Experience running Legacy on Universal Remote or App (No base)?

So when I got my first Legacy engine I used the app for a little bit before deciding that it didn't have all the features I wanted and buying a Cab 2.  But I think it will have all the features your grandson is used to: basic speed control forward and reverse, whistle, smoke, remote couplers. I think some of the crew talk is there too.  But there wasn't any access to any of the extra Legacy features, like the steam engine I have, I couldn't change the classification light color on the app like I can with full Legacy control.

I only have one Legacy engine with Bluetooth, a set of E7s. It only has the normal functions of sound and stack smoke. It seems to work as well as a Cab2 using either the apps or Universal Remote though the Cab3 App gives the finest low speed control.

Pete

@Norton posted:

I only have one Legacy engine with Bluetooth, a set of E7s. It only has the normal functions of sound and stack smoke. It seems to work as well as a Cab2 using either the apps or Universal Remote though the Cab3 App gives the finest low speed control.

Pete

I don't see finer speed control using the CAB3 app vs the CAB2.  The CAB2 gives you the full 200 speed steps, it don't get no better than that.  I will admit, the CAB3 does work better than the old LC app for Legacy BT equipped engines, but IMO not better than the CAB2.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I don't see finer speed control using the CAB3 app vs the CAB2.  The CAB2 gives you the full 200 speed steps, it don't get no better than that.  I will admit, the CAB3 does work better than the old LC app for Legacy BT equipped engines, but IMO not better than the CAB2.

Comparing the Universal Remote and LC App to the Cab3 App the Cab3 App gives finer control. As fine as the Cab2. The OP doesn’t have a Cab2.

Pete

@Norton posted:

Comparing the Universal Remote and LC App to the Cab3 App the Cab3 App gives finer control. As fine as the Cab2. The OP doesn’t have a Cab2.

Pete

OK, you mentioned the CAB2, that's what I thought we were comparing.

My son runs his legacy locomotives on the app using Bluetooth.  He enjoys it a great deal.

So would you guys say running a Legacy with either the App or Universal Remote is roughly the same as running LC+ 2.0 with the same?  Same number of features?  Example:  The LC+ 2.0 engines have more crew talk and sound features if you run them on a Legacy system.   It's sort of Legacy lite.

Thanks,

John

@Norton posted:

I only have one Legacy engine with Bluetooth, a set of E7s. It only has the normal functions of sound and stack smoke. It seems to work as well as a Cab2 using either the apps or Universal Remote though the Cab3 App gives the finest low speed control.

Pete

So you don't have a base Pete, only the universal and app?

John

Recently acquired my first Legacy steamer with Bluetooth. Our club doesn't have Legacy or TMCC - all Lionchief.  Am I to understand that I can use the Lionel app on my phone and run my bluetooth loco with just the iphone?  If so, that's terrific! Will have to try it out next week or so.

@c.sam posted:

Recently acquired my first Legacy steamer with Bluetooth. Our club doesn't have Legacy or TMCC - all Lionchief.  Am I to understand that I can use the Lionel app on my phone and run my bluetooth loco with just the iphone?  If so, that's terrific! Will have to try it out next week or so.

That's my understanding.

John

@Craftech posted:

So you don't have a base Pete, only the universal and app?

John

John, I have a 990 Cab2 and Base2 and have downloaded the LC and Cab3 App plus have a Universal Remote. Running a Bluetooth engine with the Cab3 App runs as well as when using the 990. As mentioned above if you have a Vision engine with extra steam effects like pop off steam or water scoop effect you may not be able work those with Bluetooth control unless you get the Base3 but otherwise just an App with bluetooth will operate the common functions.

Pete

@Norton posted:

John, I have a 990 Cab2 and Base2 and have downloaded the LC and Cab3 App plus have a Universal Remote. Running an engine with the Cab3 App runs as well as when using the 990. As mentioned above if you have a Vision engine with extra steam effects like pop off steam or water scoop effect you may not be able work those with Bluetooth control unless you get the Base3 but otherwise just an App with bluetooth will operate the common functions.

Pete

Thanks Pete,

Is the complete set of crew talk recordings accessible with the app only?  It isn't with the LC+ 2.0 engines and the app.

John

@Craftech posted:

Thanks Pete,

Is the complete set of crew talk recordings accessible with the app only?  It isn't with the LC+ 2.0 engines and the app.

John

I can’t tell you much about crew talk John. My use of Bluetooth to run the Legacy engine was just to see how it ran. I was under the impression if there is multiple voice recordings on the sound card they would just cycle through depending if you were moving are standing at the station.

If you are considering a Legacy engine with Bluetooth don’t let the lack of a base stop you. You can always get a Base 3 later.

Pete

@Norton posted:

I can’t tell you much about crew talk John. My use of Bluetooth to run the Legacy engine was just to see how it ran. I was under the impression if there is multiple voice recordings on the sound card they would just cycle through depending if you were moving are standing at the station.

If you are considering a Legacy engine with Bluetooth don’t let the lack of a base stop you. You can always get a Base 3 later.

Pete

Sounds good.  I may get him a Legacy engine this year instead of an LC+ 2.0

Thanks everyone.    

John

@Craftech posted:

Sounds good.  I may get him a Legacy engine this year instead of an LC+ 2.0

Thanks everyone.    

John

John- I have a Legacy/BT SW1200 that runs equally well with either my Cab-1L or the Cab3 Bluetooth app.

The Cab3 app is a big improvement over the Lionchief app too.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

John- I have a Legacy/BT SW1200 that runs equally well with either my Cab-1L or the Cab3 Bluetooth app.

The Cab3 app is a big improvement over the Lionchief app too.

Bob

Thanks Bob,

John

@Craftech posted:

Sounds good.  I may get him a Legacy engine this year instead of an LC+ 2.0

Thanks everyone.    

John

That will be a nice gift. You’re a nice Grandfather.

@romiller49 posted:

That will be a nice gift. You’re a nice Grandfather.

Thanks Rod,

I really appreciate that.

John

I think how best to run a Legacy locomotive depends on the degree to which the operator likes technology.

In my case, I usually only like the basic functions when dealing with technology and like to keep things simple. This promotes relaxation and minimizes stress and anxiety for me.

As a result, I’m just fine with running my Legacy locomotives using the Universal Remote. This enables me to have speed control, whistle, bell, electrocoupler, and crew talk.

For me, an advantage of using the Universal Remote over the smartphone app is that by using the remote to run the train, I can use the smartphone to take videos of the train and post them on the Forum. Arnold

I haven't attempted to use any phone app.  I tried the Universal Remote with a LionChief Plus 2.0 loco (which supposedly have Legacy speed control) and was very disappointed.  I found the control to be "jumpy" and notably worse than a similar first-generation LionChief Plus loco with its bundled remote.

For reference, how many speed steps can you access with a CAB-1L?  Modern Lionels have a lot of potential for precision operation.  I won't waste anymore time with the Universal Remote until I hear that a firmware update has been released to improve its low-speed resolution.

I run the few legacy engines I have with the app or universal remote. To me it is worth the little extra cost for a small legacy engine over LC + 2.0. I do have some LC + 2.0 and enjoy them but with Legacy you get the extra details and extra sounds even though they my be random and not on command. My Legacy engines are steam and I love the fact that you still have whistle steam effect even with the app or universal remote.

Follow-up:

Bought a New York Central Legacy GP-30 Lionel Part Number 2433132 for my grandson for Christmas.

Tested it with Bluetooth only on both the Universal Remote and the new Cab 3 app for Android as well as the old LionChief app.

The sound set is limited as well as the functions without a Legacy Base.  It works, but is no different than a LC+ 2.0 in terms of function.

In the app, the engine shows up as 9999 Lionel Diesel.

With the new Cab 3 app the electrocouplers DO NOT show as active and will not work.

With the older LC app the electrocouplers are active and operate properly.  So something is not functioning properly with the new app and a Legacy engine (or at least the engine I bought)

John

@Craftech posted:

Follow-up:

Bought a New York Central Legacy GP-30 Lionel Part Number 2433132 for my grandson for Christmas.

Tested it with Bluetooth only on both the Universal Remote and the new Cab 3 app for Android as well as the old LionChief app.

The sound set is limited as well as the functions without a Legacy Base.  It works, but is no different than a LC+ 2.0 in terms of function.

In the app, the engine shows up as 9999 Lionel Diesel.

With the new Cab 3 app the electrocouplers DO NOT show as active and will not work.

With the older LC app the electrocouplers are active and operate properly.  So something is not functioning properly with the new app and a Legacy engine (or at least the engine I bought)

John

Further update:

Installed the latest release of the Cab 3 App version 1.1.035 dated 9/27/2024 on my Samsung android tablet.

Engine is now recognized properly and both electrocouplers are operative.

Nice.

John

@Ted S posted:

I haven't attempted to use any phone app.  I tried the Universal Remote with a LionChief Plus 2.0 loco (which supposedly have Legacy speed control) and was very disappointed.  I found the control to be "jumpy" and notably worse than a similar first-generation LionChief Plus loco with its bundled remote.

For reference, how many speed steps can you access with a CAB-1L?  Modern Lionels have a lot of potential for precision operation.  I won't waste anymore time with the Universal Remote until I hear that a firmware update has been released to improve its low-speed resolution.

Ted- try the Cab 3 app. You will not be disappointed.

The speed control is much better than with the remote.

Bob