Legacy 990 Newbie Question

@KarlDL posted:

Got a chance to acquire the 990 Cab-2 package from an estate sale.  The handheld would not wake up, so I sent it to Lionel for eval/repair.  They replaced some components and it now lights up.  But it can't find its base.  Retry and Scan were tried with no luck.  I didn't see any troubleshooting guidance in the downloaded manual.  Might this be caused by dissimilar firmware?  Any other ideas?

It could very well be dis-similiar software.  While most base and HH versions play nice if they are too far apart it maybe having an issue.  What version Blue modules came with it if any?  Chances are Lionel updated the HH to the latest.  Did the base go in too?

Are the remote and base set to the same channel? There are 9 different channels. Instructions on how to change the channel on each are in the manual.

Scan should find the base, but as Marty says, if they're way apart in versions, it could be a problem.  I had this happen once, and updating everything to the latest version solved the problem.

Ok, being that the set has been sent to Lionel, maybe the system isn’t connected correctly to the track? No matter which update is in the system, the cab 2 should be able to find the base. Possibly the system isn’t connected to the ground side of the transformer. @KarlDL, I would contact a few of your local model railroad enthusiasts that a familiar with Cab 2. You might also have a hobby shop in your area that might help you check out your system. Good luck.

A few things.

We haven’t established that both the Cab2 and base we’re sent to Lionel so it is very possible that they are grossly mismatched software wise.

Second the track connection should have nothing to do with Cab2<>base communications.

With the system sitting on a table it should be able to scan for the base and find it. So if software isn’t the issue the base might also have a problem that wasn’t found if not sent to Lionel with the Cab2.

The base didn't go back to Lionel.  Problem happens with or without track connection.  Channel sync will be checked and then firmware versions will be updated.  Will mix & match with club's 990 boxes if FW doesn't do it.  Thanks for the advice. 

If the base was an original 1.0 software version, it has to go back to Lionel before you can upgrade it in the field.

Update ... Channel numbers checked on base and handheld.  With base set to 1 or 2, handheld doesn't find base when scanned or retried.  It appears that one cannot determine the FW revision levels in either the base or handheld without them communicating.  I don't have the blue or black memory modules - and a fair amount of time flailing about the Lionel parts site didn't find them, so I assume that they're no longer available and I've got a major issue without them.  So it looks like my best bet is to try my base with the club's handheld and vice versa, to get some idea of what's up.  And, if that gets me nowhere, send the both the base and handheld in to Lionel.

@KarlDL posted:

Update ... Channel numbers checked on base and handheld.  With base set to 1 or 2, handheld doesn't find base when scanned or retried.  It appears that one cannot determine the FW revision levels in either the base or handheld without them communicating.  I don't have the blue or black memory modules - and a fair amount of time flailing about the Lionel parts site didn't find them, so I assume that they're no longer available and I've got a major issue without them.  So it looks like my best bet is to try my base with the club's handheld and vice versa, to get some idea of what's up.  And, if that gets me nowhere, send the both the base and handheld in to Lionel.

I'll say it again, if it's an original base with software earlier than 1.2, you'll have to send it back to Lionel.

If you can find some blue modules, they're pretty easy to turn into writable modules.  Also, I actually laid out a replacement module board and at one point Bruk had a 3D design for a shell for them.  Don't know where that effort ended, but I did make a prototype and tested it successfully.

@KarlDL posted:

I don't have the blue or black memory modules - and a fair amount of time flailing about the Lionel parts site didn't find them, so I assume that they're no longer available and I've got a major issue without them.  So it looks like my best bet is to try my base with the club's handheld and vice versa, to get some idea of what's up.  And, if that gets me nowhere, send the both the base and handheld in to Lionel.

One major problem as GRJ pointed out is we have no idea what the Base version is. Without that you may or may not be able to upgrade it. If you have access to club systems maybe they have updated modules.

There are literally 100s of Blue Modules that can be modified sitting with peoples layouts doing nothing. I would hope someone could give you a few to modify.

Also call Lionel. They may have them. Base 3 is expected to ship with a black module.

This is by no means a dead end.  

I'm checking with the seller's agent to see if the original memory modules can be found.  I'll also check with club members at our July meeting for "extras".  Hopefully, checking base and handheld against the club's 990 set will give me a clearer picture of whether the base is an "oldie".  I, like others, ordered a Base 3 long ago and am patiently waiting.  Not fretting failure - just lowering my expectations of a quick resolution.

Worst case you send it to Lionel and get it all straightened out.

@MartyE posted:

Worst case you send it to Lionel and get it all straightened out.

If it were mine, it would already be on it's way!

Agreed. Save yourself a lot of hassle and send it back to Lionel so they can update everything. I did this and the service was A+.