Legacy Engines With Bluetooth App.

John, I can't answer for you for certain as I'm still waiting on my Legacy with Bluetooth preorders.  Your first assumption is correct.  Have you used LionChief Plus yet?  I assumed when I ordered the Legacy BT engines that the available features would be the same as LionChief Plus because it's the same app.  If you haven't used LC+, that includes: volume control, bell, horn/whistle, front & rear couplers, and smoke on/off.

beachhead2 posted:

John, I can't answer for you for certain as I'm still waiting on my Legacy with Bluetooth preorders.  Your first assumption is correct.  Have you used LionChief Plus yet?  I assumed when I ordered the Legacy BT engines that the available features would be the same as LionChief Plus because it's the same app.  If you haven't used LC+, that includes: volume control, bell, horn/whistle, front & rear couplers, and smoke on/off.

I do have one LC+ engine.  I am mostly MTH, but really like some of the newer Lionel steam/diesel products.  I don't have the Legacy system, but have debated buying it, once I expand my layout.  I assume this means that you cannot activate steam whistle, quillable whistle, etc? 

The only answer I can give is I don't think so.  Someone else will have to chime-in who already has a Legacy w/ BT engine.  I have two that were supposed to deliver already but they keep getting pushed back.  Shocker. 

The app converts the Legacy engine to a LionChief+ engine except you can't control the pitch of the bell and horn.  

Okay.  So that means you wouldn't have whistle steam, etc. either? 

John Ptak posted:

Okay.  So that means you wouldn't have whistle steam, etc. either? 

Whistle steam works fine with the Bluetooth and Universal remote.  So far the only functionality I didn't get with my Legacy Polar Berk was the ability to trigger the "Tom Hanks" clips which is the tower comm functionality on Legacy remotes.

MartyE posted:

John Ptak posted:

Okay.  So that means you wouldn't have whistle steam, etc. either? 

Whistle steam works fine with the Bluetooth and Universal remote.  So far the only functionality I didn't get with my Legacy Polar Berk was the ability to trigger the "Tom Hanks" clips which is the tower comm functionality on Legacy remotes.

Interesting.  So how do you activate the whistle steam on the app? 

John Ptak posted:

MartyE posted:

John Ptak posted:

Okay.  So that means you wouldn't have whistle steam, etc. either? 

Whistle steam works fine with the Bluetooth and Universal remote.  So far the only functionality I didn't get with my Legacy Polar Berk was the ability to trigger the "Tom Hanks" clips which is the tower comm functionality on Legacy remotes.

Interesting.  So how do you activate the whistle steam on the app? 

Blow the whistle.

I don't know what the app looks like for a steam engine, but if there is no option in the app for a feature, then the app can't control that feature.  I would think that whistle steam activates when the whistle is operated.  I don't know what your "etc" features would be, but if it isn't in the app, the app can't control it.   Lionel may eventually go the way of MTH and make the app be the same as the Legacy remote, but currently there are many Legacy features that the app can't access.

Lionel already has an app version of the Legacy remote, but it is not free, so you have to buy it (I think $50). The bluetooth app is a very simple interface without the advanced features

Wow.  Well, there you go.  For an extra $50, if you don't want to buy Legacy, you're all set.

Harry's Trains posted:

Lionel already has an app version of the Legacy remote, but it is not free, so you have to buy it (I think $50). The bluetooth app is a very simple interface without the advanced features

Not sure what Lionel app you are referring to?  The Lionel Lionchief app is free, which controls Lionchief, Lionchief+ and Bluetooth Legacy engines.

I found the app.  It's called "Lionel iCab" for $49.99.  Do you need the Legacy system to use this app, or can you operate Legacy engines with full functionality without having the Legacy remote, etc.? 

the iCab app is Lionel's app for running Legacy locomotives from a smart phone. You still need to have a Legacy base, so it is not $50 and done, rather it adds wifi capabilities to the Legacy system. You still have to buy Legacy at some point.

Plus LCS wi-fi

iCab

Harry's Trains posted:

the iCab app is Lionel's app for running Legacy locomotives from a smart phone. You still need to have a Legacy base, so it is not $50 and done, rather it adds wifi capabilities to the Legacy system. You still have to buy Legacy at some point.

Shucks

iCab also only runs on Apple stuff, so it's a loser for me anyway.

Does the Legacy quillable whistle/horn function with the Bluetooth app?

Jim Harrington posted:

Does the Legacy quillable whistle/horn function with the Bluetooth app?

No but it does randomly multi chime. 

JFC454 posted:

The app converts the Legacy engine to a LionChief+ engine except you can't control the pitch of the bell and horn.  

I need to modify my statement.  I have a Bluetooth equipped Legacy AC6000.  I have found that if the engine is on a track that has a Legacy base connected, then when the app is used the engine operates as a LionChief+ would except for controlling the pitch of the bell and horn.  Any adjustments to the other various sounds are maintained when the engine is run at a later time using either the app or the remote.  This is how LionChief+ engines work as well.  However, if my engine is run on a track that does not have a Legacy base attached the app works differently.  Without the base connected, the Legacy engine starts up in Conventional mode when the power is turned on.  (LionChief+ engines don't do that, they wait for the signal from the remote or app).  When either the remote is turned on or the engine connected in the app, the volume settings to not revert to those previously selected in the app.  Each of the volume settings must be readjusted in the app each time the engine is turned off and on again.  The same would be true for the smoke setting.  This makes the app less convenient than when used with a LionChief+ engine on tracks that do not have a Legacy base connected.

Having not kept current with all this wifi and the several Lionel 'Lionchief' systems, it certainly can be confusing to many of us out here. Our club has 6 or 7 Lionchief engines but no wifi as yet. From this discussion above, the Lionel system appears to be complex in trying to figure what runs with what.

Is the MTH wifi still 'better' in that it will operate Legacy easily if I remember correctly?