Have the insides of the universal remote changed over time

Not sure if anyone has a universal remote with different #s on the back and how old/new it might be.

I would suspect that they have kept updating the Bluetooth board as they either improved the range or just simply had to source a different part.

Are the drops with a Bluetooth locomotive or a RF Locomotive?

@Tony H posted:

I am wondering if the universal remote has changed over time.  I only ask since I have two remotes, bought a few years apart, and the newer one seems to have less issues with drops than the older one, on the same engines.  My layout is about 26x18.

Also the FCC ID# and IC# are different on the two.  This might not mean anything, but just curious.

Thanks

Tony

I only have one Universal Remote, which I believe is the first model.  The FCC ID and IC information is the same the one you have pictured on the right.  The box (Item# 6-83071) says compatible with LionChief, LC+, and Bluetooth.  The included Owner's Manual is dated 11/16 and also mentions FlyerChief compatibility.

I've had no signal issues, always using it within about 15 feet from the locomotives.

I have one like the RH one.  I can't say I'm awed by the range, 10-15 feet it is.

I believe the earliest LionChief locos were radio frequency with no bluetooth, so adding bluetooth probably involved additional circuitry and therefore a different FCC ID.   I cannot imagine why they would need a different FCC ID with the same exact innards and capabilities.  Just an educated guess .

I should have added the one on the right is the older one.  I will have to check to see if I have dates, I am pretty sure I have the manuals, I will check the dates.

@Landsteiner posted:

I believe the earliest LionChief locos were radio frequency with no bluetooth, so adding bluetooth probably involved additional circuitry and therefore a different FCC ID.   I cannot imagine why they would need a different FCC ID with the same exact innards and capabilities.  Just an educated guess .

The original Universal Remote, which I have, already had Bluetooth capability.

I just ordered one and was looking at the units they are compatible with, and see there is an app in the app store from lionel with a link to update/upgrade the universal remotes. Supposedly the newer remotes and the update will allow connecting to some of the older LC sets (not all though). The update uses the bluetooth from your phone to link to the remote. My remote comes tomorrow so I'll see what I have and if my version will need the update.

The two manuals I have are dated 11/16 and 11/19.  The only difference between the two manuals is that the newer one talks about how to update the remote and the hot spot feature.  Both have the Bluetooth feature.

@zhubl posted:

I would suspect that they have kept updating the Bluetooth board as they either improved the range or just simply had to source a different part.

Are the drops with a Bluetooth locomotive or a RF Locomotive?

The older remote will drop both Bluetooth and RF more often than the new remote.

@Tony H posted:

The older remote will drop both Bluetooth and RF more often than the new remote.

Interesting, just out of curiosity are both at V1.3? I don’t know how the software would adjust range but if there was a bug that made it disconnect maybe it was fixed.

@Dan Kenny posted:

I just ordered one and was looking at the units they are compatible with, and see there is an app in the app store from lionel with a link to update/upgrade the universal remotes. Supposedly the newer remotes and the update will allow connecting to some of the older LC sets (not all though). The update uses the bluetooth from your phone to link to the remote. My remote comes tomorrow so I'll see what I have and if my version will need the update.

Grampstrains Posted

I think the 1.3 remotes cover all LC engines.  I have one of the really cheap LC sets made at first and it works fine with  the Universal remote.

I received my Universal remote and set it up yesterday. It did connect all three of my LC locos. One is a 2016 version of the Pennsylvania Flyer ( does not have BT) and the 2018 version of the Santa Fe Super Chief (has BT). Both of these connected and ran well. Also an engine from a LC RTR Scout set connected and ran 1/2 way around the layout and lost signal. It did not reconnect but this engine has some internal issues since I bought it at the Wheaton train show a year ago or so. One of those lemons you get stuck with when you don't know exactly what you're looking at and an unscrupulous seller takes advantage of that. You live and learn I guess. Bottom line the remote works as I need it to and will be used for the next engine I have been eyeing to buy in the future.

Dan, just curious if the printing on the back of your remote.  Does it match either of the ones i posted?

Tony,

my remote is same as your on the left. It is already updated to V1.3 see pics of remote and packaging.