CAB2 won't stay on...

Just another embarrassment for today's Lionel.

The utter lack of quality control....whether it be on the design front or the flaws of offshore manufacturing....is quite disappointing.

I guess your mileage may vary. I've had 2 pretty much from day one without problems. I'd suspect either poor components or manufacturing.  The design IMO other than the charger is pretty solid.

Chuck I would make sure you politely emphasize how many you've returned. While they don't charge you to fix them typically, they should also take care of your shipping being that you've had to send them back so many times. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease. 

Hope you get it straightened out. Personally I'd rather use a remote over a smart device any day to operate engines. You may find it different. 

MartyE posted:

I guess your mileage may vary. I've had 2 pretty much from day one without problems. I'd suspect either poor components or manufacturing.  The design IMO other than the charger is pretty solid.

Chuck I would make sure you politely emphasize how many you've returned. While they don't charge you to fix them typically, they should also take care of your shipping being that you've had to send them back so many times. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease. 

Hope you get it straightened out. Personally I'd rather use a remote over a smart device any day to operate engines. You may find it different. 

Did you send in the Base(s)? I had to send all of them back for a charging update. I've only charged in a charge only base, but Lionel person talked me into having them all updated for charging issues.

I guess the first one I bought had to be sent in for the silver dot so that sort of doesn't count.

Actually I also had to send in the charge only base too because it went dead and took out the fuse in the wall wart it runs on. In fact I blew two wall warts thinking that it was the wart, and plugged in the second. Then it dawned on me not to try another and fix the two  that had their fuses blown.

Marty, I think they have my name on a list . Once they said "which one is this". I said they all look alike and there is no serial number on them. I promised to number them and keep records. I don't know why it mattered since they fixed anything I sent in.

The faults I had were all bases charging, charging base dead, Cab2 back light out, Cab2 display messed up, Cab2 button row dead, Cab2 feedback non existent, and now Cab2 won't stay on.

I do not want to rely on a smart controller. I like buttons and knobs. I like to walk around and not have to stare at the controller to see where to touch, I'd rather watch the trains. I am set up for i-stuff, but only because it was a challenge and a possible backup. That all works well...the layout thing in the iPad could be a little easier to draw and more curve diameter choices. I would also like to be able to draw the layout like with something like  RRTrack or AnyRail and load it into the iPad. Maybe some day, eh?

Thanks for the interest.

cjack posted:

MartyE posted:

I guess your mileage may vary. I've had 2 pretty much from day one without problems. I'd suspect either poor components or manufacturing.  The design IMO other than the charger is pretty solid.

Chuck I would make sure you politely emphasize how many you've returned. While they don't charge you to fix them typically, they should also take care of your shipping being that you've had to send them back so many times. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease. 

Hope you get it straightened out. Personally I'd rather use a remote over a smart device any day to operate engines. You may find it different. 

Did you send in the Base(s)? I had to send all of them back for a charging update. I've only charged in a charge only base, but Lionel person talked me into having them all updated for charging issues.

I guess the first one I bought had to be sent in for the silver dot so that sort of doesn't count.

Actually I also had to send in the charge only base too because it went dead and took out the fuse in the wall wart it runs on. In fact I blew two wall warts thinking that it was the wart, and plugged in the second. Then it dawned on me not to try another and fix the two  that had their fuses blown.

Marty, I think they have my name on a list . Once they said "which one is this". I said they all look alike and there is no serial number on them. I promised to number them and keep records. I don't know why it mattered since they fixed anything I sent in.

The faults I had were all bases charging, charging base dead, Cab2 back light out, Cab2 display messed up, Cab2 button row dead, Cab2 feedback non existent, and now Cab2 won't stay on.

I do not want to rely on a smart controller. I like buttons and knobs. I like to walk around and not have to stare at the controller to see where to touch, I'd rather watch the trains. I am set up for i-stuff, but only because it was a challenge and a possible backup. That all works well...the layout thing in the iPad could be a little easier to draw and more curve diameter choices. I would also like to be able to draw the layout like with something like  RRTrack or AnyRail and load it into the iPad. Maybe some day, eh?

Thanks for the interest.

The charging never interested me so I never sent them in. 

MartyE posted:

cjack posted:

MartyE posted:

I guess your mileage may vary. I've had 2 pretty much from day one without problems. I'd suspect either poor components or manufacturing.  The design IMO other than the charger is pretty solid.

Chuck I would make sure you politely emphasize how many you've returned. While they don't charge you to fix them typically, they should also take care of your shipping being that you've had to send them back so many times. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease. 

Hope you get it straightened out. Personally I'd rather use a remote over a smart device any day to operate engines. You may find it different. 

Did you send in the Base(s)? I had to send all of them back for a charging update. I've only charged in a charge only base, but Lionel person talked me into having them all updated for charging issues.

I guess the first one I bought had to be sent in for the silver dot so that sort of doesn't count.

Actually I also had to send in the charge only base too because it went dead and took out the fuse in the wall wart it runs on. In fact I blew two wall warts thinking that it was the wart, and plugged in the second. Then it dawned on me not to try another and fix the two  that had their fuses blown.

Marty, I think they have my name on a list . Once they said "which one is this". I said they all look alike and there is no serial number on them. I promised to number them and keep records. I don't know why it mattered since they fixed anything I sent in.

The faults I had were all bases charging, charging base dead, Cab2 back light out, Cab2 display messed up, Cab2 button row dead, Cab2 feedback non existent, and now Cab2 won't stay on.

I do not want to rely on a smart controller. I like buttons and knobs. I like to walk around and not have to stare at the controller to see where to touch, I'd rather watch the trains. I am set up for i-stuff, but only because it was a challenge and a possible backup. That all works well...the layout thing in the iPad could be a little easier to draw and more curve diameter choices. I would also like to be able to draw the layout like with something like  RRTrack or AnyRail and load it into the iPad. Maybe some day, eh?

Thanks for the interest.

The charging never interested me so I never sent them in. 

Stuff that need to be fixed keeps me awake. One of my sons is a Psychiatrist and says I have a number of compulsive disorders.

FWIW:  I own several Legacy Steamers....and still run in TMCC.

The same TMCC remote and base that I bought in 2004 and have given me ZERO problems.  Ever.  I had to change the batteries once...and that's about it.

I've thought about updating to Legacy but simply don't want the a*s aches with the CAB2.

I think about picking up a CAB-1L from time to time but that's as far as I've taken it.

For what it's worth, yes I prefer to spell it out, I originally had "charging overheated problems" with my early Legacy system. I subsequently discarded the rechargeable batteries from both of my Cab-2 handhelds, and replaced them with AA "coper top" batteries. I have had no problems since. I even taped over the charging contacts in the charging base.

Berkshire President posted:

FWIW:  I own several Legacy Steamers....and still run in TMCC.

The same TMCC remote and base that I bought in 2004 and have given me ZERO problems.  Ever.  I had to change the batteries once...and that's about it.

I've thought about updating to Legacy but simply don't want the a*s aches with the CAB2.

I think about picking up a CAB-1L from time to time but that's as far as I've taken it.

IMO if you have Legacy engines you're missing a lot. But each their own. 

MartyE posted:

Berkshire President posted:

FWIW:  I own several Legacy Steamers....and still run in TMCC.

The same TMCC remote and base that I bought in 2004 and have given me ZERO problems.  Ever.  I had to change the batteries once...and that's about it.

I've thought about updating to Legacy but simply don't want the a*s aches with the CAB2.

I think about picking up a CAB-1L from time to time but that's as far as I've taken it.

IMO if you have Legacy engines you're missing a lot. But each their own. 

I understand that....but I have no CAB-2 issues upsetting me. 

I'm sure I'll come around.....eventually.  Hopefully, when the bugs all get worked out.

Then, Command Control #3 will probably come out. 

I understand that....but I have no CAB-2 issues upsetting me. 

I'm sure I'll come around.....eventually.  Hopefully, when the bugs all get worked out.

 

Neither do I. But then again I seem to take to this well.  

Its been more than 7 years. If your waiting for bugs they've been dead along time. Some hardware issues seem more prevalent. 

I guess I should be grateful that my CAB2 stays on for awhile.  Mine will seem to work fine, then randomly shut down in the middle of use - the train(s) keep running - and won't turn back on until seated back in the cradle.  All while fully charged.  It will also "forget" certain engine functions and/or entire engines until the engine data is re-loaded. Customer Service was able to tell me how to do a reset on the and re-load everything, but it didn't solve the issue beyond the very short term.  I'll be calling Lionel to send it in after I get to play with my ESE set for a bit after it arrives last week.

As someone returning to the hobby and new to O gauge/scale I have to say that Lionel's quality control has been very  disappointing. In the past 14 months I've purchased four LEGACY engines, the CAB2 & base, and a starter set as well as the 2 car add-on pack.  All but 2 of the engines have been shipped, at least in part, to Lionel in NC for warranty repairs.  That's a pretty crumby batting average.