The Cab-2 has a red LED on it near the red knob. I've been told that it blinks when it can't communicate with the base. It blinked a lot so I changed it to channel 8. It still blinks all the time, even when I'm 3 feet from the base, so button pushes don't always register. It seems unless it has a clear line of sight to the base antenna it blinks. A train passing between me and the base will cause the light to blink. Is it really that sensitive? The base is stilling on top of the layout right now, so there is no way I could even thing about putting it under like most people do. Is there anything I can do to improve the signal on the base and the Cab-2? My Cab-1s and TMCC base never have any issues, I always get an immediate response from the locomotives, and I don't even have those antennas out one full segment. Sometimes it even seems like my holding it kills the signal on the Cab-2 as if I lay it down on the layout and then push buttons it'll work. And the batteries are fully charged.
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The Cab 2 red led is indication of poor signal between the base and Cab.
What version software are you running? There have been improvements in latter versions. 1.6 is the most recent but most folks above 1.3 have been fine.
Also are there any other signal sources in the 2.4GHz band near the base or local to the room?
Typically if you are that close and having issues it sounds like you could have a failure but I would check those things as well.
You could also try other channels just in case 8 happens to be getting interference as well. Some people have added an add on antenna to the base but with the way you are describing it, being 3' away I suspect that won't help.
lots of good info in this thread, tmcc/legacy reference
If changing channels doesn't do it, I suspect it's broken.
I am running the version just before they added AUX 3, with no way to update it past that on my own (I lack the needed computer interface. Really, serial, why isn't it USB yet?).
As for being broken, figures since it's just out of warranty, and the 2nd time I've need to get it fixed for something. Would it be the base or the handheld?
Could be the base or the handheld. I've seen more issues with the base, maybe you can find a friend with a CAB2 or CAB1L to test the range.
I am running the version just before they added AUX 3, with no way to update it past that on my own (I lack the needed computer interface. Really, serial, why isn't it USB yet?).
As for being broken, figures since it's just out of warranty, and the 2nd time I've need to get it fixed for something. Would it be the base or the handheld?
unless something has changed the legacy system is never out of warranty.