Conventional to remote with Lionel Powermaster

I remember asking a question about remotes one time, I also remember being told that the original powermaster and the Cab-1L aren’t compatible. Your talking about the original powermaster right?

No, the CAB1L only communicates with the BASE1L or the Legacy base.  It will also communicate with the BASE3 when that shows up.  There is a way to use the original PM1 with the CAB1L, that would be adding the Legacy Powermaster Bridge.  However, a much smarter move if you only have one old PowerMaster is to replace it with the Legacy Powermaster.

If you want to use the original PM1, the ONLY thing that communicates with it is the original TMCC CAB1.

@Train Nut posted:

I had a question about running conventional engines with a Lionel powermaster.

I know how it works. My question is about the remote you can use with it.

A while ago I read up on it and it indicated the Powermaster was to be used with a cab-1 controller. My understanding is the cab-1 controller was replaced with the cab-1L and it appears that the cab-1 it's no longer being produced.

Current literature on the Powermaster really doesn't even indicate remote control operations anymore so therefore it doesn't recommend a controller.

My question is - can you use a cab-1L with the Powermaster to run conventional tp remote, or is the only option to look on the aftermarket for a original cab-1 ?

#1 The CAB1 original remote transmits 27 MHZ and TMCC format commands. Key note is pull out antenna required for 27 MHZ.

#2 The CAB1L is completely different, blue remote that looks like the older CAB1 button and knob format, but transmits 2.4GHZ, and while mostly limited to TMCC command format- does have quilling horn/whistle depending on how the button is pressed- hence the name "Legacy Lite" meaning it either talks to the matching 2.4GHZ receiving BASE1L (blue) or the Legacy base, or the CAB3 base when released.

#3 The original TMCC powermasters receive directly 27MHZ from the CAB1 remote. No base involved. As a caveat, there is a device- the Powermaster Bridge- a device that receives the TMCC/Legacy 455KHZ track signal from a base, and retransmits on 27MHZ to forward those commands (bridge) to an older TMCC 27MHZ receiving powermaster.

#4 Legacy Powermasters (blue)- receive 455KHZ TMCC/legacy track signal from the base- a departure of the previous direct remote to powermaster radio link.

So again, if you bought a CAB1L remote, it's talking on 2.4GHZ, and the devices that can receive that are- Blue BASE1L, Legacy 990 set base, CAB3 base when released.

If you bought an original powermaster- then you need a CAB1 to talk to it, or else,

the long around the room is the CAB1L remote, to a matching BASE1L, to a Powermaster Bridge- to your original 27MHZ Powermaster.

Just to assist visually:

CAB1-----Original TMCC Powermaster - 2 devices (no base required)

CAB1L----BASE1L----Track signal---Powermaster Bridge------Original TMCC powermaster - 4 devices in series

CAB1L-----BASE1L----Track signal---Legacy Powermaster- 3 devices in series

Thanks for the quick responses.

So it sounds to me like all I would need is a legacy power master, a Cab-1L controller, and my postwar ZW Transformer to run conventional engines via the remote. Is that correct?

You need a command base, either the BASE1L or the Legacy base.  Everything but the ancient PowerMaster looks for the TMCC/Legacy command base for commands.  The TMCC PowerMaster and CAB1 were actually the very first products introduced in the mid 90's, the TMCC command base came after those and allowed full command control using the CAB1.

Gotcha!

Sounds to me like it's better to just stick with the ZW control levers. Seems like quite a cost associated with it just to run conventional stuff remotely.

Or maybe stick with the old Power master and look for a decent cab 1 remote.

My concern is the durability of those old cab 1 remotes. I thought I read somewhere back in the day they weren't that durable and prone to failure.

@Train Nut posted:

I thought I read somewhere back in the day they weren't that durable and prone to failure.

Are you sure?

There are many, many many of them out there.  By and large they seem to work just fine, even after all these years.

One of the good things about a forum such as this is that folks can, and usually do, post issues when they occur.  With the Cab-1 we don't see many postings reporting problems.  It's that simple.

Mike

The above posts confirm my decision to stay with conventional control keeping life reliable and simple.

Charlie

@Train Nut posted:

My concern is the durability of those old cab 1 remotes. I thought I read somewhere back in the day they weren't that durable and prone to failure.

The CAB1's aren't especially troublesome, but you do have to remember, they're at least 20 years old when you get them.