CAB1-L

I like the Cab-L  because NO Antenna. To me No Antenna is a big advantage.

DOC posted:

I like the Cab-L  because NO Antenna. To me No Antenna is a big advantage.

Good point.  Didn't think of that as I don't pull the antenna out and it works fine.

The CAB1L also talks to the Legacy base, so I can take it to the club and run TMCC with it and have a more compact remote that's not nearly as fragile as the Legacy CAB2.  I still use the CAB1/BASE1 on my test bench, but I won't feel bad if it croaks and I start using the newer one since I have the BASE1L as well.

The big advantage is speed control. The cab1L should give you linear speed steps since its legacy. I notice a big difference controlling a legacy engine with a legacy remote verses a original cab 1.

99 Legacy Trains

Bottom line is that the Cab1L was not made to be "better" than a Cab 1.  It was made to be a lower cost, simplified alternative to the Cab2 with some Legacy features added in. Lionel listened to the customer to make it "like" a Cab1.  They did.

It is a decent unit.  

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a cab1L.  Like John said it is a little more compact and if I'm just running one of my TMCC or ERR engines I don't always need all the bells and whistles of my cab2.