This may have been discussed before but with the new LCS system is Lionel planning to eliminate the modules that come with Legacy engines?
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They've already done it. For about the last year Legacy engines do not include the Orange modules. A small cost savings I guess.
My just received recently produced NS/NKP Heritage ES44 came with a orange module. It is labeled "LEGACY NP ES44AC 8100."
Originally Posted by PRRronbh:
My just received recently produced NS/NKP Heritage ES44 came with a orange module. It is labeled "LEGACY NP ES44AC 8100."
Well that's wild. Maybe Lionel has reversed the decision to not include modules? If so, good idea in my opinion.
I like the orange modules, makes it easy to slap the description and features in without keying all that stuff in from the keyboard.
I got 2 new es44s the Conrail had it the Pennsylvania didnt .. Who knows lol
All of the new Legacy locomotives that I've purchased in the past year have come with an orange module. These have all been new releases too. (GP-35s, Dash-9s, SD40-2s etc.)
The Sensor track does a fine job at adding any Legacy engine with the sensor. That being said, I still like the module. Yes it can be all keyed in but as John said it's nice to slap it in, hit LOAD, and done. Of course with a built in sensor track, when they are released, I guess its just as easy.
Both sets (SP TankTrain & CN Piggy Back set) that I received yesterday, both of the engines had the orange memory with them.
If i am understanding this right,with the sensor track all i have to do is install this track on my layout & just run any new legacy engines over it ,& all the information will be uploaded on my cab 2. Do i have to hook anything up to a computer to use this track just for loading engine information on to the cab 2,& last is there a special cable i would need just to do what i have just described,i am assuming that lionel will not put the orange modules in with any future legacy engines. Thanks for your help.
Case in point..No orange memory chip..No Legacy Control...Someone who has a legacy engine and system, if he does not buy a senor track and put it in any track in his system. Then he will not be able to run any future Legacy engines he buys in Legacy control.
My Legacy Control 990 set, one of the original issue, arrived with two white and two blue modules on board along with batteries. After registering it with Lionel I received two additional blue modules??? from Canfield,Ohio.
I assume that the orange modules being discussed arrive with the Legacy equipped engines?
Originally Posted by paulp:
Case in point..No orange memory chip..No Legacy Control...Someone who has a legacy engine and system, if he does not buy a senor track and put it in any track in his system. Then he will not be able to run any future Legacy engines he buys in Legacy control.
No, you can easily manually enter any Legacy or TMCC engine via the hand held. It's a breeze
Originally Posted by Gerald Marafioti:
If i am understanding this right,with the sensor track all i have to do is install this track on my layout & just run any new legacy engines over it ,& all the information will be uploaded on my cab 2. Do i have to hook anything up to a computer to use this track just for loading engine information on to the cab 2,& last is there a special cable i would need just to do what i have just described,i am assuming that lionel will not put the orange modules in with any future legacy engines. Thanks for your help.
Just the Legacy track section and your existing base. There is a cable that I believe will come with the track section. But you would also still be able to manually enter any engine
Gerald
Chris is correct. No computer needed. Just a sensor track and cable/power supply 6-81499 LCS Power Supply with DB9 Cable. I'm not sure if it comes with the sensor track though.
Hook up the 9 Pin to the base and the smaller cable plugs into the track. The sensor equipped engine still gets assigned a TMCC ID like always. The Cab2 will show Cab1, until it crosses the track and updates the base. Once that happens you are ready to go.
We will be showing this at the LUG meeting for sure.
From the beginning, Legacy always had the ability to manually enter all the info. The module was a convenience.
Originally Posted by paulp:
Case in point..No orange memory chip..No Legacy Control...Someone who has a legacy engine and system, if he does not buy a senor track and put it in any track in his system. Then he will not be able to run any future Legacy engines he buys in Legacy control.
I have had a couple of Legacy engines in the last year or so , no orange modules, of course these were S gauge. Will Lionel be making a sensor track for American Flyer fans?
Ray
I vote for modules. Is there some technical reason Lionel wants to omit them?
I don't have any hard information but I suspect 1 reason is cost of making all those modules.
Also it's kind of redundant since everything can be entered manually through CAB2, LSU, sensor track, or LCS iPad.
But I do recognize that it is a nice convenience for those who just want to plug and play.
Originally Posted by wb47:
I vote for modules. Is there some technical reason Lionel wants to omit them?
There was some discussion about certain features in Legacy engines that could only be accessed via the orange module. I'll get in touch with the individual who told me this and find out what features cannot be manually installed.
Originally Posted by Trainman9:
There was some discussion about certain features in Legacy engines that could only be accessed via the orange module. I'll get in touch with the individual who told me this and find out what features cannot be manually installed.
Early on in legacy development certain locos, i.e. the legacy M1B had special icons for lighting specifically the doghouse. Having said that, I had to send my loco in for the "fix" to get the feature to operate because it was overlooked during development.
For instances like this,I think Lionel might have eliminated unique modules when they added a seperate "lighting" menu on later legacy software.
Outside of that most locomotives have about the same features engineered into them.
You can also tweak the lighting menu using the LSU program.
The iPad is soooo much easier. 
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
You can also tweak the lighting menu using the LSU program.
Not if you don't have an iPad. 
Not if you don't have a PC.
I guess it works both ways.
But it's pretty much irrelevant with either since 1.5 came out with the lighting menu. Just gives you a convenient access point putting them on the main numerical display.
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
You can also tweak the lighting menu using the LSU program.
I like having the ones I would like to use on the main menu. However, as you say, they're available now even without the LSU or iPad.
I always end up changing mine to the ones I use the most.
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
I like having the ones I would like to use on the main menu. However, as you say, they're available now even without the LSU or iPad.
MartyE,I am really confused now,i already have a cable connected from my legacy base to my tmcc base ,if the lcs cable gets connected from the lcs track to the base,which base would it go to?,the tmcc base or the legacy base?,also the legacy base already has a power connection,so what happens to the cable that i already have connected from the tmcc base to the legacy base?,i am all mixed up now.
Chris,i saw that example however,if i connect the lcs cable from the lcs track to the legacy base ,what happens to the cable that i already have connected from the legacy base to the tmcc base? Another thing i already have avower connection to the legacy base,so what happens with the power connection with the lcs power supply?
Gerald, are you using the 'Y' cable that came with your Legacy system? The LCS cable will connect to the other plug on the 'Y' cable.
The power is for the LCS bus, not the Legacy base, so there is no change needed to your Legacy power supply. You just need an extra one for the LCS bus.
High Nicole,yes i am using the y cable that came with my legacy base & there is 9 pin connection that is currently not being used ,it is just hanging loose right now ,if i understand what you are saying ,i would connect the cable from the lcs track to the y cable that i have just hanging there right now?
Hi Gerald, yes, as far as I aware that is the case. The LCS cable is a serial connection, and would connect to the 'Y' cable in the same way as previous serial cables/devices would. 
Gerald
Nicole is correct. Use the "Serial" end of the Y cord to connect to the LCS cable. The "Command Base" end will remain with your TMCC base.
Thank you both,Nicole & MartyE ,i feel 100% better now these things tend to get me all worked up because of my very limited knowledge,& i know almost nothing about computers,but i am very grateful for all the help that is on this forum,again thanks to you both & everyone else on the forum.
Gerald
Some of this is new to us as well. We all learn from each other. We were just fortunate to have some of the LCS goodies at last fall's LUG meeting. We should be able to have a few more items this spring!
I got some info .. I bought 2 of the new es44s the conrail had the module and the Pennsylvania didn't. I call them today and asked if they send me one for it and they told me there no longer giving modules with there engine..Then I looked under the parts listing on the engines and they offer one to buy ... Then I asked her why did the conrail have one if there gonna stop she said she didn't know.. Anyone else buy a Pennsylvania and get a module?
Marty what do I need to buy to get my Ross switches to work with the app besides lcs . I have the z1000 motors do I need to go to the 2500s.?
There's a couple of SC-2's for sale right now in the sale forum.
