Command Control Fastrack Switch Not Programming or Taking TMCC Commands- Ideas?

Had the same issue. Take the back off and reroute the antenna. It's a brown wire.

nice! I'll give it a shot...

I have the same problem with one switch. Please post the outcome.  Thanks.

Will do! I'm stuck leaving for holiday travel today so it might be a while, but I will post the results when back. thanks!

Safe travels and looking forward to the report 

Hi! At long last I had a weekend day to work on this. I maneuvered the antenna, and zero luck whatsoever. It works conventional via the lever, but no command control and the button to program wont flash once held. 

Any other wisdom you guys might have? I've given it a good look adn all the wiring seems fine. Maybe I'll try writing Lionel next if I can't sort it- I believe its still under warranty?

Actually, warranty is just past a year so I might be screwed...

Have you tried holding your hand directly above the switch while activating it?

i have one that, due to proximity of other nearby switches, has a ground plane issue.

i ran an earth ground near it and all works correctly

No, I didn't think to do that, but, all was working for nearly a year and then suddenly it would not respond.  I just saw this post...AFTER I  pulled the switch out and have opened  it up...as they say, timing is everything.   

jpcanton posted:

Hi! At long last I had a weekend day to work on this. I maneuvered the antenna, and zero luck whatsoever. It works conventional via the lever, but no command control and the button to program wont flash once held. 

Any other wisdom you guys might have? I've given it a good look adn all the wiring seems fine. Maybe I'll try writing Lionel next if I can't sort it- I believe its still under warranty?

I just fixed mine.  I replaced the TMCC receiver. It's the small board the antenna is connected to.  Part Number 691FTSW801. Eazy-peazy.  Good luck.

Thanks Ed! I might as well try it- where did you order the part from?

Welcome.  Lionel's website.  I entered  "fastback switch" in the "replacement parts"  section and a listing of parts appears. It costs $18.60.    Good luck.

Arrgh...that's "Fastrack"....  dang spell check always changes fastback  to fastback....

hah!...and it 's a smart-*** to boot!  

Ah- many thanks for the help!

Welcome. Let us know if that works for you. 

ToledoEd posted:

I just fixed mine.  I replaced the TMCC receiver. It's the small board the antenna is connected to.  Part Number 691FTSW801. Eazy-peazy.  Good luck.

Thanks for the heads-up, but just wanted to point out a small typo there, that "8" should be a "B". (I found it OK by searching for the switches themselves and then looking through the parts list).  Link to part on Lionel site.

I noted there were both A and B boards listed, but the A was unavailable.  I have an older (probably 1st generation, if they've evolved) TMCC switch with this exact problem, so I'm tempted to order the board.

-Dave

Thanks for the correction. (B) is the board I used. 

Gentlemen,

   Lesson learned on this one, always check/test your FTCC switches when you bring them home, I have to admit I ended up with 2 switches with bad sending boards myself. However mine were still under warranty, and Lionel swapped the FTCC Switches out and payed the transport cost also.  Every so many switches end up having faulty programming/sending boards, nothing Lionel can due to assure better QC either, it's a way of doing business in that part of the world.  Unfortunately it's not just shorting screws any more.  Now it's suppling faulty electronic boards and other electronic parts also.

PCRR/Dave

Dave, good advice. Mine sat for  few years before I was ready to build my layout. Never occurred to me to test them when I purchased them. I tested engines I bought but not switches. Won't make that mistake again. 

I use Lionel's SC-2 TMCC switch controller. It works great and was easy to program and I didn't have to buy more switches. Plus it operates accessories.

Yes- lessons learned. Its the last sort of thing I would expect to fail!

Gentlemen,

   Me too, I learned my lesson the hard way, and I wanted to build my Christmas layout right when I found the defective FTCC switches, I picked up a couple more knowing I would eventually need them any way, Guns and I had a discussion as to whether the FTCC switches could be fix with the new ERR boards, unfortunately no dice, they a can only be used to up grade the original FT switches.  I tested the new FTCC switches as soon as they arrived, both were good to go, so I returned the originals for replacement and drove on building the Christmas layout.  I got admit  Lionel has always done right by me, I have every reason to keep purchasing Lionel's products and the ladies they have working in their office's contact positions are beyond professional, Lionel needs to up grade their salaries, they are the best advertisement representatives I have ever seen in the business world any where.  

PCRR/Dave