, I got to go and get the full tour as well as Ben giving the details on how everything works up top. It is definitely a stop and see experience that every train person should get out to see. I need to make another visit in the future.
@Yellowstone Special posted:Geez John. Talk about going overboard with a hobby. Not to mention the other hundred or so steam locomotives you have. Only, what becomes of all of them when you pass? 😳
They're all going in the box with me. 
@necrails posted:How much of that very large thing contains functioning electronics? In this era of miniaturization it should not be the size of a smart car.
It holds basically the same footprint as the Legacy base.
@Chris Lord posted:It happened to me also. I needed a panorama to get it all in!
See, I'm not the only nut here!
@MartyE no kidding? That's good to know! It wasn't bad when I had two locos to remember. But now I'm at five now and it gets to be a bit much after the number juggling at the day job. Thanks!
I am confused. The TMCC and Legacy specs are available. I will admit to never owning a Legacy controller. A long time ago I wrote a program in VB6 that picks apart received TMCC messages and decodes them (I would switch to C++, C# or anything else if I did it again). I have also sent commands out my computer to the base. Also did something with a demo version of LabVIEW. I also used some terminal program that could store macros, I would just send like, Track 1 Boost (turn it on), Eng 31, run at a low speed. I am not familiar with the command structure of the Legacy messages, but golly gee whiz, if you can go up to 9999, your field should probably be at least 32767, whatever that is, 15 or 16 bits, in length.
OK great. But if I was writing an app, I sure as heck would have a way to create a list of available engines, maybe even have a .jpg or .png, maybe store this stuff in an SQLite data base, so you don't have to remember the 2- or 4-digit address, or have to type in 4 digits every time. Then as long as you have a data structure, class, database, whatever, I would have an enumerated value as to what type of command it is, then later on have a switch case to figure out how to pack what to send out. Nothing here is rocket science multi-variate N-dimensional computational fluid dynamics rocket science here, anyone with any sort of computer programming experience would come up with the same conclusions, or something better, my education was more assembly language, procedural programming, I had to learn C from a book and vi.
Why is 2 vs 4 even an issue?
@illinoiscentral posted:Why is 2 vs 4 even an issue?
Because once you acquire your 98th engine you are out of TMCC addresses. So by having 4 digits you are most likely never to get to 9999 engine. Noticed I didn't box myself in there.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:It can happen, it happened to me.
And you have no one to blame but yourself
@Chris Lord posted: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.
Thanks for the info, Chris. One last question (which I’m pretty sure I know the answer to…) - will the new app only work with the Base3??? Being able to easily scroll through the ID list is a GREAT help. As for having 100 engines, I’m knocking on that door, and all the new sound cars are not helping!!!
Thanks for the preview.
"Why is 2 vs 4 even an issue?"
Because the hardware/firmware/software of TMCC was devised almost 30 years ago? Just guessing since I'm a complete ignoramus about these issues.
Good to see they are getting close with this latest step in TMCC/Legacy/LionChief.
@Apples55 posted:Thanks for the info, Chris. One last question (which I’m pretty sure I know the answer to…) - will the new app only work with the Base3??? Being able to easily scroll through the ID list is a GREAT help. As for having 100 engines, I’m knocking on that door, and all the new sound cars are not helping!!!
Thanks for the preview.
I'm pretty sure in one of the videos @Dave Olson did he said it would work with within the limits of the LCS module and Legacy base but I tagged him in case I remembered wrong.
@Yellowstone Special posted:Geez John. Talk about going overboard with a hobby. Not to mention the other hundred or so steam locomotives you have. Only, what becomes of all of them when you pass? 😳
Probably not any of your business. Right?
Both the Base3 and the new WTIU are badly needed. So great to see that Lionel is out testing Base3 !
Wishing both Lionel and MTH the best in getting the bugs worked out and getting these products out to market so the current price gouging for command systems can go away!
@necrails posted:How much of that very large thing contains functioning electronics? In this era of miniaturization it should not be the size of a smart car.
It's actually not that large. Same footprint as the Base2.
@Apples55 posted:Thanks for the info, Chris. One last question (which I’m pretty sure I know the answer to…) - will the new app only work with the Base3??? Being able to easily scroll through the ID list is a GREAT help. As for having 100 engines, I’m knocking on that door, and all the new sound cars are not helping!!!
Thanks for the preview.
I believe it only works with the Base3. We are using the Lionchief app to Bluetooth connect direct to LC engines. Didn't need to. Just wanted to test coexistence.
@Landsteiner posted:"Why is 2 vs 4 even an issue?"
Because the hardware/firmware/software of TMCC was devised almost 30 years ago? Just guessing since I'm a complete ignoramus about these issues.
Good to see they are getting close with this latest step in TMCC/Legacy/LionChief.
4 digit is not all that useful yet until more engines support it. But with 75 club members assigning numbers now is getting to be an issue as we used to assign each member 2 numbers and keep.90-98 as a pool. When we were 40 members not so much of a problem.
This is simply GREAT news and a wonderful start to my day!
I installed a new shelf where my (on order) Cab3 will reside on my benchwork and am getting ready to run an LCS cable, etc., etc.!
Thanks for posting and many thanks to Dave Olsen and the amazing group at NJ HiRailers!
@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
Apparently you have an axe to grind. This much negativity in a hobby does nothing to assist others especially new hobbyist.
I think I remember Dave saying that the CAB3 would function within limits with the Legacy command system. There was even a discussion about buying the CAB3 app so you could use it with the Legacy system.
That could have changed, but that's what I remember.
Very informative thread!
Thank you NJ-HiRailers for participating in this real-world beta-test. And thank you Lionel for actually testing the system in a difficult environment. In my experience, lab testing is good (and necessary), but only the real world can produce the wide variety of diverse and unanticipated scenarios needed to adequately shake out a system. A prime example of this is toll systems. You can run trials in the test lane until the cows come home, but only after installation on the road do all the weather-related, reliability, and driver behavior issues become visible.
With my stock-pile of TMCC components (Command Bases and CAB-1 remotes), I don't anticipate becoming an immediate customer of this product, but it's good to know there is a way forward. I have a very small number of command equipped locomotives (9 TMCC, 2 Legacy) by comparison with some of the other posters on this thread, although I do run 3 pairs of consists (2 E-7s, 2 K4s, 2 Decapods). So the small number of trains (1-9) might become an issue.
Love the hotdog hat! And the locomotive vending machines! 
George
When a major manufacturer like Lionel feels it is useful to involve a club in testing its next big thing, it reflects very well on both the company and the club. I hope this kind of collaboration continues and grows to include retailers and the hobby press.
@MichRR714 posted:Probably not any of your business. Right?
Wrong. I was just curious.
@Yellowstone Special posted:Wrong. I was just curious.
Ok sure.. 
It seems like they were just here beta-testing the CAB-2!
Hard to believe that this was at least 15 years ago!!!
-Mat
Attachments
Images (1)
