Command Base and Legacy Base Not Playing Nice

Exclusive OR.

Both devices are transmitting a signal of about 450 kHz to the track. Either let the original Base or the Legacy Base transmit at that frequency, but not both, they will collide/interfere. [edited].

The CAB-1 uses a signal around 26 MHz to talk to the original Base (and original PowerMaster), the CAB2 and CAB-1L use somewhere in the 900 MHz range, that's why their antennas are much smaller.

Going to be honest, I don't know what happens with the Base2 and Cab1L, and I don't plan on finding out, someday I will make the jump to hyperspace with the Base3 and some smartphone. I had Cab1L and Base1L, and I put them away since I have three Cab1 remotes and a bad habit of leaving them in strange places in the basement.

I have only a TMCC base and CAB-1 remotes. I do have a couple of Legacy locos. I've never heard of a layout with two Lionel-system command bases. Didn't think that was a thing, procedurally.

Why not just use your Legacy base to run everything? Or, are you one of those guys - like me - who really prefer the CAB-1 interface (too many buttons on a CAB-2 - no fun) but use the CAB-2 when he "has to"?

@Fivenehocs posted:

I have noticed some of my steam locomotives headlights have been flashing and have not been responsive to commands sent either from the the Cab1 or Legacy Cab2 controller. This problem was for the entire layout. When I placed my hand on the handrails (antenna) for the locomotive the flashing stopped. From reading other posts about this problem I went about making sure the track and pickup rollers were clean and attaching a wire to the main water pipe and running it between the two parallel tracks. No change, headlight still flashed. I then disconnected the legacy base from the layout and left the original TMCC Base connected. Flashing stopped an locomotive operated normally. I then disconnected the TMCC Base and reattached the Legacy Base and the flashing stopped and the locomotive operated normally. I checked the connecting cables and all were correctly connected and all connections were snug. Both power supplies are connected to the same power strip. The power strip is connected to a well grounded outlet.

Any thoughts on why these two bases are not in sync would be appreciated.

David

You cannot connect both bases to the track.  If you want to use the Cab1 and Base 1, it must be connected to the Legacy base via the using the serial "Y" cable that came with the Legacy base. Once connected the CAB1 will send a command to the base 1 and then the base 1 will send the command to the Legacy base via the serial connection .  The Legacy base will in turn transmit it to the track. The Legacy base will transmit the commands to the track via the 1 wire connection.  ONLY 1 BASE can ever be connected to the track.

What D500 said, I don't believe you can use both bases at the same time.  Invest in a CAB-1L (they are readily available for a modest sum) and use only the Legacy base.  In the meantime, if you manage to solve it, post up.  Good luck!

As Marty said, you can use your CAB1 remote and CAB2 remotes on the same layout but the TMCC base MUST be connected to the Legacy base via the special cable that Lionel provided with each Legacy 990 system. I have been using both remotes on my layout for over 15 years without any issues.   I love my Legacy remote but find that youngsters can master the CAB1 much more easily than the larger CAB2.  

Both bases CANNOT be attached directly to the track at the same time.

Don

@illinoiscentral posted:

The CAB-1 uses a signal around 26 MHz to talk to the original Base (and original PowerMaster), the CAB2 and CAB-1L use somewhere in the 900 MHz range, that's why their antennas are much smaller.

The CAB1L and CAB2 communicate to the command base at 2.4ghz.  Also, the remote to command base link has nothing to do with the track signal, which clearly seems to be the issue here.

@illinoiscentral posted:

Going to be honest, I don't know what happens with the Base2 and Cab1L, and I don't plan on finding out

The CAB1L and CAB2 work perfectly with the Legacy command base and will also work with the upcoming BASE3.

Thank you all very much for the answer to my problem. I must have been having a senior moment when I hooked the bases up.  And yes as D500 mentioned I do find the Cab1 easier since there are less buttons.

David

I think this is the second time GRJ has corrected me on the frequency of Cab1L. And yes, I know, the track frequency is something like 450 kHz, whatever some PIC microprocessor pair uses.

The median track frequency is 455khz, it varies a few khz with the FSK modulation.

You can use both cab-1 and cab-2 remotes with both bases and only the legacy ground wire connected to the transformer and the cab1 connected via the db9 cable to the legacy base.
Come on David, weren’t you a graduate with a Clyde Coil signed certificate from Coil Couplers Academy as being a TMCC expert? Lol!

@Fivenehocs posted:

Both power supplies are connected to the same power strip. The power strip is connected to a well grounded outlet.

Any thoughts on why these two bases are not in sync would be appreciated.

David

An additional cause of reduced TMCC or Legacy signal is plugging the power supply into a power strip.  This often reduces the signal to the locos from the house ground wiring.  The power supply to whatever base is connected to track should be plugged directly into an outlet or plain 3 wire extension cord.

Bob