Help on Legacy Features

You should NOT have to pay $40-50 for a black module.  I way overpaid for mine but it was still way less than that.  Check around for a good price.  See if you can negotiate shipping.  Maybe a padded envelope or something.

 

You have other options.  One is to see if there is anyone local to you who can help you upgrade.  I'd ask at your local hobby shop.  Another option is to "roll your own".  I believe gunrunnerjohn posted instructions on how to convert a blue module to a black.  Still another option is to wait.  My Legacy system is at 1.4 and works fine.

 

As for the feedback feature, it is only for Legacy engines.  I'm not sure if they all have it or not.

thanks for the advice.  We just lost our only LHS. Black modules are $17 ea at Charles Ro If you need  two $34 plus the USB to serial $36. I did  download software but it has been 10 years or more since I had computer with serial port.  Maybe someone in our club would split cost but I may be only person with Legacy. Most never went to CAB 1  Art

You only need 1 black module, you can load the CAB then rewrite it and load the base (or vise versa)

 

1.5 does enhance a few features (including boosting the feedback) But no rush to do it, 1.4 works well too

1.4 has very weak feedback. 1.5 improves the feedback dramatically, in comparison. 6-37125 modules retail for $19.95 and are rewritable. The serial cable can be found on the web deeply discounted. Thanks, Mike

The feedback is certainly stronger with 1.51, It surprised me!  I had it turned off on one of the CAB2's, obviously it was on for the other one, practically jumped out of my hand.

You can find a USB -> Serial cable so that you can plug it into any USB port on your computers for $10 or less online. I paid $2 for mine a few years back when I needed it for another purpose. It is a bit amazing that Lionel didn't put a mini or micro usb port on their devices, they are so cheap and so great.

Oddly...I had a new cab which came with 1.4 that had no feedback at all. Lionel replaced it after the second time I sent it back...finally. But the "new" replacement has very weak feedback even with Ver 1.51

I would like it fixed, but I don't see how I could get Lionel to look at the problem a third time. I figure they would think I'm a whiner.

Not at all, if it doesn't work, send it back!  I sent my Legacy back twice for the charging issue.

I just wonder if your expectations of the feedback exceed what it is.

 

Next to the battery charger I would say it's the second most meaningless extra feature on the Cab-2.

 

It vibrates a bit, nothing earthshaking, I can't imagine it being too prototypical. Basically it's about equivalent to your cell phone vibrating , maybe a bit more

I have two older cabs with great feedback and the newest one with wimpy fb. It's not so much how essential it is, but more that if I own it, I want everything on it to work as it should.

I agree with you Chuck, if it has the feature, I expect it to work.

Related legacy lighting issue.Can one turn ONLY the rear light off on Lionel Legacy diesel operating under Legacy 1.51.I cannot get my rear light to come on on my Lionel GE Hybrid.I have reset and reloaded, tested bulb and adjusted the mini brass connectors under the rear hatch.When I swap out the rear hatch compartment from my CP Hybrid ( where rear light works) onto my GE , no rear light.I think I have switched something off.Al B

Longshot,  but has the engine been in a lashup?

Not true, I get feedback with a standard TMCC locomotive when I brake.  I even get it when using CAB1 emulation and brake.

Chris: If it was in a lash-up,how would that effect the engine?

if the engine still thinks its in a lashup, I believe the rear light turns off and lets the rear engine be the light, I could be wrong, I do not do many MU's

Don't know what to say, I can just grab the controller and address a random locomotive that doesn't even exist, crank up the throttle and then pull the brake and I get the feedback.  Both of my CAB2's do that if feedback is enabled, and both are at 1.51.  I don't think it's "luck", clearly it's the way it's supposed to work I would imagine.

Thanks Chris, I will try that.Al B

Let me know what happens, like I said a longshot but it sounds like you tried everything else.

No, this did not work.Deleted train.Did reset and still no rear light.Waiting for Lionel response.Al B

When you used the CLR button the the engine make sounds?

 

Maybe as a last attempt build it into another MU and CLR that one. If not I would say you eliminated anything but a electrical issue

 

FWIW last night I played with my AC6000 and the AUX 2 button, couldn't see a way to just disable the rear lamp via it

The folks who get no feedback...are you able to try it with a Legacy engine...or are you just assuming that it doesn't work because you are trying it with a TMCC engine only?

I posted earlier that I had a late generation CAB that had no feedback what so ever. And the replacement from Lionel was wimpy. My earlier CABs have great feedback with info selection of TMCC or Legacy. Don't even need an engine specific. Tried it with an EER board engine. However it does not function with CAB 1 option.

The feedback is apparently coupled to the throttle display bar.  I mistakenly called it CAB1 emulation, but I was using R100 emulation.  That's really just CAB1 with 100 steps and the throttle position display.  Anytime there is a throttle display and you use the brake to slow down, you should get the feedback.  This is in TMCC, R100, or Legacy modes.  The only one you don't get it in is the plain CAB1 emulation mode.  I just tested all the modes and that was my result.

 

I just powered up the Legacy base (tracks not powered) and I can get feedback in the three modes mentioned above.