Legacy Error "Cannot Find Base"

Sounds like you have done all the proper steps.

 

If you see it scan through all the channels and not find the base that is powered on, it's likely broken.

 

One thing to try, press the reset on the back of the CAB2 for a couple of seconds with the CAB2 on, then try contacting the base again.

Here's what the connectors should look like.  The small male pin on the base is very slightly recessed and pointed.  The antenna has the female receptacle as shown.  If you have something else, it's broken.

 

 

When you "changed the base channel" did you change the channel on the remote as well?

 

The display on the remote indicates the channel the remote is on when selected. You must press the button on the back of the base. The base light will blink each time it is pressed, the number of blinks indicates the channel number. Pages 78-79 of the manual, "Remote to base binding".

 

The system will not work unless the REMOTE AND BASE ARE ON THE SAME CHANNEL, the higher channels seem to give better results for some.

Thanks very much for those who have helped me on my apparent antenna issue. It does appear the male portion of the jack connector is broken. The store I purchased the item appears to be most willing to repair. I did try to switch the base to other channels, and then scan those channels, with no success. I am hopeful the repair will be under warranty and timely. Just wanted to run the trains with the new system today. I'm told patience is a virtue. Mike

Did you have the remote in the base cradle when you powered it up? I just got that error code today because I had unplugged it and plugged it back in and turned on the remote out of the cradle..

Lionel has been fixing Legacy sets on an extended warranty basis, so it should be under warranty.  A bonus is, if you're a military veteran, shipping both ways is free.

 

BTW, I've run the Legacy controller in the charging cradle without any issue, sometimes I'm too lazy to pick it up if I'm just doing a really simple 10 second test.

I had the same error when I brought my brand new Legacy unit home a year and a half back.  After several attempts to resolve along the same path you have already taken, I noticed the base and the remote were at different versions out of the box.  I flashed the firmware in both the base and the remote with the included modules and everything worked fine afterwards.  If i recall, at the time the included version was 1.3.

when I received my second legacy system it was not loaded with any software. I plugged in the blue modules and was good to go.

Hard to believe it wasn't loaded with anything, as the software is what reads the module and loads the new version.

had to be that way because when I turned on the hand held I got no base found. loaded modules and was good to go.  my first unit was OK out of the box.  I will say I got my second unit in Dec 2011 after waiting  a year because of delays.

I would tend to agree with bigdodgetrain, odd thing s that my Legacy unit that had the problem was also picked up in December 2011.  Maybe there was a batch with software issues?

 

As for the software having to be there to read the modules, I may be wrong here and feel free to correct me, but I would think that since the process involves inserting the modules while the units are powered off, then turning them on while other buttons are depressed to tell the units to boot from the modules, I would suspect that the software instructions to flash the units is on the modules, not the units.

 

Loading the modules into the CAB-2 and the base only takes a couple of minutes to try.

 

Check out this thread:

https://ogrforum.com/t...t-locate-legacy-base

 

 

If the pin really is broken off in the RP-SMA connector on the base, I think this is a moot point.  He needs to get the base fixed in any case.

when you get it in the box you got to up date so if you do you must do the contraler first or it will do that

I hope in the intervening three months that he's figured this out.  

 

You might want to check the message dates.

Hey John, thanks for the help on the SD40, got the poart in the other day and the engine seems to be running just fine. The really high current draw is down to 3.2 1.2 with everything running and the motors arent smoking hot anymore. I really appreciate it

I love a happy ending.