Legacy Controller or CAB1L

I agree $340 is a lot but it is a good controller. If you have an iPhone buy the iCab app for $50 and use your iPhone. It works great.

It is not clear exactly what you are needing from your post? If you only need the Cab1L as in the thread title, the Legacy 993 (with charger only, no base) is around $220-$230 or so street price. If you also need the base, then some of the OGR sponsors recently had the Legacy 990 (cab & base) for around $300 or so. I only have a Legacy 990, no 993 or Cab1L experience.

GreekChief,

    I would look to one of our OGR Sponsors when they have a sale going on, and purchase the 990 Legacy unit new from them.  So far Lionel will warranty repair, any Legacy 990 if you have your original sales receipt, darn near for ever, and if you are a Military Veteran, they even pick up the shipping cost.  This is why I keep purchasing Lionel products and besides that, they have Meghan's Magic, when you need to interface with the Lionel Company.  

PCRR/Dave

I have the preference towards the Cab 1L, I like the simplicity. It has the same profile as the Cab 1 and is simpler to operate, your internal CPU does not need as much memory as with the Cab 2. The other thing I like is the fact that my Cab 1L has not needed any trips back for warranty work. I may go to Cab 2 again when the issues have all been resolved.

Ray 

If you are only running TMCC locomotives, then get the Cab-1L.  If you have Legacy locomotives and a Legacy base, get the 993 set, otherwise get the 990 set if you need a base too.

I have my old TMCC base connected to my Legacy base so I can use the Cab-1 to run TMCC locomotives.  In my head they run better that way.  My Cab-2 took a dump, so I found a good deal on a 993 and bought that so that I'd still have a Cab-2 when I send mine in for repair.  I tried running my Legacy locomotives with the Cab-1 until the 993 get in, and it just wasn't the same, I missed too many things you can only do with the Cab-2.

Rayin"S" posted:

I have the preference towards the Cab 1L, I like the simplicity. It has the same profile as the Cab 1 and is simpler to operate, your internal CPU does not need as much memory as with the Cab 2. The other thing I like is the fact that my Cab 1L has not needed any trips back for warranty work. I may go to Cab 2 again when the issues have all been resolved.

Ray 

What are the issues with the Cab2? I was not aware there were any?

I have a 990 Legacy set and a 993 expansion set. Never had a problem with either of the Cab 2 handhelds. I think they are great. My 990 base is an early set so I sent it back to have the charging circuit repaired. It was done and I have had no other issues. I recommend the Cab 2 for Legacy operations. If the Cab 2 seems to be having problems try replacing the batteries with non rechargeables and see if that works. When using replacement rechargeable batteries they should be at least 2400mah rating.

As I commented above the iCab app is good as well and at $50 it is a bargain. I have it on 3 iPhones. As long as all the phones are signed in with the same iTunes account the one purchase can be put on multiple devices.

Thanks for the feedback. The problem I failed to clarify is my father's layout had poached my 990. So I wasn't sure if I should get another 990 or go cab1L. I will probably get a new 990 for my layout from a forum sponsor. When I get it running again.