Cab 2 Lite in the Works

I hope they do it. I have the Remote commander from MTH and it

works well on my small layout. I'd be willing to bet that the majority

of the users have small layouts and have a hard time justifying the price

of a full blown TMCC or DCS system. A small inexpensive system would be great.

I'd buy one in a minute....

Did they have a target release date yet ?

This doesn't sound like an alternate, just an add on.  It sounds like you will have the ability to buy additional remotes that will not have all of the features of the CAB-2 but will be able to talk directly to the Legacy base.  I've never seen the Legacy base for sale separately unless that is also part of their plan.

My friend Ed H has been "guessing" that it will be soon ... very soon ... really really soon.

Stu

I like the idea of CAB2 Lite, that does fill a need.  I'd like to have a couple of spare remotes handy, but I resist spending $200+ for each one.

First I've heard of this.  Should make some people happy or probably not.

I hope that it will be like the DCS Remote Commander so it can be used by children.  I have a lot of kids visit the layout and I want something simple that also limits what they can do.

There is a Cab1-L and a Base1-L; a pair that operates as a lower cost Legacy compatible system.  The Cab1-L will operate with a Legacy Base; so the Base1-L is a separate sale.  The Cab1-L has a quilling horn feature; but otherwise is very close in operation to the CAB1.

Well campers looks like we'll have some interesting topics for the LUG meeting!

Something that has come up at most LUG meetings and sent to Lionel was a less expensive, less complex remote for Legacy for less experienced users.

I'll see what if anything more we can learn for the LUG meeting.

Hmm...  I guess you're saying that the CAB1-L will not work with the Legacy base, right?  So, it's an either/or situation, run with the full Legacy or with this lower cost system?

Jon,

Will the Base1-L be similar to, or a substitute to, the old TMCC Command Base?

I have DCS, can't really find a TMCC Command Base (already have the CAB-1) at a decent price so I can run Lionel engines.  Will the Base1-L work with DCS?  Like others, I don't want to spend $200 just to get a single engine (my soon to arrive 3rd Rail E7) to run using all its features

I'm looking forward to seeing, trying, and buying the new Cab1-L.  I've had pretty good success with Legacy (which actually has more features than I normally make use of), so will be happy to give this new item a try.

Gunrunner said

 I guess you're saying that the CAB1-L will not work with the Legacy base, right?

From Jon Z

Cab1-L will operate with a Legacy Base

>>Will the Base1-L be similar to, or a substitute to, the old TMCC Command Base?

I guess you could conclude such, similar and a substitute.  The 27Mhz product line is discontinued; so don't confuse the technologies of CAB1 and CAB1-L; which engineering is calling "Legacy Light"; hence CAB1-L (Legacy or Lite, not sure the marketing lingo...)

>>I don't want to spend $200 just to get a single engine[snip]

Costs, that is never a topic I can comment about!  Marketing sets the MSRP working with Accounting.  My task is to make it inexpensive to manufacture so MSRP is the best in class for the consumer.  Bob, you could always buy more engines

I guess Bob's concern is it will only operate 1 engine with 1 id ala the DCS mini system but from the sounds of it, it will operate the same 99 IDs that Legacy supports now.

So is there anything the Cab1 L has that the current Legacy does not or cannot support?  Without letting too much out of the bag.

Missed that it would work with a Legacy base, that's great!

I agree John.  Hopefully this will satisfy the operators who want the simplistic operation of a Cab1.  Although I would assume that the functionality is pretty much set unlike Legacy that can be altered via upgrades.

Jon, is the train brake slider dropped on the CAB-1L?  That's probably my most favorite/used controls on the CAB-2.

does or will the cab1-L replace the cab1? reason I ask is at the club, the cab1's are provided but, the legacy units must be owned by the operator. the cab1's are starting to show their age. if the lite units will be a low cost replacement that might be something to look into.

Jon,

Thanks for the response.

I don't mind buying more engines, I guess my real question would be to Lionel AND MTH...will DCS communicate with this new Base1-L to operate TMCC and Legacy engines?

Things would be great if Lionel, MTH, Atlas, and 3rd Rail could combine forces to get their engines to run with both TMCC/Legacy and/or DCS.  I don't think I'm the only one who doesn't like spending $$$ on a system when you already have one in place.  It's kinda nuts when 2 of the 4 manufacturers I referenced above have to make do with an un-supported/no longer made command system (TMCC).  I don't know where Weaver and Williams By Bachmann fit in all of this, as far as I know they're still offered in conventional only.

Chuck

At what point though does the CAB1 L just become the Cab2?  The quillable whistle is in my opinion the "bone".  If you want all the Legacy feature you should get the Legacy system.

That's my only fear of the Cab1L.  All the "Why doesn't it have xyz" that the Legacy remote has complaints.  And there will be some.

Lets see, if I had to "guess", maybe it will be in 2012 Volume 2 ?

If your club has Legacy, you can run the TMCC trains through the Legacy controller using the CAB1-L, so it accomplishes the same thing.

The details are all just guesses other than what Jon Z hast given us.  It will be cool to see what they come up with.

We will have a demo at York, so I have to leave some questions unanswered!

Bob, of course just having fun with you about buying more locos; hopefully the DCS system will connect with Base1-L(via serial); but I have not tried it.

This has been covered before, Dcs is, and has been the system that is incompatable,not to mention more complicated. Wheres the TIU that will respond to my legacy remote? What do you mean "make do with an unsupported system"? Legacy is just a glorified TMCC system(albeit deservidly so) so wheres the problem?

Sounds great Jon, I'll be in for one for myself so I don't have to pry my regular legacy remote from my 7 year old daughters hands!

Marty, the "gravy" is the stuff like the lcd display(s).  The quillable whistle only affects legacy/vision engines.  Train brake applies to all/any tmcc engine.

Still gravy IMO.  Cab 1 had no train brake.  You want TB then pay for it.  Because then you are going to tick off the guys that bought Legacy.

Like I said if you want a dumb down version with basics of Cab1 then you get less.  AT least that's the way I see it.  The more you add to Cab1L the more it becomes Legacy.

Yes and no Chuck, the best part of the slider is how the legacy locomotive sounds change with the increase or decrease in "load". Tmcc locos merely slow down or speed up as they do not have the extended range of load and drift sounds that respond to the slider.

Agreed. 

Of course we do need to see where the actual price point ends up to get a better feel for what should or should not be included for the money.

I'm assuming (which means I am guessing) the new toy will be at least $50 or more cheaper than a full up Legacy set.  Otherwise it wouldn't make sense for most folks to even consider it.  (Unfortunately, while it was a really great deal at the time, the $100 command base and remote sets for TMCC offered back around 1997 got too many folks into the mindset of thinking that a set should always be around $100)

-Dave

Psst.... Weaver has had TMCC available for years as well.  Pass it on.

-Dave

It would be interesting if the release (or at least cataloging) of the new base/remote coincide with the mid-level transformer rumored to be available very soon.

That could make a good package to get folks into Legacy control with a modern mid-level transformer much more economically than is possible now.

-Dave

Train brake has another function.  It can act like a selective panic button.  You can rapidly decelerate a specific engine in a hurry and then reset without doing a system panic.  

If you have Legacy specific equipment you need the CAB 2 to fully use it.  I think its great that they are coming up with a replacement for the old TMCC/CAB-1.  I do see some irony in transferring some CAB2 features to the new unit that are Legacy specific at the expense of other features that would enhance benefit ALL of Lionel's command equipped loco's, not just Legacy ones.

Only if the momentum is set to low.

Train brake has another function.  It can act like a selective panic button.  You can rapidly decelerate a specific engine in a hurry and then reset without doing a system panic. 

Jon,

No problem!

It's been a chore for me trying to find a TMCC Command Base, every time I see one I'm either too slow on the bid or don't have the funds at that time.  I need the Command Base so I can run my TMCC engines (current and future ) using DCS.

The original poster indicated the Base1-L be a compatible with the "Top-End Legacy System".  Will it also be a backfit for the older TMCC System? (That sounds like just another way of stating my 1st question )

I only have the full-blown DCS, so I'm in the dark about all most things TMCC and Legacy (I only have the TMCC PowerMaster and a CAB-1).

It sounds like it will not be compatible with TMCC.  Jon indicated the 27MHZ system is retired. Since the Cab1 and original base use that as the communication method it wouldn't seem so.

I thought I just said that.