Legacy blue tooth

Sounds like no TMCC signal is getting to the boards - check the antenna.  Is this a diesel or steamer?

This is a diesel, Thanks, I’ll take a look at the antenna and reply back.

How "new" is new?  How about a product number?

Greetings, it is a Mil Waukee Road SD40-2 the product number is 1933112. I have sent it to Lionel twice as I purchased it new within the last year. They have sent it back both times saying nothing is wrong with it.  It works on a test track upstairs but does not work on the layout, always starts in conventional mode and will not start in command mode, although the other legacy (not blue tooth) works fine with the command base, as well as all of my MTH engines work fine with DCS. Thanks, Dave

The layout is 16 x 20, two ovals and sidings using atlas O track. I tried laying a ground plane wire around the layout but that had no affect. It baffles me as I built the house in 2009 and put the layout up and have run the MTH DCS system along side the Legacy Command base without issue until buying this bluetooth engine. Do you think there could be an issue with the command base?

The only way to know about the command base is to test it.  I hang a 'scope on them, a good Legacy base should have at least a 5V P-P 455khz TMCC track signal from the track connection to the earth ground pin.  I've seen some ugly stuff come out of some of them and folks were still able to run most of their equipment.

If your other Legacy locos work, then the problem is with your new Bluetooth loco.  Since it runs in conventional, the loco is not receiving the TMCC signal.  First thing to check is the antenna.  I haven't been inside a Bluetooth engine yet so I can't be any more specific on what to look for, but a stray wire would be suspicious.  If its a steamer, the handrails are the antenna - they should be isolated from the loco chassis - check with a multimeter. 

Thanks, I’ll take a look and see what I can find on the antenna. Regards, Dave

Just saw your post that the loco works in command mode on the test track upstairs.  I have experienced a Legacy base that was outputting garbage commands as determined by my TMCC serial output monitoring software.  What the base transmitted to the track is unknown.  Half of my locos running at that show were unresponsive or, if they started, became uncontrollable.  I observed incorrect engine addresses, commands that were not input by the CABs, and massive re-transmission of commands.  Swap bases and see what happens.

If you have the LCS WiFi, download the Lionel LCS WiFi Monitor LE software from Lionel's LCS page and install on a notebook.  Connect to the WiFi and watch the commands - they should correspond to what you press on the CAB2. 

The Legacy base on your layout may have a marginal output signal.  Dale Manquen described a method to test the Legacy base's output signal using a multimeter (you'll need a DB9 serial connector and a resistor to build the connecting circuit).  Test and compare your base outputs.

Another thing to try is change the loco's profile info in your CAB2 from Legacy mode to TMCC mode, or if you have a CAB1 setup, try that.  With the bogus Legacy base, the CAB1 was able to command some of the failed locos.

Greetings, thanks for all the information, I’ll try that prior to the antenna as it sounds like I should check the base first. I really appreciate the input and will let you know what I figure out. Do you know if there is any difference in the command bases sold today versus the one I’ve had for many years? I have updated it, but wondering it it is worth trying a different base all together? Regards, Dave

I have one of the original Legacy command bases that came with software 1.0, it has the same 5.5V signal as my new Legacy base.

Greetings, I was able to borrow a Legacy Command base, the engine worked as advertised with all the functions. So I guess I’ll call Lionel tomorrow and see what they can do with the Legacy base I have, or do you think it is a matter of it just not putting out enough strength. I’ll try and check the strength tomorrow as you described in a prior entry in this thread. I’m curious to see what they will have to say regarding whether or not they can address the strength of signal. Regards, Dave

I suspect your base is outputting a corrupted signal.  There is some variance in signal strength which is mostly inconsequential but since it affects large layouts, Dale Manquen devised the test and subsequently developed the TMCC signal booster.  Send your base to Lionel for repair.

Since it's surely broken, I'd just send it to Lionel.  I've seen bases that had a huge DC offset on the output signal, those wouldn't test bad with the test Dale devised, but they obviously look bad on a 'scope.