Have you or know of anyone that had taken the black module apart and compared it to the blue module to see if the chips are the same?
Trust me, the chips are the same. Even Jon Z. the guy that designed it confirmed they were the same.
Late to the party as usual, but I just found this thread and updated my Legacy Cab 2 and Base from 1.3 to 1.72 and 1.6. Thank you so much, John. I took a multi-year break from the hobby and didn't realize just how much had changed. Writable modules are pretty much unobtainable in 2023. You saved my bacon!
@PRSL Dave posted:Late to the party as usual, but I just found this thread and updated my Legacy Cab 2 and Base from 1.3 to 1.72 and 1.6. Thank you so much, John. I took a multi-year break from the hobby and didn't realize just how much had changed. Writable modules are pretty much unobtainable in 2023. You saved my bacon!
I'm glad this was useful for folks here. FWIW, I'm cooking some spare modules right now using those "free" modules. 
I'm surprised they're out of stock so many places!
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I'm glad this was useful for folks here. FWIW, I'm cooking some spare modules right now using those "free" modules.
Thank you, John! Like an idiot, I bought a NIOB version 1.0 990 on bee (in pig latin
) without doing my "version" homework for a relatively embarrassing price thinking it could be upgraded easily. Now I've got to send it to Lionel for the upgrade and the black modules for version backup are nowhere to be found, not even as a grossly over-priced item on the above -referenced site. The update will likely take 8 weeks, but, in the meantime, I'll be able to turn my two blue 1.0 modules into backup copies of the latest version of the CAB-2 and 992 base software and handle future updates at home with your "fix." So, thanks again!
@Bill Swatos posted:The update will likely take 8 weeks, but, in the meantime, I'll be able to turn my two blue 1.0 modules into backup copies of the latest version of the CAB-2 and 992 base software and handle future updates at home with your "fix." So, thanks again!
You're most welcome, I'm happy to see that this thread has been useful. 
@gunrunnerjohn posted:You're most welcome, I'm happy to see that this thread has been useful.
@Bill Swatos posted:Thank you, John! Like an idiot, I bought a NIOB version 1.0 990 on bee (in pig latin
Splitting the case is very, VERY tricky. Got one open and modified, though soldering the indicated pads together was difficult. Thought I was "home free" on splitting the other case until the label end wouldn't give way. Screwdriver slipped through on that end and...GONE!
After doing a bunch of these, I've kinda' developed a standard method of splitting the cases. I haven't lost one yet, and as I got better at it, the cases get less beat up getting them apart.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:After doing a bunch of these, I've kinda' developed a standard method of splitting the cases. I haven't lost one yet, and as I got better at it, the cases get less beat up getting them apart.
Indeed! Here's my first one:
I guess I got "cocky" and then destroyed my second one. I will NOT "attack" the label end again. Unfortunately, I've got to find another blue module now.
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What I do is use my X-Acto chisel and set it in the seam and tap it with a small hammer until I hear a crack, that tells me that I've broken the glue bond. Then I do it on the other side. I start at the connector end then do it once more farther up on each side. Finally, I carefully pry the sections apart. Usually breaking the glue bond on the sides is enough to open them up. If they resist, I do a little work on the top to crack those glue joints.
Thanks again, John! X-acto chisel sounds like a winner vs the jewelry screwdriver I was using!
Yep, the jeweler's screwdriver is much too narrow to break the glue bond all along the side.
Thanks for this thread. I had just started getting into Lionel/Legacy when I decided to go back to school to finally earn my BS in 2019. I put the trains aside in order to focus on school for the last few years. Having finally graduated this past December, I pulled out the Legacy Cab 2 and Base yesterday to see if I could get everything up and working. Surprisingly, I was able to do that pretty fast. Then I remembered these forums. I came here to look up how to update the system and stumbled on this thread. I was able to also find Marty's video on youtube to help me better understand what was needed to modify the blue modules. I was able to get two working writable blue modules. After that, I was able to proceed to upgrade from 1.52 base/cab to 1.6 base and 1.74 cab. Looking forward to doing more things with my trains now that I have more time.
